The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-13
The Restoration OF the Government to It's
Original Purity.


istration of the old chief.
The administrative policy Of the present
federal executive, has departed so far from
that established by Gen. Washington, that
it is almost impossible TO recognize any lea
lures in common betweent the two systems.
The Washingtonan system was, IN every
particular, faithful execution Of the laws.
The system now in vogue, rs almost an en-
tire substitution Of the Presidential will in
disregard of the laws.
The primary executive powers Of the Pres
iaent, are defined in the second and third
sections of the second article Of the Consti-
tuition,
/. To be Commander-in-chiefo Of the Ar
my and Navy of the United States.
9. To be Commander-in-chiei Of the mi
litia Of the several States, when called into
the actual service Of the United States.
3. To require, if he thinks proper, the
opinion, in writing, Of the principal officer in
each Of the executive departments, upon any
subject relating 10 the duties of their respec-
tive Office.
4. To grant reprieves and pardons for
offences against the United States, except
in cases Of impeachment.
3. To make treaties by and with the
advice and consent Of the Senate, provided
two-thirds Of the Senators present concur.
6To nominate, and, BY and with the
advice and consent OF the Senate, appoint
ambassadors, other public ministers and con-
suls, Judges Of the Supreme Court, and all
other officers Of the United States, whose
appointments are not herein otherwise pro-
vided for, and which shall be established by
law
I. To appoint such inferior officers as
Congress may, by law, vest in the President
alone.
s. To fill up all vacancies that may hap
pen during the recess of the Senate, by
granting commissions which shall expire at
the end of their next session.
8. To give to Congress, from time to time,
Information Of the state Of the Union.
10. To recommend to the consideration
Of Congress such measures, as he shall Judge
necessary and eXpedlent 81
IL. To convene, ON extraordinary occa-
sions, both houses or either Of them.
-. To adjourn both houses, to such time
as he shall think proper, in case Of disagree
ment between them with respect to the time
of adjournment.
49, To receive ambassadors and other
public ministers.
H. To take care that the laws be faith
fully executed.
Is. To commission all the officers Of the
United States.
There are all the primary executive pow
ers vested in the President Where the laws
prescribe certain duties for him to perform,
those duties are derived from the primary
powers conferred by the Constitution upon
him. The Constitution declares what he
shall do, The laws may declare how he
shall do what is required by the Constitution,
It's in the execution Of these fifteen pow
ets, that tile federal executive has gone far
astray from the spirit and mode in which
General Washington executed them. To
return to the practice OF Washington in eX-
ecating them, Is General Taylor's purpose,
and the country knows that lie viii execute
his purpose IN this matter, without fear or
favor.
In order to ascertain the extent and mag
nitude Of the task, which the President Elect
has TO perform, in restoring the government
10 its original purity, glance at the Wash
ington and the Polk practice, will be ne
cessarv.
Gen. Washington construed all grants of
power to the executive, to be grants limited
by the instrument comforting them. Col
Polk construes them to be absolute grants
Of power, the exercise Of which is limited
only by the discretion of the Executive
Washington regarded them as strictly legal
trusts, limited in ttcf character, and con-
terF'ng no more power thanwhat is sufficient
10 execute their provisions. Polk considers
them in the light OF executive prerocatiyes.
comforting upon the office supreme power,
for the exercise Of which the incumbent i
only responsible to his own judgment. The
one treated them as parts and parcels OF the
system OF government established By the
Constitution, beyond the pale Of which he
would never pass, in their exercise, The
other views them as the chart of absolute
power, to the extent Of the grants, and he
acts as an autocrat in their construction and
application.
Bearing these distinctions in mind, we
shall be able, upon closer examination Of
the subject, to realize the vast difference
between the Washington and Polk systems
Of executive administration, and to appreci-
ate the Importance Of restoring the former,
which it is the avowed intention Of General
fE,.,.l,r a.. 4