The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-25

Our Congressional telegram advises us of the
fact that Senator DOUGLAS yesterday brought in
bill, o restrain and redress outrages upon the flag
and citizens of the UNITED STATES" The provi-
sions of the bill strike us as somewhat extraordi-
nary, and we therefore present them entire as con-
tanned in our dispatch. After the enacting clause
the bill proceeds in general terms to declare that
Sin case of fragrant violation of the laws of ma
'tons by outrages upon the flag, soil, or citizens
'of the United States, or upon their property
''under circumstances requiring prompt redress
'and when, in the opinion of the President, delay
'would be incompatible with the honor and Dig
Unity of the Republic the President is hereby
authorized to employ such force as he may deem
necessary to prevent the preparation of such out
trages and to obtain first redress and satisfaction
''for the same, when perpetrated. And it shall be
'his duty to lay the facts of each case, together
''with the reasons of his actions in the premises
'before Congress at the earliest practicable mo-
'ment for such further action thereon as Congress
s'may Direct
Now it appears to us that the measure proposed
by Senator DOUGLAS is either superhuous or very
dangerous. Either, the PRESIDENT already has the
authority with which the Senator would cothe
him. or else the bill contemplates bestowing upon
him discretionary powers of doubtful expediency
and more than questionable constitutionality The
President is by the Constitution made Comman-
der-in-Chief of the Armies and Navies of the Re-
public. 1t is his duty to employ those forces for
the protection of the citizens of the UNITED STATES,
at home and abroad. He has full power to sta
ton the National troops at such points, within
Tho ha alant md IN
the National vessels into those seas, where
he may think, that their presence is required If
our border settlements menaced by tribes of
hostile Indians, he has power to send regiment
of dragons for their protection. If our commerce
suffers from pirates, or our citizens are molested
upon the high SEAS or in foreign ports, he has
power to send squadron to their assistance The
PRESIDENTS authority to act in all such emergencies,
and to take all necessary steps s'to restrain and
redress outrages upon the flag and citizens of the
UNITED STATES" is only circumscribed by the
limited extent of the means placed at his disposal,
by the smallness of our Army, and the insignifi-
canoe of our Navy. Whatever protection can be
derived from twelve or fifteen thousand troops and
from fifty or sixty vessels, it is the duty of the
PRESIDENT to extend to American citizens and to
1hiicil1dh SohHieICc Lie ulScreuOn winch the
PRESIDENT already enjoys as to the precise DISPOSE
ton of the military and naval forces of the Republic
and that which is vested in the commanders of
frontier posts, and ofsquadrons on distant stations
in circumstances requiring their active nterposi-
ton for the protection of the lives or property of
American citizens is already as large as Senator
DOUGLAS can make it. The PRESIDENT can send
Tomorrow all the available vessels in the SER
vice, to the Gulf of Mexico, for the protection
of our commerce, and issue the necessary
instructions to the commanders of those YES
sells to protect our merchantmen from the
vexatious and tyrannical exercise of the right of
search on the part of British cruisers. No act of
Congress is needed to enlarge the PRESIDENTS
powers in this particular In this light therefore
we are disposed to regard Senator DOUGLAS bill as
simply unnecessary. In another point of view,
however, the measure is very Objectionable one
The bill proposes to provide not for any particular
case, but for all cases of 'fagrant violation of the
laws of nations by outrages committed upon''
our flag or people. Is it intended as a general
transfer of the war-making power from Con-
gress to the PRESIDENT? Does Senator DOUGLAS
propose to invest the PRESIDENT with discretionary
power not only to act on the defensive and to pre-
vent repetition of such outrages, but to proceed
actively against the offending power? If the SEN
ator means to give the PRESIDENT any greater
powers, or larger discretion, than he already pos
sesses it can only be by giving him power to make
war. Had the bill applied solely to the particular
case OF the late outrages in the Gulf, we should
have been disposed to regard it as tantamount to
declaration Of war against England. Being gene
raj in its scope, however, wemust view it as pro-
posed grant to the EXECUTIVE, of powers expressly
denied to him by the Constitution, and expressly
lodged in other hands If Senator DOUGLAS is
really in earnest in his desire Ito restrain and re-
dress outrages upon the flag and citizens of the
UNITED STATES, " let him introduce bill to au-
thorize the construction of fifty gun-boats to be
added to the Navy. Let that right arm of the Ma
tonal defence be strengthened and made adequate
to the task of protecting our commerce all over the
Globe, and the wisdom and discretion of President
BUCHANAN in the exercise of the powers already
vested in him, will supply all the "protecton" that
is needed, and put speedy stop to all "outrages"
in the Gulf of Mexico or elsewhere, on the part of
England or of any other power