Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-04-09
Observation-Disclosures Officers.

We endorse most heartily the following pertinent
remarks of the Richmond ExamiRer They Of
course equally apply to Senators as well as to men,
bers of the House Both Houses should purge
themselves at once of all military officers. Com
mon sense as we'll as common modesty, in the ab-
sence of the Constitutional provision ought to in
fiuence honest men at least to Withdraw either from
civil or military responsibilities. No one man
should serve in both capacities:
1.-THE House of Representatives yesterday
passed an important and most judcious resolution.
Reiterating the plain principle of the Constitution,
that no person holding a commission from the Con-
fe(lerate Government shall at the same time be
member of their body, the House has ordered
number of members who are colonies and generals
in the army while they act as representatives and
senators in Congress- either to resign their military
positions or vacate their seats on the floor Of the
chambers: These members have their election, TO
be either officers of the army representatives of
the people but it is clearly unconstitutional and IRA
tional that they should be both at and the
time, and the public is delighted TO learn that the
House of Representatives has had the firmneSs to
render that union of contradictory lowers longer
possible.
Subseryiency to superior, whether he is a gen.
eral in the field or politician holding executive
power in military affairs is the most marked and uni
versal characteristic of army officers. But NELL
Der of Congress, before all other men, Should be
! free from that trait. lie Is member of Congress
because he represents people, in contra distinction
from government he is their servant, not that of all
Execntive it is his business to control and oppose
! the Executive when its power is used contrary to
the will aid interest Of his constituents. If worth
straw if he is man at all, he will never hesitate
! in such emergency. But he will not and cannot,
! represent the people i'll this manner If lie is the
! sworn servant of the Executive. Between his
! two masters he will surely sacrifice one to the
| other and when one has every bribe to human am
bition in his hand and the other is poor, oppressed
and obscure the majority will make an easy and a
rapid choice.
! From the passage of this resolution, it is hoped
| that Congress will manifest different spirit and
assume a new attitude. Hitherto it has been mere
| echo of the Executive and the Recording Court Of
its DEGREES 1t is full time that it should check the
| career Of imbecty. The country stands aghast at
| the Presidents appointments, civil and military
| Congress shares the common sentiment; 1t has the
unouestioned mower to correct the conduct of the
| Executive by rejecting those appointments; but
VIC have yet TO hear Of Congressional interference in
a single instance. The Congress seems possessed
with an idea that it itself part of the army, and
that the country can be saved only by an unhestat
| ing obedience to the man who has undertaken more
! than he can perform
What then, are its powers intended for? Why
are they placed in its hands lifts sole concern
the is to hear of its acts before the rest
of the public it were better to renounce the empty
pretence of supervision, which is nothing but
title"