Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-10-12

sovereignty u the people is most compreheusiycly
presented The power to declare being withheld
from the Executive, aud expressly lodged in Congress 1t
follows that hc Executive can have authority 10 use
waflikc measures, unless specially authorized by Com
gfess for what would the exclusive power 70 declare
war De worth TO Congress n the power 10 use bcigeren
measures without special authortythat is g. brg on
or make icar-wcre vested In the Executive This Is
one OF The distinguishing features Of our constitutional
system. IL cannot hc changed without breaking do~n
the safcguard- of our national security No man WIN
understands the spirit of American institutions Will Ai
90 see this and be- who docs not may be said NOT 10 com
prchcnd ihc tendency Of our fundamental laws. L. t
surprising that we should hnd such in him who
y held up 90 "the greatest " living Statesmen
For a number " years wherever there was difficulty
between this aud foreign Government, Mr. Douglas
endeayocd again and again 20 invest the President with
the power Of using warkc measures AZ his dscrc
ton, without waiting for the action Of Congress- Here
Is bdl introduced by Douglas on 'the 2ith Of May,
"Bs u enasied &c.,, Thatin cases Of aagraut violations
OF the laws " nations by outrage upon the has or so
or citizens of the United States. upon their property
under circumstances requiring prompt redress aud whom
m tie 0pH0H Of me President, delay would be ncompa-
tiblc with the honor and dignity Of the Republic The
President is hereby authorized employ such force as
M may deem necessary 60 prevent the preparation OF
such ouragcs, aud 90 obtain Just redress and sausac
v 60 lay the facts OF each case with The for his
action 10 the premises before Congress at the earliest
practicable moment for such further action thereon as
This bin was iuiroduccd At time vhcu vessels be-
longing 90 tho British navy, 10 tc Gulf of MeNico un-
dcrtook 10 stop and search American merchantmen ON
the suspicion OF their being sa,crs The BIN did not
pass but whenever there au opportunity, be lh
asonss9n on appropriations for he navy or on the oo-
casion of 6rcigu difficulty he agan and again has
tired 90 bring about fatal transfer OF power. II was 900
thc loth uf August loJ when Dee disclosed his views
more fully and cmphaucay than ever before The IRE
sdent n special message asked for special anilg}
tu protect American citizens thc Transit route. Then
Nj. Douglas expressed himself as follows
l hiuk She President ought u have the power 70 re-
dtcss sudden injuries upon citizens, outrages upon
our flag without waiting for the action Of Congress
The Executive of every other nation earth has that
authority under their respective forms of government
! go further, sir. would in-
trust the Executive with hc authority when an outrage
Is pcrpctr1tcd upon ships and commerce. to punish
t instantly, when be thinks the interest and the honor
of the nation require pr0mpi action would make thus
principle general iu rs application. desire the lresi-
protect American citizens aud the American flag abroad
as the Executive of every other civilized ntpn on earth
possesses. was Wiling 10 anon Uht
principle that this authority shall be vested ia the Pos
dent of the United States as rightoh authority and a
permanent rule uf action, applicable a over the world
whenever ttF think. american interests aud American
l honor require it f0 b. cXcrtcd
When % is known th1t our Executive has the
Pren'er and ihc Fr9irh Emper0r ur the head OF any
other nation possesses you vll find there will be less
number Of ouragc~. Nc.
" Mr- poug had brought forward propositions h1e
this 500 thc heat Ofdeulc aroused hy warAc excitement
zee might excuse him ou the plea thu HE temper ran
away with DIS judgment But the frequent Deliberate
persistent retcarou of his views, must urge the conNic
uon upon us that they have become with him settled
political doctrine. Did hc consider the cNtcut and
/ consequence of the change he demands Docs be
know what II means that the President shall have the
power without waiting for the action Of Congress, TO use
the army and navy when heuut when Congress but he
iuk- the interests Of the country require it Suppose
/ he President bc a man Of cxcitahlc tcmper-of more
vaur than disrrctonor man Of iuordiuate ambition
nr willy politician, uusrruuulnus enough inf olive the
country in order 20 divert plpplu attention from
home d.Hcltie. Suppose such President has the pow
or 10 use M armed forces of the United States when he
thinks Gt Vil moi our reace and srouity De entirely
III the mercy of his temper his ambition or his un-
scupulousnesss
Thi, is NOT SD dangerous saws Slr Douras for ''no
every boecrcnt act leads 10 war" No certainly not
hu II there is a,thnr in the world ant 10 lead 20 war
is bellir.repi srt m is true according TO MIR Doug
las' DIN ne President viii have To- report to Congress
.,,t tI, ,.rli., ,-,,i.i ,r,, 30 ,t will nnt the
President De able by am indirect use of the army or
navy % involve tbc country Ina war 60 array nation
,ans nation long before that earliast practicable
ment" arrives: IL is true Congress will after while,
have power stop the war; but you aware that
ours is a Go,rrutncnt which depcnds not always ON
a cain, public opniou bnt sometimes also on the pas.
of the pcoplei II once, by the measures " the
President we arc In active hostiitcif once 'hc intOx
iatin music Of artillery has started the warke enthus
asm Of the pcope-if once the fighting spirit NJ the
masses is aroused by the SIGHT Of blood will not then
what was commenced AGAINST the Judgment o. the people
be- pushed an bv tloir n9ssions
Mr. Douglas urged his proposition as often MS there
was a spcc. Of war in the horizon But those difficult
lies with Great Britain and the Central American Re
pubcs for the prosecution Of which be demanded that
measures have bcen settled y diplpmac transactions
Our peacchh relations win foreign Governments were
hardly disturbed Not drop of blood was shed. The
honor Of the Republic remained intact the Constitution
iuvinlte Supuo-c Mr. Doupla, notions had prevailed
and hc had been President of the United States clothed
with the discretionary powers he demanded ask you
most seriously, aud invite YOU ponder the question:
what would have been the result then How many out
RACES real imaginary, would be have punished with
| the army navy. without waiting for tho action of
Congress 3" How often would he unrestrancd by Con-
pres have deemed instant redress uecessaryi Into how
many foe would his childish hatred Of Great Britain
have betrayed him In how many wars whould his
sitiuu policy have involved within the last few years
With the blood of your YOU would have paid the
prize Of hi, udscrctous. Let hc President have the
power that Mr. Douglas demands Tor him. and the ques-
ton uf peace war Of prosperity dcsoaiion, will de
pend upon the temper of single individual Put Mr.
Douglas 10 the Presidential chair, and give him, as he
demands the power OF the Fcuch Emperor, and he will
furnish not the prudence but certainly the abitrarnoss.
But Dee contends that our Executive must have that
power, because e Erri0ire of crcy other natoH has
10. Indeed Docs he not know that Just there is the
difference between system Of Government and those
~ other countries Did it never occur 10 him that the
establishment VI imperial power IN this Republic would
require the entire overthrow 0f sur system ~ checks aud
balances Does he not know that even m the hands OF
a British Premier this power is less formidable than II
would be in the hands Of President, siuce tho British
Premier is subject 10 the immediate control Of paria
mentary majority, aud liable to be voted down and dis
missed al any moment which the President and his Sec
rotary Of State Oh, greatest of living states
men, II thou dost not know that, every sweet little
school boy tell thee. But there YOU him. "iu the
lncss Of his ignorance Of this vast subject in the
ury Of his incaplcity TO apprchrud It's merits" as
Lord Brougham would style IL, attempting to ramplc
down the constitutional safeguards which surround the
liberties and the security Of The nation Such ignorance
is dangerous when couplrd with such pretcusions Let
that grcates of living statesmen" study awhile the PEE