American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1860-01-26
CITY OF LANCASTER
Thursday January IS, 1890,
Remarks on the Presidents Messsge COE-
cluded.

The President says:
II would recommend to Congress
test authority be given to the President
TO employ the naval force to protect Amer
lean merchant vessels, their crews aud
earsoes, against lawless and violent sez.
urs and con6scalion 10 the ports OF N. xico
and the Spanish American States when
these countries NAV be in disturbed and
revolutionary condition"
Our objections to this extraordinary de-
msnd ofthe President for enlarged power
aud Authority, are purely constitutional. -
We feel aaad lament as fully as does the
President .bs shameful and unjusti6.ble
attacks by The citizens Of Spain and Mex
leo u Jon The lives and property of Ameri
can citizens. These things should be pre-.
vented; pea cea6ly il possible, ana foteibly
when force becomes the last alternative,
bur never by an abandonment Of the pol
Icy and violation Of the constitution Of he
government. We appreciate the high mo.
tive Of the President and commend bis
lauiSble desire to pres rye the lives. FRO.
'ecl tie property and maintain the rights
Of American citizens 10 every latitude and
under all circumstances; but. while we
commend the object aud hope the end TO
DO attained, we differ widely as to the
means. ..st p.
The war,making power was wisely con
fined by the trainers oftae Constitution. to
the Congress Of the United States. His.
tory had taught and experience cor & m
ed that the war making power was dan
gerous in the hand ofa single individual
the Executive Of "a nation. Il might be
turued from its legitimate chanuel and
perverted into an instrument Of seli,ag
grandizement and oppression. Private
wrong, personal malice, or o'erleapinl
ambition might move the President to
iriyolou, and unjust war, and thus nvolv
the nation in danger and ruin.
The Congress ol the United States, a da
Lucrative body Of tried and intelligen
men. representing every section and ever
interest Of the country--drectly respops
bic to tb' people--of sufficient numbers I
prevent Lasty and inconsiderate action, an
rot too numerous 10 prevent promptnes
an decision, with 10 personal wrongs I
ave,age. no ambition TO crafty, with n
power even to execute their own acts Wa
fitting fepository--eminently quali6e
for The exercise Of this bgh prprogativ'
and wisely the Constitution confines il
them. That instrument provides T..
Congress shall have power "to decla
war" "To suppress insurreSton and r
pei INVASION" ITO provide for the con
mon defense and general welfare Of Il
United SIales," and "to make al laws ne
essary and proper for carrying into exec
ton their powers. These powers q
limited and confined to Congress. 81
'cnuaot transfer them, she csnuot deleRa
them TO tho President, nor any power
earth, no more than s9e can delegste b
legislative functions. She can no INC
authorize the President To "declafe wa
directly or indirectly, in form or in fact,
10 do that which is talamount thereto, tn
the President can transfer his Executi
prercgatiVss upon Congress-. The pow
to declare war either "pOr(ect or imp,
feet" implies something more than M
formal declaration. II embraces not OF
the right TO opromulge the declaration,
to say what Is a justifidois coUe. and wl
that jGSlfiabis cause has arisen. ii
shamefully would the intepjmen. OF !
inslrumen, DO peryertsd---lhe designs
our fathers evaded, il Congress could o
declare war after The President had dc,
mined what would be jPtiGONe ca
and 'Ohen that jusiJiabis eOas had ari
II Congress cannot transfer tho W
making power as a whole she cannot tra
Ter it in any OF It's parts. These poi
will be readily conceded and II so.
are Icft no other inquiry .han this; d
the President ask Congress 10 confer u
him, directly or indirectly q poDer or
purt Of a power. limited to them by
Constitution? Does ho ask that body
pFSde that insteumenl? Let usses: n
The President asks Congress to {
him power ITO call out the Naval for
20 pystect American merchant vessels
deicnd the live, and property Of our
Gems. to engage 10 acts Of hostility
Spain aud Mexico, by resort TO arm
and to give him this power in adval
thus constituting him the Judge "a to u
the fact, event, OF cause jOsdfyiug acI
hostility has arisen. lie asks for pow
do tha. which Spin and Mexico W,
consider equivalent to a declAratio
hosliliIieS, that which would justify the
wayiug war upon Us. which must ine'
bly, result 10 that dire end.
True Congress has said (if Il do AZ