The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-05


puisd to the cabinet For s honor Of our country we
would desire to discredit and forget them.
Such is the spectacle presented to the eyes OF the
American people and the world. How humiliating to
our prde-how painful to our self-respect-how alarm
ing hope Of future national prosperity. perpetuiiy
and renown God grant that the page Of our history
which records the administration Of President Taylor
may be read in all time 10 come by our counuymen in
search Of example to be Stunned. and not Of prece
dent to be followed. that his weakness may become
our strength, and his shame our glory
We propose now, very briefly. to glance through the
constitution, and show clearly that all who run may
read, that the pursued by President Taylor, in this
respect. is plain palpable, and dangerous violation Of
the letter and spirit Of every provision Of the constu
ton relating TO tie Office and duties Of President
In the second article Of that instrument il is provided
" that the executive power shall be vested in Pres
dent OF the United States that no person but natu
born Citizen or citizen OF the United States al the
adoption of the constitution shall be eligible to the Office
Of President Neither shall any person be eligible that
Office who shall not have attained the age Of Mirtyus
years. and been fourteen years resident of the United
States.
Should the President be removed die resign or be I'M
able 10 discharge his duties the Vice President shall
fully the Office Of President OF the United States" He
shall be commander inchief Of the army and navy, SC.
He mayrequre The opinion IN writing ofthe principal
officer in each of The departments upon any SUD-
jsc relating 10 the duties Of their respective Offices
He shall nominate, and. by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, appoint all officers sc. Now here
the duties Of the President clearly defined No
Of ordinary intelligence mistake them. We have
/ 49, 4
out. These are to give the President information IN
,oring relative to the affairs Of their respective Offices.
The constitution creates cabinet; parcels out the ex-
ecuive power among no SepfenUirs; It provides Tor
neither cabinet meetings. votes, nor supervision Of the
President The head Of each executive department is
communicate with the President in writing and relative
to the affairs OF his oice-not the other offices,
or the country large This whole cabinet system is
plain departure from the constitution se and is far
the heads Of departments concerned, dangerous
usurpaiion OF power
| Why was the constitution careful in requiring the
President to be thirty-fve years of age, native born
citizen, resident Of fourteen years, and to take oath
to execute faithfully the Office Of President if he to
be allowed to appoint cabinet whose members could
roga,e all his executive authority and who might be less
than thirtyfve years of age, foreigners by BIRTH resi-
dents Of few years, and who do not and cannot take
an oath to the Office Of PRESIDENT This was
singular oversight the part of the trainers of that i'm
mortal charter of freedom, the modern usage is
abuse they anticipated 1t is obvious that this
mode all the guards Of liberty against executive
croachment, and all the guarantees Of wisdom independ
ence, and patriotism in that unconary. required and
iabshed in the constitution, utterly frustrated and
that he becomes mere puppet assigns his duty to hands
recognised by the constitution, and thus escapes all
responsibility himself by transferring il to those who are
from their official positions, entirely beyond the reach
responsibility Such is the significant tendency Of Pres
dent Taylors plan OF administering the affairs OF the gov
eminent What must be its end We almost fear tc
ask the question: listen TO the response which history
will give The weakest of Presidents never thus
shrunk from their post, skulked so ingoriously
from the duties conferred them by their fellow -c
zens. They might have erred. might have been mlsn
formed, might have been duped by the designing
but they scorned to the iron collar of the se they
did not exult in acknowledging MASTER although thai
master might have been the cabinet" Who ever heard
Of Washington, Jefferson, or jackson, in cabinet con
clave, "srainng his throat 10 persuade Mr. Crawford
TO swap him votei No, no. The earlier Presidents
had attained to this courteous and refined sense Of
cabinet niabiy They did not imagine the people had
elevated them to the exalted station OF executive ci-
pliers.
But, after all, this cabinet system is evidently fash
toned upon the British model Thus il may work well
enough when the King hereditary, aud the great maxim
is that he do wrong, and that the ministers alone
are responsible Popular opinion only reach the gov
eminent through the ministers But here is the President
and not his cabinet who is responsible The people elect
him. and not his cabinet; and il they become dissatisfied
with him. they strike him down the next election for be
not only do wrong. but must for it His cabi
net styled, consisting Of his subordinate executive
func,ionares, the heads OF departments or registers Of
the executive acts OF the administration neither glo
r6ed for the good held amenabe for the bad
performs. The constitution regards them immaierial
altogether in their functions and the people think
OF them at presidential election, than they do Of the
porter who stands grumblng al the Presidents door
Gentlemsp Of the cabinet you have grown little
above your legitimate business and have mistaken the
constitution under which you power il is the
British il is the American constitution and il should BE-
the prompt duty Of Congress to teach both you and the
President the wide difference between them. This ia
lesson in the hombook Of craftsmanship which
never to have come within the range Of your sublime
CONCENTRATIONS 1t is high time to enlighten you. VIZ
shall take an early occasion this subjects
deserves the deepest consideration oil the country