General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA short read about Founding Fathers views on impeachment
Many Constitutional Convention delegates agreed with the assertion by George Mason of Virginia that no point is of more importance
than the right of impeachment because no one is above justice.
In the discussions leading to the decision to add the impeachment clause to the Constitution, a recurrent reason was raised: concern that the president would abuse his power. George Mason described the president as the man who can commit the most extensive injustice. James Madison thought the president might pervert his administration into a scheme of [stealing public funds] or oppression or betray his trust to foreign powers. Edmund Randolph, governor of Virginia, said the president will have great opportunitys of abusing his power; particularly in time of war when the military force, and in some respects the public money will be in his hands.
Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania worried that the president may be bribed by a greater interest to betray his trust and no one would say that we ought to expose ourselves to the danger of seeing [him] in foreign pay. James Madison, himself a future president, said that in the case of the president, corruption was within the compass of probable events
and might be fatal to the Republic.
Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts pointed out that a good president will not worry about impeachment, but a bad one ought to be kept in fear.
And the one that is the most foreboding:
A final word from the founding that has special resonance to the Senates current discussions: William R. Davie of North Carolina argued that impeachment was an essential security for the good behaviour of the president; otherwise, he will spare no efforts or means whatever to get himself re-elected.
CatMor
(6,212 posts)trumps attorneys should be reading it too.
Thank you for this excellent post.
world wide wally
(21,718 posts)kentuck
(110,950 posts)Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania worried that the president may be bribed by a greater interest to betray his trust and no one would say that we ought to expose ourselves to the danger of seeing [him] in foreign pay. James Madison, himself a future president, said that in the case of the president, corruption was within the compass of probable events and might be fatal to the Republic.