The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-17
From the PhiiadslpAia Ersning .yournoi.
THE DUTIES OF PRESIDENT-THE OBJ
LEGATIONS OF THE PEOPLE.

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| LEGATIONS OF THE PEOPLE.
The Constitution of the United States has provided
that President and Vice President shall be chosen
every four years. and has distinctly pointed out thu
modes In which these high officers shall be elected
II also provides that in the event cot the removal
The President from Office of his death, resignation
Oh inability to discharge the powers and duties OF tht
said Office, the same shall devolve on the Wee Pres
dent" In addition his obligation under the oatf
which he takes that he will ito the best OF his ann
y preserve protect and defend the Constitution oil the
United States" the President i required 10 stake care
that the laws be faithfully executed In the event
of failing to discharge these duties the President Is
liable to be impeached by the House of Representa-
tvrs and brought TO trial before the Senate
These the most prominent OF the duties en-
joined upon the President by the Constitution, and
whether he be elected by the people, by the lower
branch of Congress- whether the individual elect
ed fill the office of Vice President shall be eeva-
ted totba of the Presidency through any of the
tngences named in any, and in all cases he is bound
execute these duties to the fullest extent That ne
may be enabled to do So the Constitution has CON
ered upon the President the power of appointment to
office by and with the advice of the Senate and of
moval from Office without the intervention of, and
without consultation with any other power All olces
under The Government, who hold their commissions
from the President, are subordinate to him, and are
merely his agents aid in executing the laws and for
whose acts he is responsible; under these circum-
stances, the power of removal would seem to have
been justly delegated to hsn. For how can Presl-
dent perform the duties enoined upon him. if he 8
surrounded by undutifu and untathiul agents, with
out the power of displacing them and substituting
others in their stead la such the power of
moval would be Iighteousy exercised. The freedom
and purity of the elective franchise should be watch
fully guarded from the influence of office and the en-
crcachments of Executive power. Whenever either
are exerted upon the people, they to be free and
the republic and It's nsti utlons will stand in imminent
danger Under the Constitution, freedom ofthought,
speech and action, guaranteed to all citizens the
Union All men, holding office under the Govern
ment have therefore, the unaues,ionable right
at al! elections they please, and for whomsoever
they choose. Surely it would be deprving them Of
one OF their mos. important immunities were they To
be denied these rights merely because they hold Office
under the Government. But while justify the
exercise Of these rights there other privileges
which We would withhold from persons holding office
under the Government that are enjoyed by obsr citi-
They should not be permitted to become active,
noisy politicians contribute money for the pur
pose of influencing the result of elections. They
should confne themselves merely to depositing their
vote in the ballot box if they did more it should be
sufficient cause for removal from Office. The only
question in relation to those in office, who abstain
from violation of these principles, and whose de-
pertinent is in other respects correct well those
who candidates for office, should be- Is he copa-
bic Is he honest We have thus endeavored to give
our view as to the propriety of the exercise of the
power granted to a President IN making removals
from Office, well to the inquiries that ought to
be made by him, and also the Senate, when nominal
ting and confirming individuals for Office.
Now what the obligations of the people, I'm
der republican form of government, its very es-
consists in the minority yielding up to the will
of the majority in all things connected with the gov
eminent of the nation Where President is faith
fully and periodically endeavoring to perform the
duties enjoned upon bin under the Constitution and
in preserving institutions free and uncontamina-
ted, hold to be the duty of all good citizens to
give him their jealous support. Whenever they fail
to do So but the contrary, strive to embarrass and
cast impediments IN the way of administering the a
fairs of the government the people and the country
both suffer in consequence. If President fails
neglects to execute the duties which are devolved
upon him, let him be mpeached and tried, and if
found guilty, subjected to condgn punishment. Or,
let all such may be opposed to President poit
cal grounds, resort to all fair and honorable
at the proper time, to turn hun out Of Office but let
them abstain from interfering with him in the honest
discharge of his duties in supporting the Constitution,
seeing that the laws faithfully executed and pre-
serving the purity of the elective franchise and the
freedom of our institutions.
Such being views in theory, in regard to the
powers of President and the obligations Of citizens
shall in all cases, without regard to the man,
deavor to carry them out in prac6ce far relates
to the officer reservng, however, to ourselves the
right of judging in all cases. to the propriety
measures that may be recommendation adopted.