been commenced in earnest by the House against the Executive. A bad precedent rarely, if ever, dies. It will, I fear, be pursued in the time of my successors, no matter what may be their political character. Should secret committees be appointed with unlimited authority to range over all the words and actions, and, if possible, the very thoughts of the President, with a view to discover something in his past life prejudicial to his character, from parasites and informers, this would be an ordeal which scarcely any mere man since the fall could endure. It would be to subject him to a reign of terror from which the stoutest and purest heart might shrink. I have passed triumphantly through this ordeal. My vindication is complete. The committee have reported no resolution looking to an impeachment against me; no resolution of censure; not even a resolution pointing out any 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, I trust, save my successors, whoever they may be, from any such ordeal. They are frank, bold, and honest. They detest delators and informers. I therefore, in the name and as the representative of this great people, and standing upon the ramparts of the Constitution which they have ordained and established," do solemnly protest against these unprecedented and unconstitutional proceedings. There was still another committee raised by the House on the 6th March last, on motion of Mr. Hoard, to which I had not the slightest objection. The resolution creating it was confined to specific charges, which I have ever since been ready and willing to meet. I have at all times invited and defied fair investigation upon constitutional principles. I have received no notice that this committee have ever proceeded to the investigation.. Why should the House of Representatives desire to encroach on the other departments of the government? Their rightful powers are ample for every legitimate purpose. They are the impeaching body. In their legislative capacity 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 a view to reform abuses, to promote economy, and to improve every branch of administration. Should they find reason to believe, in the course of their examinations, that any grave offence had been committed by the President or 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 their legislative to their accusatory jurisdiction, and take care that in all the preliminary judicial proceedings, preparatory to the vote of articles of impeachment, the accused 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 any officer of the government, no President has ever existed who, after giving him a fair hearing, would hesitate to apply the remedy. This I 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 co-ordinate branches of the government, and render us all more respectable both in the eyes of our own countrymen and of foreign nations. WASHINGTON, June 22, 1860. JAMES BUCHANAN. Mr. Stanton moved that the said message be referred to a select committee of five members, who shall report to the House at the next session of Congress, and also that it be printed. Pending which, After debate, Mr. Barksdale moved that it be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Pending which, Mr. Barksdale moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the motion to commit was disagreed to. Under the further operation of the previous question the motion of Mr. Stanton was agreed to. So it was Ordered, That the said message be referred to a select committee of five members, who shall report to the House at the next session of Congress, and also that it be printed. Mr. Stanton moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. The Speaker appointed Mr. Stanton, Mr. Curry, Mr. Charles F. Adams, Mr. Sedgwick, and Mr. Pryor the select committee on the foregoing message. Mr. William A. Howard, from the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on the bill of the House (H. R. 503) reported that the said committee were unable to agree upon a report. When Mr. William A. Howard moved that the House recede from its last amendment to the 1st amendment of the Senate to the said bill of the House No. 503, and agree to the said 1st amendment with a new amendment, and also that the House further insist on its disagreement to the Senate's 3d amendment. Pending which, Mr. Phelps moved that the House recede from its amendment to the said 1st amendment of the Senate, and agree to the said 1st amendment, and also that the House recede from its disagreement to the said 3d amendment of the Senate and agree thereto. Pending which, Mr. Phelps moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered and put, viz: Will the House agree to the said motion of Mr. Phelps? JYeas. And it was decided in the affirmative, {Neys 83 64 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Charles F. Adams William Allen- Williamson R. W. Cobb John Cochrane Samuel S. Cox Burton Craige Martin J. Crawford Daniel W. Gooch John T. Harris Mr. Robert Hatton Mr. John J. Perry Mr. William E. Niblack Abraham B. Olin Ellihu B. Washburne John Woodruff Ordered, That the House recede from its amendment to the Senate's 1st amendment to the bill of the House No. 503, and also recede from its disagreement to the Senate's 3d amendment to the said bill, and agree to both of said amendments. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith. Mr. Phelps moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Patton, one of their clerks: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed bills of this House of the following titles, viz: H. R. 812. An act to amend an act entitled "An act granting public lands in alternate sections to the State of Mississippi to aid in the construction of railroads in said State, and for other purposes," approved August 11, 1856; and H. R. 714. An act establishing certain post-routes; the former without, and the latter with sundry amendments; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House. Mr. Colfax moved that the rules be suspended, so as to enable the House to take up and consider the amendments of the Senate to the bill of the House (H. R. 714) establishing certain post-routes. And the question being put, Yeas. It was decided in the negative, {Nays Two-thirds not voting in favor thereof. 94 55 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are- Mr. Charles F. Adams Cyrus Aldrich Mr. Orris S. Ferry Thomas B. Florence Mr. Freeman H. Morse William E. Niblack William N. H. Smith A message from the Senate, by Mr. Patton, one of their clerks: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of this House of the following title, viz: H. R. 181. An act to provide for a superintendent of Indian affairs for Washington Territory, and additional Indian agents; with an amendment; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House. The Senate have agreed to the amendment of this House to the bill of the Senate (S. 258) to grant to the parish of Point Coupee, Louisiana, certain tracts of land in said parish. The Senate have adopted a resolution providing for the appointment of a committee, to join such committee as may be appointed on the part of the House, to wait on the President of the United States and inform him that, if he has no further communication to make to Congress, the two houses are ready to adjourn; and have appointed Mr. Bigler, Mr. Hemphill, and Mr. Ten Eyck the said committee on the part of the Senate. Mr. Davidson, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 812. An act to amend an act entitled "An act granting public lands in alternate sections to the State of Mississippi to aid in the construction of railroads in said State, and for other purposes," approved August 11, 1856. H. R. 503. An act making further appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1860. S. 258. An act to grant to the parish of Point Coupee, Louisiana, certain tracts of land in said parish. When The Speaker signed the same. On motion of Mr. Sherman, by unanimous consent, the resolution of the Senate providing for the appointment of a committee, to join |