Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-12-03

lish or exclude a dynasty 10 snatch
crown from the head Of one potentate am
place il upon the head Of another that J
had onen been prosecuted TO promote alieI
and other interests than those Of the natior
whose chief had proclaimed il, as in ih'
case of English wars for Hanoverian inter
ests and, in short, that such a vast ant
tremendous power ought not 10 be confined
to the p~erilous exercise Of one single man
The Convention, therefore, resolved tc
guard the war making power against those
great abuses, Of which, in the hands of .
monarch, il was so susceptible. And the
security against those abuses which its wis
dom devised. was to vest the war-makins
power in the Congress Of the United States
being the immediate representatives. Of The
people and the States. So apprenticeship,
and jealous was the Convention Of its abuse
in any other hands, that il interdicted the
exercise Of the power TO any State in the
Union, without the consent Of Congress-
Congress, then, in our system Of govern
ment, is the sole depository Of that trcmen.
doUs power.
The Constitution provides that Congress
shall have power 10 declare war, and grant
letters OF marqne and reprisal, TO make rules
concerning captures on land and water, TO
raise aud support armies, to provide and
maintain a navy, and to make rules for the
government Of the land and naval forces
Thus we perceive that the principal power.
in regard 90 war, with its auxiliary attend
ants, is granted 10 Congress. Whenever
calleo upon 70 determine upon 'ne solemn
ques.ioh OF peace OF war, congress must
cohs'uei anu uei'oera'e anu oec'ue upon
.ne houses' op!ec's anu CAUSES 10 .ne ""'
hnu, u a war oe cohm,ehceo' w''nou' any
previous declaration OF It's o%oIec's, as " Tue
case OIL Tue eA'snng war WIN NieS'co Con
gress must necessarily possess Inc authority,
at any time, 10 declare Tor what purpose 1t
snaii De iurther prosecuted. III we suppose
congress does not possess the controlling
authori'y attributed 10 u; u II De contend
Cd tnat a war once having commenced, the
PRESIDENT oil the oni'ed states may direct II
10 tue accomplishment oil any onleets ne
Pieases' without consulting ana Without any
regard 10 tue VIII oil Congress, inc ConveIi-
uon VIII nave utterly tailed IN guarding the
nation against the abuses and ambition OF a
single individual. Either Congress or the
fresident must nave the right OF determln.
ing upon the objects Tor which a war shall
be prosecuted. Ihere Is no alternative.-
Ii the PRESIDENT possess IL and may prose-
cute 1t Tor OBJECTS against the will OF Con-
gress, where IS the difference between our
free government and that OF any other ma.
ton which may be governed by All absolute
Gar Emperor or King!
Congress may omit, as 1t has omitted in
the present war, to proclaim the objects for
which 1t was commenced or has been since
prosecuted, and in cases of such omission
the President, being charged with the EN-
ployment and direction oil the national force.
49, necessarily, lett 10 his own judgment TO
decide upon the objects, to the attainment
oil which that force shall be applied. But,
whenever congress shall think proper to
declare, by some authentic act, for what
purpose a war shall be commenced or con-
tinued, 1t is the duty Of the President TO up
ply the national force to the attainment of
those purposes. In the instance OF the last
war WIN Treat Britain the act oil Congress
py which II was declared was preceded oy
a message OIL president mad'son' enumera-
~
complained against u,eai nrliain. ina,
message therefore, and withoui the wei
known oolecis oil Inc war; which was a war
purely oil defence, rendered II necessary that
Congress should parllcularlze, In the act,
the sPecihc ooJects Tor winch 1t was pro-
claimed The whole world knew that II
was waF waged Tor Free Trade and Sail
ors' Rights.
IL may DC urged mat the PRESIDENT and
wi,bont anv exnress limitation as 10 i,s ex'
ercise that the natural and ordinarv term.
nation of a war is by a treaty of neace. and
therefore. that the President and senate
must possess the power 10 decide who, sim.
ula,iuns and condi,;ons INNS, enter into snch
n ,reo,y. Ri, il ;s NOT more ,rne hat the
President and Senate possess the treaty
MAKING power. withou, limitation than ,b,,
Conorsss nossess the war maxim, noyo,
wi,bou, resir;r,ion These ,wo nnwars
then ouobt IN he so ;,,er,re,ed 40 N rscon-
Gle the one with ,be o,ber. and !, ~
pounJing The cons,;,n,;on wo ouch, 70 To-,
,ons,,n,Iv in view Tho nature an5 .,rn.,nsp
of onr re- rove,nmen, .nd asnao;.II. a.
area, .ob;ecs Of ,he Conven,;on in ,.L;ns
he y,r m,L;nr no,ver an, os d. h.nJ, y
a s;ncls.m man and nIoc;,g !, in he ssSsr en-.
,odv of the yenresenta,;ves of he ,,boIs M.