American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-01-07
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But toreturn Nothing in the Who'll,
paragraph quoted above, until we reacl
the concluding sentence, could be more
unexceptionable than the Presidents
views of the powers and duties of the
Executive in conducting eur intercourse
with the foreign nations. tits limited.
he tells us, to diplomacy ALONE, and
If that should fail, it can proceed NO
FURTHER; that 1t cannot LEGITIMATELY
resort to. force without the direct author.
'ty of Congress may, he admits,
emphatically, that it would have no
aMthorsty to enter the territories of
Nicaragua even to prevent the destruc.
ton of the transit and protect the lives
and property of our citizens. Yet, in
the very next breath he declares, that
on a sudden emergency of this char
acter, He would direct an armed force
to march to thoir relief, Was ever n
conclusion more at war with tho pre-.
misses? Did any absolute potentate
ever more boldly proclaim a meditatcd
and palpable usurpation Has Scna.
tor Seward himself ever affected n
loftler power to dispense with the laws
and Constitution of the Union?
But IN doing this, the President
adds, he could act on his own RESPONSE.
diltty. Indeed! The President can
not have forgotten that he has solemn
~ sworn in the face of the nation,
ta'thtuHy to execute the office he holds,
and to preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution ofthc United States. lie
Is perfectly aware that without the
sanction Of Congress, in whom the war.
making power is exclusively vested,
he has no authority to do the act he
contemplates. Yet he will do it upon
his responsibility. Do what? Deli.
berately violate his oath. Not that
MIR. buchanan can possibly so regard
1t. But is it anything less Z? Can the
bold avowal Of acting on his own re.
sponsb'lity discharge him from the
obligation that oath imposed or atone
for violating the Constitution, from
which he alone derives the powers?-
Why, then Seward, should he venture
to carry in practice his higher law dog
mas; all offenders, indeed, against law
or morality, may equally claim the
same merit, and rest on the same de-
fence. But far from cxtenuating, this
plea must ever,be deemed an aggrava-
ton of guilt-the greater when offered
by men occupying positions of high
trust and commanding influence, and
supposed, therefore, to be impressed
with due sense of political and moral
duty. 1t is calculated to weaken that
sense ia others for whenever response
blity shall eventuatc impunity, the
public at large may be apt to regard
the offence itself as too venial for
punishment ; nay, in the case of high
and daring offender, to forgive, if not
to applaud the crime, through admirs-
ton of the hardihood which prompted
its commission.
Responsibility, forsooth The re-
sponsibility Of a President elected by a
popular vote, and holding the sword
and purse Of the Nation Just such
responsibility as President Polk incur.
red by making war on Mexco-or
General Jackson for Selling on the
public treasure, proclaiming martial
law, imprisoning citizens, and arrogant.
y threatening sovereign State of the
Union with federal vengeance.