James Iredell Quotes
The President must certainly be punishable for giving false information to the Senate. He is to regulate all intercourse with foreign powers, and it is his duty to impart to the Senate every material intelligence he receives. If it should appear that he has not given them full information, but has concealed important intelligence which he ought to have communicated, and by that means induced them to enter into measures injurious to their country, and which they would not have consented to had the true state of things been disclosed to them, — in this case, I ask whether, upon an impeachment for a misdemeanor upon such an account, the Senate would probably favor him.
The convention turned down the constitution and would not ratify it until the Bill of Rights was passed later. By modern standards, Presidents in modern times have withheld much information from the Congress and in some cases such as the George W. Bush administrations, the President and his cabinet frequently lied to the Senate, the House, and the American people with no effort made to impeach. Based on the original intent of the Americans ratifying the Constitution, the Executive Branch may not keep anything material to the security of the country secret from Congress. But the center of both parties reject this regardless of what the original intent was.
James Iredell, 1751–1799, U. S. Justice of the Supreme Court, Speech advocating the ratification of the Constitution, North Carolina Constitutional Ratifying Convention
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
The debate was about the unlimited pardon power of the President. Madison argued that the check was the impeachment power. However, Presidents had tended to make large numbers of pardons just before they leave office so the impeachment power works only as a check for the beginning and middle part of their term.
In England, the King was above the law. However, impeachment was a tool that could be used against his favorite ministers. In debating the United State Constitution one of the first questions to be determined was whether impeachment could be a tool used against the President or like, England, only the other government officials. Franklin urged the President be included. See also Mason: {584246}.
The reason that this quotation is particularly important is that Taft, in addition to being a President, was also the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the only Supreme Court Justice to become President.
This article of impeachment is quoted often because it shows that criminal activity or violation of a law was not required for impeachment. The time was close to the adoption of the Constitution and presumably reflected sentiment of the founders. Chase however was acquitted as the Senate did not agree that the charges had been proven.
President Thomas Jefferson himself forwarded to the House some of the evidence against Pickering, the first Federal Judge to be removed by impeachment.
The convention turned down the constitution and would not ratify it until the Bill of Rights was passed later.
In England, the King was above the law. However, impeachment was a tool that could be used against his favorite ministers. In debating the United State Constitution one of the first questions to be determined was whether impeachment could be a tool used against the President or like, England, only the other government officials. Mason argued that the President must be included and his view prevailed. See also Benjamin Franklin: {642885}.
He cast the deciding vote to acquit in the Andrew Johnson impeachment. He was the last of only 7 Republicans voting to acquit. His vote meant there would not be the required two/thirds of the Senate to vote in order to remove Johnson from office. His constituents were so angry with him that he was never reelected.
Allan Dulles was a long time Director of the CIA.
James Iredell was one of the first Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President George Washington and served from 1790 until his death in 1799. His son, James Iredell Jr., was a Governor of North Carolina.
