Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-02-26

CTS # the nation in any case before US but the
President cannot appropriate one dollar to enable
him 10 investigate any thing The Constitution
never contemplated, them "a il did not give him
the means. that he should examine subjects as
are enabled oexauue them.or that he should be
responsible for failing to do so 1t was newer con
tempiated that he should exercise power either
in the -ame why or II tie same extent with Con
gre-s.. Ia afher words. mean 10 say tho Com
sHtut.on never contemplated that be should ck-
cfei-e the right Of puttiug HI, veto any act Of
Congress on mere grounds Of policy ar eNpedien-
g. Whenever he does that be tran.eends the
constitutional limits marked out in the instra-
meut called the Coustitian Il the United States.
by sing ou the right Of The Legislative body
oni the people they represent. But when he CON
fine himself to yetoes upon uncon >itutioualu es-
Of Congress h. act. strictly within the limits II
hi jurisdiction, aud ha- char and well fined
right 10 the exercise ,t the power.
Sir, suppose he President Of the United
States wa actually 10 attempt 10 investigate
et,ry question OF APedlency, justice, and policy.
"a well every question Of eousti,utionality,
presented by the bills which are sent 10 him for
hi signature. Assume, for the sake oi Hrgu-
mrut. that it l. not only hi, night bat hi, duty Ia
do that. Then What "a situation j. h. placed in
IL i bound. according To that argument 10 dis
elutze adutv f5r which h. ha, mol any means
conferred on him by The Constitution CT the law.
IL Is not ny any constitutional provision emit
ted 10 receive, and IN fact he docs not receive.
any Of thu reports II the committees of Congress,
or any part II the evidence On which they are
founded. He cannot even summon witness
cau-s deposition to be taken lie can employ
no clerks, no agents, not even messenger for
such purpose. lie ha- power To send for
per-an- ~ papers in order to make the GAMMA
ton, which is often Indispensable, aud he has
notadollar 10 eXpend for such object His
SIX Cabinet Ministers have more duties than they
can perinrm without turning legislators, and
could be- At no uss 10 him as such. 70 turn them
from the duties Congress has enoncd upon them
would be n gross abuse of power. And if the
whole of them were to devote Themselves day
and night, To the review Of all our legislation,
they could not properly examine one -iourtho II.
Their Offices were not crcateG by the Constitu-
ton, but by the law; and, aud n mere creatures
of the Leg ,laiive will, should they attempt 10
thwart tho wishes of those who established their
Offices aud pre>cribs their ministerial duties they
might find themselves coutr, 1ted either by re-
peal Of the laws which gave them their being or
by legislative impeachment. The President
must, therefore, supervise the legislation of Con
grrss without ussi,tanct from any quarter, if Le
attempts it.
bat more. sir if the trainers Of the Consti-
tuition mud the laws had intended that the presi-
dent should examine the infinite multitude Of top
les arising ont of the question of eXpcdicncy, jus
tee, aud policy of all legislative measures de no
70, would they not hive directed that the meme
rails ar petition, which are addressed exclusively
To the Legislature, nndnccompany all bills when
sent fro n one lInuNp To the other should % " ia