Timothy Roemer: “John Page wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson on July 20, 1776, which reads and I quote: ``We know the race is not to the…”

“John Page wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson on July 20, 1776, which reads and I quote: ``We know the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm.'' I pray that Providence is with this body, this country and our Constitution for fairness and justice and honor today, and I fear my prayers will go unanswered. I voted with my Republican friends 68 days ago to initiate this investigation, to look at the facts and corroborate the evidence for a high crime and misdemeanor, and George Mason, who wrote that phrase, said, and I quote: ``It ranged from a great and dangerous offense to subverting the Constitution.'' This does not pierce that high threshold, and when it comes to punishment, yes, the President did something reprehensible and immoral and sinful, and he should be punished by censure by this body and by prosecution like every other American would be when he leaves office. Now finally, Mr. Speaker, this is our rule book. This is our sacred scripture in this body. There is nothing in here, Mr. Speaker, that prohibits a censure; there is no impediment in our Constitution to a censure. In fact we have censured and rebuked and criticized Presidents three times, in 1834, in 1842, in 1860, and we have impeached a President once. There is precedent, Mr. Speaker. There is no prohibition or prevention to censure, and it is unfair and against our own rules not to let us vote.…”