Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-05-23
THE LONDON TIMES ON THE SIT
UATION.

pfeJuulce ana preposSion, or from ignorance,
or both, it is not important to inquire. But,
| certain it is we are entitled to look for more
accuracy of statement, more elevated and COM
prehensive views, and more just discrimina-
ton, in journal occupying the lofty and in
fuential position of the 1hundercr. We are
| led to make these observations by reading an
article in the London Timesof Apr il 80, up
on the American Crisis. While sympathy
is somewhat reservedly expressed for the
General Government, the whole tenor of the
article goes to show that the editor attributes
all our difficulties to the inherent defects and
the weakness of our form of Governments
The Times wholly fails to comprehend how
popular government, in the Republican form,
can possess the strength necessary to repress
revolutionary tendencies, or to control and
pat down revolutions after they have broken
out. And yet, our Government is strong and
efficient from the very fact that it IS Gov
eminent Of the people; and the Times will
find, in the progress Of events, that there is
not monarchical or despotic Government
on the face of the earth that can use its forces
and its power with greater vIgor or CELEBRITY
in quenching civil war and exterminating re-
bellion.
The ignorance of the Times crops out in
the very first sentence of its article, and char
acterizes almost every line to the close. 1t
Commences bv. cav;Do ,ba+ l.tor .hr.a month
President Lincoln has threatened war, and
now he has declared H." The Times ought
to know that the President has neither de-
clared war, nor has he the power to declare
war, that power being lodged exclusively in
Congress. The Presidents call for troops is
merely for the purpose o. aiding him in the
execution of the laws, in those States where
their execution Is obstructed by force too
formidable for the arm of the civil power to
control. The Times proceeds to say that the
call Of the President for troops ..is little more
than a Formally. The President. by his own
authority, could not bring five thousand men
into the field The old chronic disease of
the Times comes clearly to the surface in this
sentence. 1t cannot conceive how any ruler,
unless he he at the same time an absolute des-
pot, can have an army at his disposal and
command. Let the editor Of the Times come
over the big pond. and watch our military
movements for few days: let him see with
what alacrity an army Of 100000 men has
already been rendered in compliance with
the Presidents Proclamation: and he will be
convinced that there is something more than
mere tormality" in the call of the President
for troops.
But having made the blunder OF committing
the war making power to the Executive. the
Times shows itself equally at fault when
speaking Of the powers of Congress. Though
the Constitution confcrs upon Congress au-
tbority " to raise and support armies the
Times says Congress could not. without the
help of the State Legislatures, levy troops
enough TO recover Fort Sumter OF 10 save
Fort Pickens." The Times takes It for grant
ed that the Congress of the United States
possesses no more power under the Constitu-
ton than it did under the Articles Of Confed-
Grafton. Indeed It says the President merely
endorses the opinions Of the Nortkerners, and
that l.. al he can do. If they wish to enforce
them thy must fight he battle hem,e1res." 1t
Is quite true that the American people are in
the habit OF fighting their own battles. but
they do 50 in obedience to the Presi lent. who.
far from eNhaust.nz his power or bis duty by
.'endorsing the opinions Of the Northerners,"
Is the commander-in-chiet Of the army and
navy Of the United States. and controls and
directs their movements in war. precisely as
the Car OF Russia or the Emperor Of France
may do. We suppose the people Of Great
Britain sometimes fight the battles Of the
Queen, and they generally DO il more eff
clenty than when the Governments employs
foreign mercenaries.
In the same strain OF remark. the Times
continues Like a grea; teudatory Of the
olden times rather than a modern ruler,
President Lincoln calls bis retainers together
for a raid on those who have thrown oil his
authority. He can do nothing without them
he can do little to help them. He can only
open the war, pretty much as orr own gra-
cious sovereign would open an exhibition"
This sounds like the dippant utrerances of a
halfhedged school boy, rather than OF the
official organ Of the English Government
Was ever such puerile nonsense spoken -
The President can do nothing without them"
that is, without troops. OF course he can't
Neither could our gracious sovereign" He
can do little to help" the troops, says the
Times. He can do all that lies in the power
OF any commander-in-chief: could our gra-
cious sovereign do more He can only