New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-28
LETTER OF GERRIT SMITH TO SENATOR
BRECKENRIDGE.
PETERBoRo, July %, 1861.


BRECKENRIDGE.
PErERBoRo, July %, 1861.
SEsAroR BRLcXINRIDGE-Dear Sir How much
admired Won when was in Congress with you need
not AGAIN say thought that no member had better
intellect nor Drawer spirit. Surprised and cad would
have been had foreseen your present relations to
your country.
have Just read your speech Of the 10th inst, in the
Senate. DO not deduce from it that you are dsbon-
est-bul only that you are self-deceived. You know
tho old story of the gentleman who gave as his reason
for roscung the drowning man. that he had never
been introduced to him. But the gentleman was self
deceived if be thought such an unheardof regard for
social forms TO be the true reason. lie failed 10
the man simply because he did not to gave him.
And not less groundless your fancy that 1t is owing
10 your great regard for Constitutional forms, that you
do not fall in with the measures Tor saving the nation
You do not care TO save It, Nay, II Is evident that
Your heart has long been set on breaking 1t up.
Ali who busy themselves in declaiming against the
nnconstuionsty of these measures, are seli-de eiyed
il nothing worse Their concern TO save the Constiu-
ton is no greater but their concern 10 save the nation
i much le-s than that Of others
The traitors bad got the control OF some eight or nine
of the States bad captured Fort SUMTER fell Of
Washington; were threatening the large cities oil the
Norih and bad, in word, brought the nation to the
brink OF ruin. Ii was IN these circumstances that Pres
saving that lie made war H. His steps were not all
CONSTITUTIONAL you sy. Nevertheless by such porsOns
a. we're for sving the nation their uneol siituiionay
was forgiven II seeD-but was probably unsten. 1t
deed 40 IN xiOus they the life OF tie nation, the
they had neither time heart TO mink of the Const
tuition. But YOU being free from su'h anxiety, had
leisure aud coInp0snre Tor survey bH th" Pr"des de-
psrtures from the Constitution. Moreover these de-
nartures were all the greater yo1r tinre they
grew ont of his honest aud eDdeavOr To
a Government and nation, which yon were intent on
destroying. a loyal man DO more thinks Of national
ruIes when he sees his loved nation H. imminent DAT
ger of violent desih, than does true son tluk Of
family rules when he an assassin upon his loved
father But you, dear Sir, are in Just the mood Of
mind 10 call for the rnles and tue red tape
perhaps the President has not been constitutional in
al bis sieps. Nevertheless, be may have been night
even in such were unconstitutional. Not contem-
Mating a rebellion 70 extensive, canseess unnatural,
monstTous the Constitution may not have provided tho
means for putting il down. But surely t does not for
HID the means II the Constitution does not clohe the
President with very large discretion, II must never
theess leave him free TO exercise II IN imaginable err
cunstances IL says; lie shall take care tuat 1hs
laws be faithfully executed" But should a hundred
thou.and armed men, when Congress IL not IN session.
suddenly start mp defeat their execution, may be not
SUNNI. n another hundred thousand to withstand them
Then you seem forget that the President lie Com
manderia Chief of the Army and Navy" and that rs
,cb his powers of necessity far scroonary than
prescribed In that capacity he may often be lett 10 de
eide irrespective Of Constitution or Statute, not only
in
In that capacity he may, although the Conatiiu.
lion does not say so, appropriate everything WITHIN
bis reach may order the destruction OF bridges
ard railroads ON the one hand, and the burn
ing Of cities on tne o'nef Hn no ~ WI" ,ta
eYpencies OF war; call TO his aid tens OF thonsnos OF
younteenl Then, too, you seem 10 io'gct thst me
President ia man and ne under no oOngation 10 SINK
Tho nan in the officer. When he the capital OF
the nation and the nation ITSELF il imminent peril he
yvas as A man. lust Us much were You and l. bound
10 40 all he could for their safety Bat you will say
that in acting as man, he hal no right to use tie
President l authority. answer ,nan, N .ne err aln-
stances lao might 20 as far rs did Ethan Allen,
snd use the authority OF "God Almighty" In that
dark and ing hour everything was bis which
he coud turn TO the salvation OF his country what,
then can restrain the President from becoming des-
NOT His responsibilities. swift and terrible VIII DO
bis punishment if be shall be found IN the lfe.or-
death struggle Of hs country to be serving ms sehs
nesg instead of serving her. add that 10 trame MS
mowers in such struggle through lear on MS pfosu
trtug them is virtually the poor policy OF giving
mn your country in advance under the apprehension
thei some time or other how or other II may DO
lost Better is il to choose Tor our oicer tie man
Ivbou in an emergency we trust with unneasured
power than to let the emergency prove iatai by 100
,ealousy measuring bis power Youwll also say tllat
Il ia for Congress TO make the main provision Tor
meeting a war which may be brought against us.
Granted Aud had Congress been IA session When
this war became unequvocal in the bonparomeht oI
eompain of the President for he would probably nave
had no occasion to do what you complain OIL Inc
traitors having chosen the Of Congress IN which
10 tell ms with csnnon-shot and Enthusiastically that
lhoy meant war, we md to make the best hight We
could without the help Of Congress. That we acted
outside Of the Constitution, ii indeed We lid 20, was
n necessity resulting solely from their having chosen
tbot time and hence Tor them TO complain or employ
Won 20 complain Of our unconstitutional action is
dserly dispeonuous and amazingly impudent. For
the traitors snd their sympaihze 70 charge Us in the
straits TO which they had reduced US with failing TO
observe the whole letter OF the Constitution, Is much
sneh an Outrage on human patience as would be the
eouplaint of the nquisiton that tie victim 1t was
tortng did not preserve his usual pleasant express
sion. Again, if any may charge us with neglecting
norons OF the Constitution, IL must not be they who
are tramplng on the whole OF it.
You are entirely right in holding that Congress can
not COMMUNICATIVE what is unconstitutional in tie
ocrs of the President. Bat Congress ray, and 1t
il bound TO saw whether that which in the great ne
cesites Of his country he was constrained 70 do waf
Iirht or wrong, praiseworhy or blsmewortby,.
! You denounes che President d usurper. Most UNI
iu.tly 80. His words and deeds prove him 70 be aI
| unsonhisticated and unambitous man. He 10 ove
careful to keep himself In unison with the public sen