New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-11
EXECUTIVE DUTIES.


The fact that James buchanan is President of
the United States, and that the term of his office
extends to the 9TH of March next, is plainly
enough ore of the chief reasons for the great
haste of the leading SccesSiOnSts to push their
sch, mes to n contamination previous TO the ex
piration of that period. They evidently calculate
that our venerable President will remain per-
lectly inert and that beyond few empty words,
rather Of lamentation and regret than of admon'
ton or warning, he will oppose no obstacles
whatever to the operations which they have In
hand.
Considering the past history of Mr.. Buchanan,
how he has spent almost the whole of his pOliti-
cal life in playing the sycophant to Southern
professions and in urging concession to the very
point of disgusting his immediate constituents,
and losing all political influence in his own State,
it is not so surprising that the SecessiOnists
should expect him TO close his career in way
so pusillanmous and gnominous. Should he do
so. however, he will be obliged to act in utter
dis ceard of the opinion of his own Attorney
General as to his duty in the premises. Accord
ing 70 that opinion, the President has no power
10 recognize the independence of secedlng
State, or to absolye her from her Federal
oIlieatons-a point, indeed, which any
man of common sense might reach with
out the aid of an Attorney General The
President has no right tamey to surrender
or TO wink at the seizure of the forts, arsenals,
magazines, dock-yards, navy yards, custOm-houses,
public vessels and other property which the United
States have bought or built, and over which they
possess not only the right of property, but the
exclusive right of jUrisdiction-a jurisdiction au-
thorzcd by the Federal Constitution and specially
conceded by acts Of the State Legislatures. He
is also bound to collect the revenue of the United
States. and to carry out the laws of the Union
in relation to the entry and clearance of shipping
For that purpose it is his right and duty to
uphold custom. house establishment in every port
of entry Sin some secure place." which may be
ON The water, if it cannot be found on the land
Not only is If the right and the duty of the
President, under the existing laws, to defend the
aforementioned property of the United States
against aggressiOns under any pretended State
authority or otherwise, but also to reOccupy it,
and to employ the army and navy of the United
States for that purpose if necessary, in case it
should have been seized upon by force or betrayed
by treachery into the hands of trespassers.
Now, so long as the United States occupy,
with their forts, cusOm-houses, and ships-Of-war,
the coasts and barbors of any State, continue to
levy duties on her commerce, and to regulate
her intercourse with all other communities, all
her secession ordinances amount to just nothing
in relieving her from her obligations TO the Union.
To make herself really independent she must
seize and hold these forts drive off these ships,
break up these custom-houses in other words she
must levy war against the United States. If she
does that, it becomes the legal duty of President
Buchanan, aud Of all other Presidents, to rcpel
force by force, and not merely to hold the prop
erty of the United States against all assailants,
but should it be essential to the safe occupation
and enjoyment of this property, to seek out and
break up any combination formed for tire pur-
pose Ct wrestling it from its rightiul owner.
Just now, it does not look much as if Mr..
Buchanan intended to perform the duties which
the laws impose upon him. The arsenal at
Charleston, instead of being guarded by United
States troops, has been turned over to the pro-
lection of a militia company, acting under the
orders of The Governor. 1t is reported that the
Commander of Fort MOultrie has been refused
certain supplies froIn this arsenal, which, in the
routine Of his duty, he sent to demand. OF the
three forts belonging to the United States, which
guard the approaches to Charleston, only one has
any garrison, and that by no means adequate to
the defense Of the place. Should these forts be
occupied by the insurgent Seceasionist', it might
be difficult, or impossible, to maintain a naval
force in the harbOr, BY means of which to carry
out and enforce the collection OF dutie2. In the
present state of the garrison, the Seccssionists
ilatter themselves with the expectation OF sur
render at discretion, or of in some way OBJ
timing the control Of the harbOr de.en3es
without bloodshcd. This encourages them to 20
ON with their secession ordinance, and other
things Of that sort. Were it made palpatle 10
them that The Federal Government means to de.
ieId itself and TO continue to collect the G1tics.
there can be little doubt that the prec-,ilau,, of