Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 16 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
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Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 16 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
I would not keep out of sight any consideration which seems in any
quarter to throw light on this claim; and therefore I take time to
mention an analogy which has been invoked. The exceptional provision
in the Constitution, under which the Vice-President has a casting
vote on ordinary occasions, is taken from its place in another clause
and applied to the Chief Justice. It is gravely argued that the Chief
Justice is a substitute for the Vice-President, and, as the latter,
by express grant, has a casting vote on ordinary occasions, therefore
the Chief Justice has such when presiding on an impeachment. To this
argument there are two obvious objections: first, there is no language
giving a casting vote to the Chief Justice, and, in the absence of
express grant, it is impossible to imply it in opposition to the
prevailing rule of Parliamentary Law; and, secondly, it is by no means
clear that the Vice-President has a casting vote, when called to
preside on an impeachment. On ordinary occasions, in the business of
the Senate, the grant is explicit; but it does not follow that this
grant can be extended to embrace an impeachment, in face of positive
provisions by which the power to _try_ and _vote_ is confined to
_Senators_. According to the undoubted rule of interpretation, _Ut
res magis valeat quam pereat_, the casting vote of the Vice-President
must be subject to this curtailment. Therefore, if the Chief Justice
is regarded as a substitute for the Vice-President, it will be only to
find himself again within the same limitations.
* * * * *
I cannot bring this survey to an end without an expression of deep
regret that I find myself constrained to differ from the Chief Justice.
In faithful fellowship for long years, we have striven together for
the establishment of Liberty and Equality as the fundamental law of
this Republic. I know his fidelity, and revere his services; but not on
this account can I hesitate the less, when I find him claiming in this
Chamber an important power which, in my judgment, is three times denied
in the National Constitution: first, when it is declared that the
Senate alone shall _try_ impeachments; secondly, when it is declared
that only _members_ shall convict; and, thirdly, when it is declared
that the Chief Justice shall _preside_, and nothing more,--thus
conferring upon him those powers only which by Parliamentary Law belong
to a presiding officer not a member of the body. In the face of such a
claim, so entirely without example, and of such possible consequences,
I cannot be silent. Reluctantly and painfully I offer this respectful
protest.
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