Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-06-17
oonfa6er acv, by retaining The appointment Of

Oonfsder acy, by retaining The appointment Of
cR the officers.
In practice, the Government OF the United
Ststos, among other numerous encroachmoas
OF ucEer, had reiirpsd 10 ltself the power,
which t6e Convention, aftsr mature dslbera.
ton had expressly denial to it, 10 nit the
pnsor 81 appointing tie GENERAL OFFICERS OF
the fDiii5is, ahsh employed in the service Of
tho t7snsrai Ha7aFnu6nt,
BIT o7sa ;hat Government had never at
t,,,,ts4i 10 GO TO The extent OF usurPing the
D.gsr 10 appoint lhs fold and company OIL
.ers. Ii tho trainers Of the Constitution ware
startled at The idsa Ct giving the appointment
Of she ecaeral ofiicars 10 the General Govern
nsas. aid promptly rtjsated it, how would
lhsy have mst Il proposition to give the aP :
Dont1snt Af ALI. TEE OFFICERS. down to the
iowest liruter ant to 1t
Bill YOU say, with regard 70 tee mode OF
differing tho Iro6ps nov called into the ser
vice al the Cdnfederacy, the intention of Con.
rrls; is {, ha learned from its scts and from
thn farms employed, ii 1ould seem that the
co!lcY 81: election By the troops theIasel 10
saapia bg Congress"
cjafe: 5 | had no; So understood it. ~iths
ca; 7aTy ESSENTIAL qdalitcs;iona. It ia true,
:na tssi7e months rnsu Who Ts-salist have s
right 1ith;r io7tY daya TO Teorgaii1s ard ele1t
taai1 officers.
But if under>,s ths act, judging frsla tie
teTrns ussd, sll Taaancies which occur in the
old regiments, a,o to be filled, not By pleetion,
but sT the President, By promotion, down tc
tho lowest commissioned officer, Those Tscan
&C alone Is allei By election: and oven this
rule Of promotion may lie set aside By the
President at cry time, under circumstances
mentioned in tho act, aud ho may appoint any
one he. pleasys to ill the vacancy; it, in his
opinion, tho pcreon selected is distinguished
for ss,Il or vslcr; and the commission in 5ither
and Ill tho cssss jnentiencd must 6s iRsueihY
the President
Quits Il n;ilnt.sl II :fsargis Tasiuieuta asa Iii
/ for the war, whose ot]cors bold commissions
frem the Exscuti7e Of the State; but e7er In
these regiments, under TIE Get, every persoH
! appointed to I'LL any vacancy which nsJ heres
after occur, it would Seem, ilust hold his coG-
In;ssica lot fcoR the State, but from the Pie
siient.
But sdinit tnst Uougy.ss, 81 lie scts, inland
cd 90 gi7s thu troops jh every case tho right 10
elect Cficera (:Thicfi L.3 net been the esta',-
iisEed pract:e:, as YGu have commissioned
may persons 10 command SO fald officers
Without election, this does moi relieve ths ec's
Of Congress- from tha cbsrgo Of violation Ct
tbs G institution. The gGcatioT is not az 10
tins no. c OF SELECTING the person who is 10
have the commission, but Us to the Gugern.
maG; which has, under the Constitution, the
right to issue the commission Tho States, in
tho exercise Of thoir reserved power to appoint
tho olcers, my select them b5 election, or
~ . - caiant iS-rr b,If
tbs sppaintElsnt rests u5o1 the commission,
IS !hsEs il 10 complete appointment till the
commission is issued and therti IRE the Gov
eTnH. ant the: issues the commission exercises
tho appointing power, and controls the sp
pciItreHt.
AIN not, however, discussing tbs Intention
CT Congress in the assumption OF this po"er,
hus oaly the question Of lis P1Tss; and what
sva5 may nav, been its Intention, I Iis;ntsin
that it has tIaasconded its constitutional Dow
as, ard has placed in the hands OF hs Exec
'Iii7s I'll tho OonfedoracY that which the
States haze expressly sind carefully l5noa to
Congress aud reserved tc themselves.
But you may ask, why hold the Esscu tvs
Responsible for the unconstitutional action OF
Congress l would not Of courss insist on
his suy fIrlhor then tho action OF Congress
tcs b=cn sanctioned l;y the Executive, and
acted upon h7 him,
Faoliug satisd Il thai tie UonsariP!iau Ahf,
and such athsT aota 6l Congress- a. snthori:-
tho FIas;l mt 10 appoint Of roI:Hlis71n thu
ofiieois ai tic Elilfia Of tns State, 1hsR an
PiGytd Ii tLa sar7ics IT TIA C0nfedsTate :3taieE
40 TsPs! invasion" ais il Paipsbl0 violation
| Of the Goa9tiId:i0u, / CAL consent to dTn9 aet
7o;nii commits Gan7S;sta wiling aoiuiese eace
ia TIER binding ioT.e upon her people. ! csI-
not tf.aTnfor, cDU'oui to CoT5 anything to &c
With :as ao,oiasrt vi The conscTip:s in this
State; noT con / permit an7 commissioned
officer o. Ito militia to he enrolled. who ie 70 :
cs;sE;Y 10 enable the STATE to exercise her re-
Serted right OF training her militia, according
! 10 tie diaciblus prescribed NJ Congress, OF .
rrl19y I;r7-ercr ,:uuurss wItr her sL,S5s.
g STRICT military pclics is absolutely necessary
10 .i:a satisfy of har people Nor can permit
Or; ulGer ufiic.r, civil or military Tho is no
cosaaiy 10 the maintenance of lha State Gov
ernmcDt, to be carried ont of the Slate as :
| coNscTilt.
Should J0i al say iir5e Iead additional
troops rom Georgia to iii Up nsr just quota,
ii proportion to the number furnished by tbs
! either States, Joa have only to call on the Exc
| chii?e toT the aunLer required to he organic ed
aid oG:a1od &c si,o Constitution directs, ard
Jour call viii, al j. oser has done, meet :
prompt res Ponse lroul hor MOTTO sud patriotic
psops, Who, wniis they will watch With q
jesouS eye, even in tns midst of resolution,
every attempt TO undermine their constitution.
al rights: viii never be content 10 DO behind the
forunnst 10 tho discharge Of their srote duty.
sIu, Nth great resptc',
iyuT obedient servant
JossFE : .6goWI.
Eia E::ceiieacy Jtr7eRsoN DAVIS.