Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-31
SHALL WE HAVE A DICTATOR {,

IT, The EJitors of Tie Enpvircr::
In recent editorial review vf the Prrsi-
dents Annual Message, You svow the opinion,
that its departures from the rule of political
faith laid down By the Democratic Republican
party have been both marked and frequent.
Conc,irring with YOU in most OF your obJec-
tionS, would respectfully invite yo,ir atten-
ton, and that Of the people of the United
States. TO departure more Hagrant and far
more serious, not only from true Republican
principle, but from the plain letter and spirit
Of the Constitution. | allude 10 the Presi-
dent, declared intention, on the occurrence Of
contingent event. Of making WARRIOR il is
nothing Lesson foreign State. without the
previous sanction Of Congress Read his own
words and say whether they do not verify the
charge:
with foreign nations Is limited 10 tn. employment, o
diplomacy alone When this falls proceed fur
ier II cannot egitina.ey resort TO force, without the
direct authority of Congress except In resisting and repe
ling hostile starki would hnye authority 10 enter
she Territories Of Nicaragua prevent the destruc
zion OF the transit. and protect the lives and properly
citizen, their passage I, true that 90
den emergency Of this character the President would d.
any srn-d force 10 the vicinity march th-r
lief I'M; u! d"!nr III, lie would ac urcI III OWE rrSPonS
b;iiy.'
Before offer any observations on the extra
ordinary announcement contained in the last
sentence Of the above paragraph. will advert
10 an expression in the first which, may per.
hapS justify Il passing comment. The phrase,
executive government. is there used to dcsiG-
nate the officer entrusted with the executive
power. That officer is the President. THE
executive power, says the Constitution. shall
be vested in a President Of the United States.
The compound term therefore executive gov.
crnmcnt," is not only incorrect and redundant
hut conveys. constitltionally speaking false
impression. Ii is as inaccurate a. would he
the expression, Judiciary government, or lesiS-
lative government, to denote the departments
in which the judicial and legislative powers are
respectively vested Neither the judiciary,
tutcs the government" each is but compo-
nent and coordinate branch: and the prcten-
sion of supremacy seemingly asserted by the
President. too nearly resembles the arrogant
boast Of Louis Le Grand. to bc found in state
paper cmanatiny from the chief servant of Il
limited Rcpubir--cSpccially from one claiming
to stand on the platform Of the Democratic
Republican party As Patrick Henry would
say. N hHs i" "'etW .qUinfin1: y syUjai< ~
Woaarrhv.
But to return: Nothing in the whole para.
graph quoted above until We reach the con.
rluding sentence, could be more uncxccptiona.
blc than the Presidents views Of the powers
and duties of the Executive in conducting orr
intercourse with foreign nations II ;sHmit,d.
hc tells Us. IL diplomocy ALONE, and il thai
shoull fail, y r,n prore,& NJ rrRrngE: that =
r'"""i LrGIrIu,TErY rr'"H /" .J"rer without the
.H,fct authority Of Congress nay he admits.
.nphatically. that it would have ao nvth"ri'y
to enter the tcrrtorir, of Nicaragua even tn
urryrnt the destruction Of the transit and pro-
tfc! he Hr's am ]r")'riy Of orr citizens. -
Yet. in the very next breath he declares, that
on a sudden emergency Of this character. lie
would direct an armed force 10 march TO their
relief Was ever conclusion inorc nj war
with the premises: Did any absolute potcn.
tate ever more boldly proclaim medltated and
palpablr ls,lrpation: Has Senator Seward
with the laws and Constitution Of the Mon
But ~ doinq this. the President adds. 5s
o-0uH act on hty o,rB respoHsibility. Indeed.
The President cannot have forgotten that he
has solemnly sworn in the face Of the nation.
.fafthfuHg TO execute the office he holds, AMI
i1 prt~rrc. Jrot.ct odd 1tJtrd tie CoHStjf"-
|tUH U| fm tHttH 'Nb'fS. lie II
aware that without the sanction of Congress.
in whom the war-lnaking power is exclusively
vested. he ho. M authority 10 do the act hc
cnntelnp!atcs. Yet he will do il upon hi, own
responsibility. DO what: Deliberately viz.
late his oath. Not that Mr. Buchanan ran pos.
,ibly so regard it But is it anything less
tan the bold arowal of acting OH his own re.
Spon>ibility discharge him from the obligation
that oath imposed or atone for violating the
Constitution. from which he alone derives his
powers: Why. then Seward, should he vcH-
turc to carry into practice his hghcr-law dog
mas: all offenders. indeed, against law or mora
litv may equally claim the same merit. and
rest on the same defence. But far from exten.
uating. this plea must ever he deemed an az
gravation Of gult--thc greater when offered by
men occupying positions OF high trust and COM
manding influence, and supposed. therefore, to
he impressed with n due sense Of political and
moral duty. II is calculated to weaken that
sense in others: for whenever responsibility
shall cvcntuatc in impunity. the public at large
NAV he apt 10 regard the offence itself as too
vcnal for punishment; nay, in the case Of
high and daring offender, to forgive, if not to
applaud the crime. through admiration Of the
harihood which prompted its commission
Representatives. forsooth. The responsibility
Of President elected BY popular vote, and
holding the sword and the purse Of the nation.
Just such responsibility as President Polk in.
CURED By making war on Mexico-or General
Jackson for scizng on the public treasure, pro-
claiming martial law. imprisoning citizens, and
arrogantly threatening a sovereign State OF the
Union with federal vengeance.
Responsibility Mrough mems ~ impeach-
mtnii An impeachment by the House of Re-
representatives.. Ia be tried by the Senate. Who
Shall hell the cat How many will raise their
voices against the commandcr-in.chiefo Of the
army and navy, and the dispenser Of millions !:
Let history tell.
Presidents have been accused, on the floor
of Congress. and elsewhere. with malfcaSanccs
in office too notorious to he denied. Under the
single power Of appointment they have been
convicted, in miinhercss instances, Of placing
and retaining in office corrupt MEN from
corrupt motives. The proofs are upon record
And what then All is told.
When the danger of such abuses was urged
as an objection To the Constitution. Mr.. Madison
treated il a., utterly destitute OF weight. Such
was the purity Of his own heart that he could
not conceive how an American President could
30 far forget his duty a> Ia use the patronage
with which he was endowed for the public
good. in rcwardiag personal or party sub
Scr,iency: and he insisted. that if such abuses
should ever occur. they would subject the Pre-
sidcnt to impeachment and removal Could
that upright statesman rise from his t"lnb. how
would Iir not he ainaSed AMI mortified TO lind
the progress Of his successors in the brief space
Of y single generation: Slavish partlzan>;
supple dcmagoguc>, have her"me the favored
recipients If Executive patronage: and shame
to say, Of popular appreciation. All who VIII
not bend the knee Ia party idols are treated rs
hcrct;cs from the true faith: alien enemies "f
that country many of them would die to save ;
forced to bear full share Of all the public bur
thcn>, while excluded from any just participation
in the honorS and benefits Of the Government.
Is not the fact alonc--rhat conduct regarded by
n,r fathers by the wi,cSt and purr>t Of ouI