The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-03-30


which the President holds to the Constitution?
On the one hand, he is the chief executive OF
II limited government, with limited and dele
gated powers, responsible to the people and
on the other hand he is military conqueror
proceeding upon the right of conquest and
standing upon the right Of power. Yes, sir
the chief executive officer of our limited
Constitution stands at this moment with one
foot upon the Constitution and the other upon
the law of conquest. He is at this moment
exercising the power conferred upon him by
the Constitution, and he is at the same time
welding an absolute sovereignty over an
empire, unIestrained by any restrictions or
limitations whatever. His is most anoma-
lous position. What are his powers, and how
are these limited, and delegated, and qualified
powers to be dovctailed into the Constitution
in connection with his unlimited and irrespon-
sible power? Sir, we. have heard much
heretofore: and with great reason, of the en-
croachmcnts Of the Executive power; but |
| undertake to say that the President of the
United States, independently of this right of
conquest which is carried out in Mexico, at
this moment yields within the United States
a power which the trainers of the Constitution
never contemplated.
The constant accumulation of power in the
hands Of the Executive bids fair to destroy
the balance Of the Constitution 1t has been
an object OF much alarm, OF anxious solicitude
to the statesmen Of this country, and well may
excite the anxious solicitude of the country
itself.
The immense amount of power vested in
the Executive is extended already beyond
any previous expectation. 1t reaches every
nook and corner Of this widespread repub-
lc 1t is q patronage all-pervading; pat
ronage, increasing with rapidity uncXampled
as the blue-book now q ponderous volume
compared with the blue-book of former years,
will illustrate. 1t expands itself with your
growth, and plants itself among the pioneers
OF civilization, in every new establishment of
civilized life. Nay, it moves in advance Of
civilization, and finds wide field for its ex-
erciae in your Indian departmental regions
to which the Indian title is not yet extin-
guished, where savage lie and savage man
ners have not yet given place, and which the
tide of civilization has not yet reached. This
immense and all-pcrvading power acts direct
ly upon the very source Of political power
the people. In connexion with this is the
Constitution to sustain and preserve the rgi-
innate powers Of the Executive, but used of
late without scruplc, not for the purpose of
protecting the Executive from legislative en-
croachments, but, as l am constrained to be-
ling the legislative power-of holding it in
check, and of moulding its action to the opin-
ions, views, and purposes of the Executive.
To these powers, already threatening to
destroy the balance of the Constitution, is
now to be added these anomalous powers ap-
pertaining to the President as the head of the
military establishment, and derived from the
law of nations and of conquest
How can you resist this tendency to abso-
lutte Executive supremacy, or this career of
conquest? Direct legislative action will not
avail. The veto power will intcrpose. You
must refuse to act; you must adopt the rene
dy of the English Commons, Of Withholding
supplies. But will this avail YOU The Pres-
dent has assumed the power Of leyying mon
cy in Mexico; and, if he can levy money,
can he not also levy men? May he not have
purse and sword independent of you?
Sir, let me suppose that we could exchange
characters with the Mexican people: clothc
them with our energy, and enterprise, and
ambition, and place us in their degraded con-
dition; give the President power of levying
men and money in Mexico, and how long
would our cphemeral Republic continue?
Sir with the tremendous power thus accu-
mulaed, the President may overturn the
Constitution. Not perhaps with the bayonet
at your breasts, but by the Tremendous power
thus acquired and thus welded in defiance of
the Constitution. Sir, l desire to learn how
this assumption of the power ofleyying mon
ev in Mexico can be recOncilcd with the Con-
sti;ution. In what portion Of that instrument
is it to he found? Ii cannot be found there. If
justified at ALL it is upon the right ofconQucSt,
and is, therefore, independent Of the Consti-
tuition. What is to be done with these mill
tary contributions levied there? Upon what
basis does the financial system established
there by authority Of the President rest?
Are these military contributions part of
your financial system ? Are they based upon
any act Or authority emanating from you?
Sir, have seen this morning, for the first
time, general order from the commanding
general in Mexico eyyng contributions there.
VIII the President account to you for them ?
No, sir; he intends no such thing. lie will
dispose Of them at his pleasure. What is to
be done with the revenue collected there
If paid into your Treasury, it is by the Pres
dent's permission. IF expended thore-a it
will be-wll he wait for an appropriation ?
The Secretary Of the Treasury tells us that
about half million has already been collcc-
ted there. If it he a part of your finances,
in what item of the honorable Secretary's re-
mort on the finances is it to be found
Sir, where is the ground of responsibility
to you, and how will you enforce it? Upon
what principle will you hold the subordinatcs
employed in the collection of this revenue?
Where will you find the ground of response
bility which can be made the subject of judi.
cial cognizance viii you assume that our
Constitution and laws extend to that country,
and that tbov can he iuliciallv extended TO