Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974 (2/2)
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 1974 (2/2)
[01.09.53] The CHAIRMAN. I recognize the gentleman from South Carolina, Mr. Mann. Mr. MANN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, we know Charlie Sandman and we appreciate him, and I am going to reefer to him, too. Charlie was talking about how Ellsberg got the applause, and I join with most of you in feeling that except for certain mistakes, Mr. Ellsberg should have not been at that Place at that time. But, he was evidence -'of our system because our System looked out for the underdog, Our system looks out for the rights of individuals, the, little man. In the history of America, it is the history of the protection of the rights of the individual citizen. Look at every decision of our Supreme Court, and whether we like it or not, whether they are freeing a rapist or a murderer, they are interpreting the, Constitution of the United States and its laws to protect that individual from the power of his Government. You have heard a lot about our system and it is really synonymous with the Phrase, the rule of law. In article, II we find this language,"In disregard of the rule of law." You know there was one man in this Government that I have to mention as he has been mentioned by others, and it has been tough for me to hold back on him. Johnnie Walters practiced law upstairs above my office in the two-story building Where he and I practiced law back in the middle sixties, and when I came to Congress and left him in Greenville, S.C., he was not far behind me, as he came to Washington, to serve in the Department of Justice, and then as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Mack Walters respected the rule of law. You know, Americans revere their President, and rightly they should because they know that by his oath he is supposed to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, to enforce the Bill of Rights' which is their heritage, your rights and mine, whether I am a Democrat or a Republican, rich or poor, and that he will see that the laws, are, faithfully executed and that the individual liberties of each of us is protected, whether President or pauper. Now, this committee has spent 10 weeks reviewing the evidence, and it is not fair to you in these sessions to pull the tidbits out on one side or the other. There is no way that you can bring yourself in the position that we are in without the knowledge. of the facts that we have. I -wish you could. As your Representatives we are charged with determining that truth, and although we have laid something on the, table, during these past 3 or 4 days, and having sat here during these 3 or 4 days I have heard people ask questions about what the evidence was, and I have been wondering if maybe they were here with me, because it is on that evidence that each of us is making our decision, and as we seek a way to escape that decision, we cannot escape, that still, small voice. And so, as Thomas Paine wrote, "Those who expect to reap the blessing of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." And in this situation, as -we look at how the office of the Presidency has been served by an individual, I share the remarks of George Danielson that it is not the Presidency that is in jeopardy from us. We would strive to strengthen and protect the Presidency. But, if there be no accountability, another President will feel free to do as he chooses. But, the next time there may be no -watchman in the night. The CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentleman has expired, a[01.15.29]