Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-12-14
Mr.. Scddou.. Spccch.

VII. SeNuoh SpttCu.
We thank Mr.. Garrett Davis Of ~. for the promp, man.
ncr m which he has brought to the consideration Of Con
gross, the proceedings OF our commanding officers in New
Mexico and California. Several Il the Administration
members have attempted To defend these proceedings
but It is remarkable that each Of them differs from the
otherin the ground upon which they rest their attempted
vindieauon. Mr.. Douglass. Mt Rhcu and Mr.. Scddo,.
ate all satisfied that no violence has been done TO the con.
sniuuon; but Mr.. Rhctt differs from Mr. Douglass in the
reasons for this opinion, aud Mr.. Seldom differs from both.
THey all reach the same conclusion, but by very different
aud even conflicting processes Of argument. Withou, rc-
teuhng now 10 these dlscoTdant views, we would call the
aucnuon OF our readers TO the remarkable speech of our
immediate representative speech which he has evident
ly himself revised for the columns OF the Washington I'M
on. We copy from it the following paragraph in regard 10
the power Of the President TO authorize the acts of Gen
kcamcy and Com. Stockton:
81 now come to the second inquiry which | proposed 10
PROFOUND and that Is with regard to the extent to which
this power may be exercised by the Executive. That is an
interesting question. Ii opens before us an UNEMPLOYED
field OF the constitution. II opens questions ut great mo-
ment, and in regard to which, II undue latitude Of discretion
has been taken by the Executive, | may truly affirm we ere
but preparing the tomb OF this great nation and its free in
snnuous. speak not from any dtstrust ct the executive.
/ am It's friend. | know that executive will be the last TO
demand any such unwarrant1b.c exercise Of powcr-thc last
To establish any such disastrous precedent. Bat the ques-
ton now arises Tor the first time, and propose fairly aud
fully 70 meet H.. | have said that the sovereign power OF
the conqlcIing county has the right 20 de- even the highest
act, and that Is 10 incorporate the conquered province with
its own domain. But the executive has no higher rirht
than 10 establish 4 provisional government to exist dnrinr
the wal. That !; was bound to do. But whence id I de-
rive the authority tor such an actl Not from the clause %
the constitution which rcposcs the executive power IN the
President Of the L. Safest No, nc. II you dcrvc u from
that { a1sc you place II beyond the reach or control OF th!s
House. II you derive It from tina, clause. and this
war last ten or twenty yeats, YOU would make your
executive an emperor, endowed with the absolute
right to control At his pleasure his widespread
domains. You must derNC H., then, from some other
cause OF the constitution and trust do not err IN hum.
by Ncutunng Co sucgcS; that our constitution, which has
hitherto been found equal TO all omtf-ruc.cs, will not he
found wanting now. That power is possessed hy the Pc
sitCntUi the JsUCd States by virtue OF one or TWO clauses
ct the constitution. ! ain inclined TO think Iha' It i DER
we'd from that clause which makes him commander OF the
armies q the United States. Ills power 10 cs,ab. |
.i government duung the war comes within hs func- |
lions - eammandeTlE-chIcf And WHEN You come To
take tIis view o!!t, You will Ind tlat the Precedent, A. |
commander OF the forces, Is al ali times subject 10
the regulations OF Congress, and that u r. competent |
for Congress nj any time 20 direct and couirn. the
tue President in virtue ofh,s office as ommludtr-ir.chic
has the uEhtto establish provisional governments un The ter. |
rItoIy conquered 10y our armies; and which provisional GO
'ernmcn.s At Is the ushtoi the national legislature to con
ITO, Just as II can regulate, clnirCl, aud ptcscroc the ac-
uon Oi the CyumluGcT-ln-chiei Therefore, IN ms upu-
ION, these provisional temporary governments which have
been established 4 short time since ATE even now ,aLIyctt 10 |
tHc couuo! aud supervision ct This legislature. You can,
% YOU choose, prescribe Co morrow wAa; sha.. he the nature
OF that provisional government. You can pass a law PIE
ser.b'us the eNientot the commanders power. And ths
is, l iunN, worthy 90 being borne ln miui-t this be d,f!-
Sei i!om the executive power OF the nation, then. So long
a. the war cNi.s, the executive is beyond ur control; hgi
de'-.a-sAIci ot the forces, he Is ataJ times subject to our
legislation
TIN, Ground r,l,, Ly NJ s.rr,. 81 60, rrs..-t
ari,b,. ID, this; ,bo, tb, President Ian. M, --b, -.
nom he rso.. ,, ,b, r,,.u,1,.,, 5.f,,,- rr..n.
powers. TO authorize the e.,abis,us,, ot , ,,y.nu,,n
a conquered territory, and that BE-. c>er..,, under That pro.
VISION of the constitution, would convert E.m into an I'm.
Peror, endowed with absolute power. 81 ir we concur
with Mr. seldom. But Nj :. contents that the P,e.is,r,
has the .1Sor g., do thi.. under tla, clause of the g .ps,t,.
ton which makes him c,mmans.a.a.chi.t Of iii. s,mI,.
oi Go, United States. Really, 10 seems 10 Ms q, be , m,,
~ %. very liu.e consequence, f tine exercise OF Hm. power
hiss a tendency 10 convert the President into On absolute
Monarch, a. Mr.. Sodd1n admits, from villa: clause
of the constitution It o. derived. And 10 strikes us. l., a
novel idea certainly, ihat the President possesses larger
power as manufactured al us army than he does
As The Chief Executive Magistrate! Bat what is Mr.
ssid,u's reason Tor 'hs extraordinary discrimination 7-
d.. 49, .. ..- o. Dol. 800