Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-05-18

lions in small notes. and of suspending specie payment:
for five years, more, transgressons against all
the sound maxims of banking is doubtful, wne'oei
the law will be accepted BY the banks or acquesced
in by the People The n Y. Herald OF thursday nsl
says: cat meeting yesterday, the directors Oh bne
Philadelphia Bank voted unanimously 10 REJECT he ne
venue Bill Ii is probable that most OF them VII d" So
in which case they will be subject to the provisions OF
the law in force 10 he passage OF the ridiculous
bill in question.
The Proelamation-or rather " The Accommodations
~ me Ell "" May s, 1871.
have been little surprised to see no notice taken
of The PR Presidents Proclamation recommending
the 18th inst as day of national humiliation and
PRAYER on account Of the death OF the late President
is there any precedent for this: 1t not do you cons
der that the death of President, because he IS IN Of
fee al the period Of his DEATH ought to form case for
the establishment of precedent Such testimonials
of public grief have heretofore been reserved for
SONS of great national calamitles-when nation is
called upon to humble itself under the dsPensations OF
the Supreme Governor of the Universe, and to pray
TO him to turn away his wrath. Is this such occa-
sion Can the Administration party consider it,
whilst the Government is performing its revolutions
without interruptions and public prosperity has
tanned check by the event for which We are called
upon to humble ourselves in dust and ashes. Much
man. and the bereavement of his relatives it should
be recoected that very large minority Of the people
of this Union, political party, regard the election
Of MIR. Van Buren, from the Office to which Gen
Harrison elevated, greater national calamity
than the death of the latter.
In a christian point of view, how ought this matt
TO be viewed | address myself now TO the christian
community. Is this visitation of God, upon the
American people, for their sins ? Has he so stretched
forth his hand rs make il the duty of his chosen
ia afrofp fhems q
ecclesiastical for them to obey the mandate OF the
lice President, in a in which the church is not
particularly concerned If am not mistaken, no
christian community has lost member IN the death OF
the late President. The relation between the church
and Government is of too delicate nature to be thus
| interfercd with. What do say The church will,
in my opinion, by conforming to the Vice Presidents
recommendation, recognize relation winch does not
exist unless the event can be considered on all names
without reference to political parties, great national
calamity. Sir, this looks too much like keeping up
the pageant which began with the Harrisburg Con-
vention
| n. B. have alluded TO Mr. Tyler as Vice President,
because the people elected him 10 that office, and no
other The Constitution deyoyes upon him the duties,
bu, not the title of President.
| Very respectfully,
| Your obedient servant, -.
Although we are free to say, that the Recommends
ton of the Acting President was Objectionable on the
grounds formerly taken by the Republican party, yet
we determined from "a decent respect TO the opinions
of the world TO let The day pass by, and 10 let all due
honors lie paid to the respected dead; but we were
equally determined, as soon as the solemn occasion
| had gone by, to express, in the most respectful
manner, the doubts which had crossed our own mind
Oh this subject We have not the slightest wish to de-
rogae in the smallest degree from the merits or the
memory of the dead-inuch less, TO show want OF re-
spec the institutions the Offices OF our holy hcli-
gion-but we have not ou.ved the doubts, which the
Republican politicians once expressed about the Exc
cutve authority of the Federal Government on such
question-as they stated in the following passage
of ST. George Tucker, ST., the appendix ot has edi-
ton of Blackstone's Commentaries:
"The right Of issuing proclamatons is of the pre-
negatives of the Crown of England No such power
being expressly given by the Federal Constitution,
il was doubted, upon particular occasion, whether
the President possessed any such authority under IL
Both Houses Of Congress appear TO have recognized
the power that may be constitutionally exer-
cised by him. Independent of such authority, we
might perhaps be justified, in concluding that the OBJ
legation upon the President 10 take that the laws
be faithfully executed, drew after it this power,
| necessary incident thereto The commencement or
determination Of laws is frequently made to depend
upon events, Of which the Executive may be presumed
to receive and communicate the first authentic ntorma
ton. The notification of such facts seems therefore
to be the peculiar province and duty that department
Ii the nation be in state of war with another nation
acts of hostility ustabe the part Of ci,i-
towards theirs; iii truce be concluded such acts
are no longer to be permitted. The fact that such
|
competent authority and The law arising from the
promugation of this fact according to the rules OF
and peace, among civilized nations, Is such as TO
give to the proclamation the apparent effect OF new
law TO the people But this not really the CASE it is
the established law Of nations which operates the
fact disclosed by the proclamation, viz: That truce
has been concluded between the two nations who
before at But if a proclamation should en)on any
thing 10 be done, which neither the law of nations
any previous act Of the Legislature, any treaty
oct sbopld hayo mad
would not only be merely void, but infringement oil
the Constitution. Preclamaons then only binding
when they reinforce the observance OLA Duty enolned
by law, but connected with particular fact, which
il NAV be the duty of the Executive TO make known.
THE occasion here alluded TO- Presidents Proeama
ton neutrality June 1893 This merely admontion &c
the nations and of the fact that
at with all nations Both Houses Of in their ad
~ The Procamations Of the TWO former Presidents recommend
non not by The Constitution or rather poh
bed by the true spirit Of the Sd article Of amendments Some
President individual. Why then il clothed with all
forms Of authority the seal of the L. - and The a,tes'aon
1t is true, that the Acting President has not attached
to his Proclamation the seal the u 81 the ates
taton of his Secretary and thai he adopts the more
Of the U. S.''-but it is also true, that this "Recom
mendaon" goes forth as "OGeiai" and that il has al
the effect Of Proclamation. For one, therefore, we
controvert the propriety of the measure, upon the
grounds taken by the Republican Party.
No Proclamation ofEis character has been issued since
the days of John Adams-except one by Mr. Madison
during the pressure Of the Of lel2but this paper
issued at the instance Of joint resolution Of Con
gress We shall brief history of this Proclamation
attaching copy of Mr.. Madison Proclamation, as
specimen of his condensed and beautiful style of COM
position. In touching this subject we have to express
our own opinion, without wishing to wound the con
science Of any We mean to make no attack
upon MIR. Tyler for act which find, much extenua-
ton in the feelings that prompted it:
/ Proclamation Of 1917
II. Of Representatives., Oct. 20, 1914.
Mr. Clopton of Virginia introduced into the House,
with few appropriate observations, the following re-
solution:
1t being duty peculiarly incumbent, in time Of
public calamity and war, humby and devoutly to nc
knowledge our dependence on Almighty God, and 10
implore His aid and Observation-Disclosures
Rssored by the Senate and House Of Representatives.