The American Register, Or, Summary Review of History, Politics, and Literature Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1817 Excerpt: ...independent power and wide spread corruption, it must in this country be omnipotent. But the treaty-making power of the president is further checked by the necessity of the concurrence of two-thirds of the senate, consisting of men selected by the legislatures of the states, themselves elected by the people. They too must have passed through the probation of time, before they can be chosen, and must bring with them every title to confidence. The duration of their office is that of a few years; their numbers are considerable; their constitutional responsibility as great as it can be; and their moral responsibility beyond all calculation. The power of impeachment has been mentioned as a check upon the president in the exercise of the treaty-making capacity. I rely upon it less than upon others, of, as I think, a better class; but as the constitution places some reliance upon it, so do I. It has been said, that impeachment has been tried and found wanting. Two impeachments have failed, as I have understood (that of a judge was one)--but they may have failed for reasons consistent with the general efficacy of such a proceeding.--I know nothing of their merits, but I am justified in supposing that the evidence was defective, or that the parties were innocent, as they were pronounced to be: --Of this, however, I feel assured, that if it should ever happen that the president is found to deserve the punishment which impeachment seeks to inflict (even for making a treaty to which his judges have become parties) and this body should accuse him in a constitutional way, he will not easily escape. But, be that as it may, I ask if it is nothing that you have power to arraign him as a culprit? Is it nothing that you can bring him to the bar, expose his misconduct to the wo..