Year: 1860

follow in the wake of every administration and
tney in secret cOnclave will swear away his reputa-
tion.
Under such circumstances he must be very
oold man should he not surrender at discretion
ana consent to exercise his authority according to
e T VIII Oh those invested with this terrific power.
oIno.oJ bi people of the several States have
eigc'eo MIN 10 the highest and most honorable
once In the world. He is their only direct renre
sentative In the Government Rv tbeir Const;tu
.ion i 'hey nave lhaue MIN commanders n-chief of
their army and navy. He represents them in their
intercourse with foreign nations Clothed with tbeir
dignity and authority he occupies proud nosition
before all nations, civilized and savage. With the
consent of the Senate he appoints all the import
ant officers of the Government He exercises the
veto power and to that extent controls the egisla-
tion OF Congress. For the performance of these
high duties he is responsible to the people of the
several States and not in any degree to the House
OF Representatives.


Shall he surrender these high powers conferred
upon him as the representative of the American
people for their benefit to the House. to be exer-
clsea % undeT their overshadowng influence and con-
trol! Shali he alone of all the citizens of the
United States be denied a fair trial? Shall he
alone not be Uniformed of the nature and
cause of the accusation" against him? Shall he
alone not "be confronted with the witnesses
against him? Shall the House of Representatives.
usurping the powers of the Senate, proceed to try
the President, through the agency of a secret com
mittee of the body where it is impossible he can
make any defence, and then, without affording him
IL Il
ment OF censure against him? The very same rule
might be applied for the very same reason to every
Judge of every court of the United States. From
what part of the Constitution is this terrible secret
inquisitorial power derived? No such express
power exists. From which of the enumerated
powers can it be inferred? 1t is true, the House
cannot pronounce the formal Judgment against him
of "remova from Office" but they can by their
Judgment of censure, asperse his reputation, and
thus, to the extent of their influence, render the
Office contemplate. An example is at hand of the
reckless manner in which this power of censure
can be employed in high party times. The House,
on recent occasion, have attempted to degrade
the President by adopting the resolution of Mr.
John Sherman, declaring that he, in conjunction
with the Secretary of the Navy, ''bv receiving and
considering the party relations of bidders for con-
tracts, and the effect of awarding contracts upon
pending elections, have set example dangerous
to the public safety, and deserving the reproof of
this House."


1t will scarcely be credited that the sole pretext
for this vote of was the simple fact that in
disposing OF the numerous letters of every imagna
BILE character which | daily receive, had, in the
usual course of business, referred letter from Col
Patterson of Philadelphia in relation to a contract
TO the attention of the Secretary of the Navy, the
head OF the appropriate Department. without ex-
pressing or intmating any opinion whatever on the
subject; and to make the matter if possible still
palmer, the Secretary had informed the committee
that 'the President did not in any manner interfere
in this case, nor has he in any other case of con-
tract since have been in the Department" The
absence of all proof to sustain this attempt to de-
grade the President, whilst it manifests the venom
of the shaft aimed at him, has destroyed the vigor
of the bow.


To return after this depression. Should the
House, by the institution of Covode committees
votes of censure and other devices - harrass the
President, reduce him to subservience to their will
and render him their creature, then the well-ba-
anced Government which our fathers framed will
be annihated. This conflict has already been COM
menced in earnest by the House against the Execu-
tive. bad precedent rarely if ever dies. 1t will
l fear, be pursued in the time of my successors,
matter what may be their political character.
Should secret committees be appointed with un-
limited authority to range all the words and
actions, and if possible the very thoughts of the
President, with view to discover something in
ms past lite preludiclal to his character from para
sites and informers this would be ordeal which
scarcely any mere man since the fal. could endure.
1t would be to subject him to a reign of terror
from which the stoutest and purest heart might
shrink. | have passed triumphanty through this
ordeal My vindication is complete. The com
mittee have reported resOlutian looking to
Impeachment against me; no resolution of censure;
not even resolution pointing out abuses in
any OF the Executive Departments OF the Govern
ment to be corrected by legislation. This is the
highest commendation which could be bestowed on
the heads of these Departments. The sovereign
people of the States will, however, trust, my
successors, whoever they may be, from any such
ordeal. They are frank, bold and honest. They
detest delators and intormers. i therefore, in the
name and as the representative of this great peo-





tuition which they "have ordained and established,
| do solemny protest against these unprecedented
and unconstitutional proceedings.


