South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-01-02
SATURDAY. JANUARY 2, 1886.


Department, sir, Intermediates already
too much with the performance OF our
legislative duties and functions, and !
do solemnly protest against resolving
upon this written invitation to superin-
tend and interfere with our action here,
more than it has already done. wish
to preserve our own independence and
the checks and balances of our Gov
eminent.
There Mr.. ANTHONY (of Pa. made
some remarks which he concluded by
saving that "the E1ecutioe Depart
ments had a right to knob aohat we
soere doing in this House"
Mr.. WISE again rose and said, that
he was astonished to hear such a right
admitted or claimed for the Executive
on that floor. He would only call the
attention OF the House end the country
to this claim for the Executive as a
right
Mr.. JOHNSON, Of Kentucky, in
reply to the gentleman from Virginia,
challenged him to put his finger upon
any one act OF Executive usurpation;
remarkiug a, the same time, that il
was easy TO deal 10 general denuncia-
lions and declarations, but more diff.
cult to support them by facts. He,
Mr.. J. looked 10 the voice Of the peo-
pie as his guide, end he doubted not
that the President did. The President
had been supported, in all his acts, by
a large majority OF the people, and
could, therefore, with more reason,
complain Of the course Of the gentle
n an, than the gentleman could OF his.
MIR. WISE said, in rejoinder, thai
the gentleman from Kentucky lCol.
JoHNseN) had called upon him to do
tina. which i, was the easiest thing i'm
apioable to do. He would give hin
and the country the information asked
for with the greatest pleasure; was
happy to have the opportunity TO give
the gentleman satisfactory and direct
reply, and was ready and willing TO
put his finger upon some acts OF Exec
u,iye interference with the legislation
of that House. When / speak, how
ever. of Executive interference, 1 do
not mean the acts of the President "a
lone. and lei nae be so understood, but
the acts OF the whole of the Depart-
men,s. Is it possible, sir, that the
gentleman means il to be understood
by his making this call, and ~ his
manner Of making ii, that he himself
does not suppose specifications OF ac~
tive intermeddling with our business OF
legislation can be nader Why, sir,
the gentleman trips! Not specify acts
of Executive interference !! Surely the
gentleman knows that the Constisu-
ton makes it the duty of the President
to communicate to Congress, by his
Message, his, the Executives views of
all our relations, and on all subjects oil
legislation. He is constitationally
| bound to give us officially his opinions
on what we should do and should mol
do as legislators.
But let not the gentleman under
stand me as pointing 10 this constitu-
t;onal duty as one of my specifications
of Executive inter ference. To send
us his Message is no act of informed
ding i, is an act Of duty and obliga.
lion. Sir, l do not intend TO eyade
the gen,leman's call. ! never will e.
wade any responsibility on any occca-
sion. | allude to this constitutional
duty, to contrast it expressly with O.
Their acts which the Presidents or the
Executives duty forbids. allude to
it for the purpose of reminding the
gentleman that the Constitution fixes
the measure and mode Of Executive
interposition in acts OF legislation.
The Constitution intends that the
President shall, by public message,
call our attention to all subjects Of leg
isIative action, and that then the Ex-
ecutiye functions shall cease until we
have performed our acts, and referred
them to him for his constitutional
sanction or veto. And the Constitu-
ton intends, most cautiously and jeal-
ously intends, that whilst performing
our acts, whilst celebrating, whilst
discussing, whilst deciding upon laws
to be passed or rejected, we shall be
4, free and independent of Executive in-
huence. And now, sir, what have
said, meant to say, and mean to re-
peat, is, that we are not thus free and
independent, that the Executive does
intermeddte, improperly, dangerously,
| and frequently with our legislative &C.
ton The gentleman asks Tor me to
point to the instances, and | will spe-
city some Of them.
Was it not admitted the other day