South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-02-06

GBy military purpose s0hdseucr, what
remains to be done Ii we leave II
with one man to decide not only wheth.
er the military means Of the country
shall be uaed at all, but how they shall
be used, and 10 what extent they shall
be employed, what remains either for
Congress or the People but to sit still,
and see how this lictatorial power will
be exercised On the Sd Of March,
sir, had not forgotten-it was inpos-
sible that should have forgotten-the
Recommendation in the message, al
the opening Of tina. session, thai power
should be vested in the President to
issue letters Of Elsrque and repTisal a.
gains France, at his discretion in the
recess Of Congress. Happily IBIS pow
er was not granted. But suppose Is
had been, what would then have been
the true condition of this Government
Why, sir, this condition is very shortly
described. The whole war power
would have been in the hands Of the
President for no man can doubt a
moment that reprisals would bring on
immediate war, and the Treasury, TO
the amount Of this vote, 10 addition 10
all ordinary appropriations, would
have been this absolute disposal also.
And ell this in a time of peace. /
besesch sober men, sir, of all par
,ies--I beseech all true lovers Of con-
stitulional liberty, to contemplate this
state Of things, and tell ms whether
such be true republican administra
ton OF this Government. Whether
! particalag consequences had ensued or
NOS is such an accumulation OF power
in the hands OF the Executive accord
ing TO tue spirit OF our system Is il
either wise or safe 7 Has it any war
rams in the practice of former times 7
| Or are gentlemen ready to establish
the practice, as an example for the
benefit Of those who aEs 10 come after
US?
But sir, if.he power to make repri-
sails, and this money from the Treasu ;
~, had both been granted, is there no
| great reason 10 believe that we should
have been now up to our ears ia hot
war; I think there is great reason TO
believe lhis. Il will be said, | know,
thar if we had armed the President
with this power OF war, and supplied
him whit this grant of money, France
would have taken this for such a proof
Of spirit on our part, and that she
would have paid the indemnify with
Gus further delay. This is the old sto-
4 ry, and the old plea. Eevery one who
desires more power than the constitus
lion OF the Laws give him, always
says, tina. il he had more power he
could do more good. Power is always
claimed for the good OF the People !;
and dictators are always made, when
made at all, for the good Of the people.
For my part sir, was content, and
am content TO show to Francs that we
| ere prepared to maintain, our jus,
! rights, against her, by the ezertion Of
4 our power, When need be, according to
! the forms Of our own constitution; that,
i if we make war, we will make it con-
atitutionaliy !; and if we vote money, we
| viii appropriate it constitutionally ;
] g. that We will trust our Interests both
in peace and in war, TO what the intel
| ligence and strength of the country
may do for them, without breaking
down or endangering the fabric Of
free Institutions. Wash.
i, [BY REQUEST.
Extract Of letter from DR.. w N. M. Ro.
ber,son, Of the Senate ofvirginia, C
his friend Gabriel T. Barbee, Of Pc
tersburg, dated
RICHMOND. Jan. II, 1885
81 shall ever feel grateful to the goot
people of Hardy generally, and to {
few acquain,ances in particular, througt
whose good Offices found favour ii
their sight, for the good opinion anc
confidence which they expressed to-
wards me at the last Springs election
: land though | attn far from being con
fident ofpossessing any merits which
will ensure continuance of their ia
vourable estimation,si am not diff len
in giving the assurance that, as lont
as continue in their service, will d,
every thing in my power TO promote
their interests.
1 You have,. no doubt, perceived tia
the Republican Party Gas wesiyle our
selves) has decided majority in tn
] Genera Assembly. Bul though ",