There was still another committee raised by the
House on the 9th of March last, motion of Mr..
Hoard, to which had not the slightest objection.
The resolution creating it confined to specific
charges which have since been ready and
willing to meet. have at all times invited and
deed fair investigation upon constitutional princ-
Piles. have received no notice that this commit
tee have ever proceeded to the investigation Why
should the House of Representatives desire to
croach on the other Departments of the Govern
ment? Their rightul powers are ample for every
legitimate purpose. They the impeaching
! hndy In their legislative canacitv it is their
most wise and wholesome prerogative to institute
! rigid examinations into the manner in which all
! departments of the Government are conducted
with view to reform abuses, to promote economy,
and to improve every branch of administration
Should they find reason to believe, in the of
their examinations that any grave offence had been
committed by the President any officer of the
Government rendering it proper in their Judgment
to resort to Impeachment, their course would be
plain. They would then transfer the question from
! therlegisatve to their accusatory jurisdiction,
and take that, in all the preliminary judicial
proceedings preparatory to the vote of articles of
impeachment, the should enjoy the benefit of
| crOss-examining the witnesses, and all the other
safeguards with which the Constitution surrounds
every American citizen.


If in a legislative investigation it should appear
that the public interest required the removal OF





ever existed who after giving him fair hearing
would hesitate to apply the remedy. This l take
to be the ancient and well established practice
An adherence to it will best promote the harmony
and the dignity of the intercourse between the
ordinate branches of the Government, and render
US all more respectable both in the eyes of own
countrymen and of foreign nations.


JAMES BUCHANAN.


WASHINGTON, 22d June, 1860.


From the Blairspitie PG.J Record, June pol
| ANOTHER OUTRAGE.-lt appears our usually quiet


and orderly borough was the scene Of most viO-
lent and disgraceu riot last night, the whole par
ticulaTs of which we have not time to collate and
particulariZe about going to press. 1t
appears that six slaves had lett their masters
in Hampshire county, Va. r. H. Patterson, OF
Springfield Va. who has been constable for number
of years, together with another person whose name
we do not remember, dispatched after the fugi


tves, and traced them to point near Johnstown
in Cambria county. Mr.. Patterson received a
despatch from Ebensburg, stating that the tugives
had made their way to this place. and he came here
on Monday, stopped at the Marker House, and
made such exploration about town satisfied him
| the fugitves not in this place, and intended
leaving for Johnstown on this Tuesday, morning.
Last night near ten o'clock, on coming down street
to his hotel, in company with another person, and
| not far distant from it, he attacked by band
| of negroes who asked him question or two about
| his business, but almost instantly knocked him
down. Amidst kicks and blows he recovered and
was knocked down several times. One of the ring
leaders, as he believes, cried out not to kill him,
and pushed some of the other darkies off. About
this time constable Wilkinson interfered and as
sisted in his release Mr.. Patterson had no arms
or missile of any kind to protect himself and in his
struggle his coat and vest torn to pieces. Mr.


Patterson is badly cut in several places about the


head, and his body in other parts much bruised,


but his wounds not considered dangerous Ii


appears evident that some of the wounds were pro
duced by sug-shot or some other effective missile


The other person when assailed made his way to-


wards the hotel was struck several times with what


bos 70 ha 81, hot hatn


injury. As he reached the hotel door, person
jumped in between him and the assailant, enabling
him to make his escape. 1t is supposed there were
not less than fifty persons looking with apparent
compaisance this barbarOus and inhuman
tragedy many of whom would have the world believe


they quite intelligent and respectable oharan o.


ters. We have only time and space to say that
officers of the law were present, whose duty 1t L


to maintain the public peace, and we expect to SEE


those darkies and those who countenanced then


brought to condgn punishment.


HARDEN's CoNFEssIoN.-0ur informant states tha
Harden is even writing his confession, an'


that he has communicated certain portions OF 1t tC


the TAILOR and one or two others. The administer
ing of the poison to his wife commenced on her re
turn to Ramsey's and was given to her Will
sitting on his knee even during tne enuearme9tS
l an anparently loving wife. He kindly invited he
a to nartake OF an apple on which be had spr eaC
5 arsenic She unsuspectingly eat 1t, remarkin!
that it appeared to have something gritty on it,
He replied that it was ''nothing. There ares state
ments said to have been made by the prisoner, in


volving his criminaty with others who shared hi
affections but do not think it proper to speal


of them until Harden chooses to make them publ


himself. His purchase of the arsenic at castor