The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-27
For the Union

sss.d Of . President asd CabIsss-
The awakening Of the people, caused by the violation
suckers the spols hunters Of the whg party, who have
r.uaded The Second Washington 10 throw of the trou
bes OF Office on his cabinet The powerful blows given
By the democratic press generally upon the present ad
mosraton have made them reel and totter in their seats
ol il. gotten and worse used power and the results oil
the elections held since The Inauguration of the Presi
dent have finished the work OF alarm
al ali times it is Of vital mporlaDce TO guard the con-
.tuon from violation, and essential than
this very time propose to call the attention of the peo-
Die to subject OF great importance, already ably com
msuted on in The Union which has been lately brought
IN hight 1t is the acwhich believe is not contradict.
al nv the organs in this city, and presume cannot be
with mth-thal the Second Washington has SURRENDERED
10 has cabinet the po1cers OF the executive BRANCH Of the
pousrnant merely exercising an equal right Nth each Of
By The constitution, the President 'may require the
opinion in writing, of the principal officer in each of the
Executive departments upon any subject relating to the
duties of their respective Offices" (See O. art q
This together with the management Of their respective
departments established and regulated by law all
he President eons,ituttonalfy require of them or ey
mastiionaHy do II he requires more he violates thai
instrument, they equally do BY obedience to his
mands H
ling TO have the Executive power thus divided. The
man who makes such division, should be arragned
before the country whether he be President Secretary
To understand clearly the meaning of the above pro-
vision the second section, 1t is necessary to TO
the proceedings of the convention which framed it. |
viii give YOU few extracts relating to the subject found
in the report of MIR. Madison, in the 5th volume OF Ell
liot's Debates.
On the question OF an Executive revision Of acts of
Congress- proposed to unite the judges OF the Su
peme Court with the President 10 council for that pur-
pose Mr. Rutledge opposed it as wrong, in principle.
HE thought il equally unnecessary. The Erecufiue
could abuse Uh the officers Of Sate-as Of Var, FL
nance, Se-and dual htmself Of their Information and
'pn'p page a. Mr. Ellsworth observed tina, council
had been provided for the President He conceived
there ought be one His proposition that it should
be composed oil the President of the Senate, tho Chief
Justice, and the ministers, they might be established
for the departments Of foreign and domestic affairs,
finance snd marine, ho shO"d sdu, out MOI conclude
"Mr Plnckney wished the proposition lie over, as
noGI nor os hs aor
was, that the President should be authorized call for
ell and will hwar him. weak and he will shelter
"Mr Gerry was against letting the heads of the depart
mens, particularly OF finance, have anything to do in
business connected with legislation. He mentioned the
Chief Justice, also, particularly exceptionabe. Thess
will also be so taken up with other matters as to neg
lect their own proper duties.
Mr Dickinson urged that the great appointments shonld
be made by the legislature, which they might
properly be consulted by the Executives but NOT, made
by The Ereeufire himsef"
At page 4i6: Mr.. Gouverneur Morris, seconded by
Mr. Pnckney. submeda number OF propositions, which
were referred TO the committee of detail among which is
this:
"The President may, from time to time, submit any
the discussion OF the council Of state. and he
require the written opinions OF any one of the
members But he shaa in all exercise his Jufg
men and either co"form 10 such oeinio"s NOT may
think proper AMI trery officer ADORE mentioned shall be
lar department."
AT page 46a: :" Mr. Rutedge, from the committee to
whom referred, on the 18th and 10th instant, the
propositions OF Mr.. Madison and Mr. Pinckney, made
the report following" OF which the following is an ex
tract:
"The President OF the United States shall have PRIV
he
the House Of Represent ves the Chief Justice
supreme Court and the principal officer in the respective
departments of foreign atfirs, domestic affairs, war;
rine and finance, as such departments of office shall from
time to time be established whose duty it shall be adj
wise him ia matters respecting the execution of his oce
which he shall think proper lay before them; but
sav ,sa .s s sss s a sge HIS
AT page 500: "Mr Brearly, from the committee OF
eleven, male further partial report as follows" in
which the subject is made to take the form in which
stands IN the constitution, viz:
"And may eqne the opinion in writing OF the principal
officer in each oil the executive departments upon any sub
ect relating the duties OF their respective Offices"
In the foregoing extracts he italics my OWN the
distinguished men whose names connected with the
subject have expressed the views OF the convention up
the duties and responsibilities oil the Chief Magistrate
and the heads OF departments, All show that it was
nor escape responsibility himself by shifting it upon them
and that they should be responsible individually for their
own advice, which is required to be in writing. and
ans solely to the management Ut their respective de-
partments.
To know in how many particulars the constitution is
violated BY this 0cemuir practice OF the Second Wash
inson, we should the dates it imposes upon the
President, the discharge OF which he has shifted
his cabinet and been assumed by them in their present
arrangement, or which are within its purview.
tie may grant reprevcs and pardons for offences against
the United States, ereept IN cases Of impeachment.
ne may make treaties in conjunction with the Senate.
Tie shall nominate ambassadors and other ministers
and consus, judges of the Supreme Court and all other
officers OF the United States, with certain exceptions, and
may NIL all vacancies during the recess of Congress
II, shall see that the laws faithfully executed
To insure faithful performance of his duties, he takes
an oath that he twill faithfully execute the Office of Pres
dent of the United Safes and will to the best of my ab
ly preserve protect. and defend tie Constitution Of the
Unaed States"
II he does not execute the duties OF his oce he vio
laes his oath and the constitution at the moment
know whether he has committed that great ohence it
only necessary 10 know whether the reported arrange
men OF his cabinet be true II il be that Gen
Taylor leaves the granting Of pardons the nomination
o ambassadors or other ministers and eonsus or Judges
OF other officers of the United Sates which he is by law
aee'ed TO appoint, to vote of his cabinet, he merely
holding single vote therein and carrying into effect
Melr decisions as II they OF his will, then II
becomes grave question for Congress to consider how
M II Is their duty to nerpo,e, in order to maintain the
constitution in its purity, they also will be do
But the constitution also provides for the establishment
Of executive departments, the heads of which are also
pound by oath TO discharge their dutes and maintain the
constitution. II they neglect their own dutes dis
Coage those which that instrument imposes upon others,
they equally violate their oath II the President shall
request them discharge his dutes no matter from what
cause whether from imbecity ignorance, it is high
msaemeanor IN them to comply l. be requests them to
select by majority OF votes in their body persons to be
appointed ambassadors charges or consuls for foreign
service for the various bureaus at Washington or the
Pos onces through the country, the Offices of the
sVehue marshas, attorneys and all the other Offices of
ume government, instead OF making those appointments
duties