Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-09-21
DEMUCRAT 4 NEWS


From TIE ChAflsston o. } Msreary, ssp.sm-
her Stn
Although carefully covered over with
the mantle Of secresy by Congress,
enough has been disclosed BY stern
realities 10 show the total incompet ancy
OF President Davis to govern the affairs
Of the Confederacy. lie has lost the
confidence Of both the srms and the
people, and il an election tomorrow VAS
to come off for the Presidency, we be-
ieve that he would not get the vote Of a
SINCE State in the ConfederacT. Yet,
if ,ha Provisional Congress had done its
duty-if the presen. Congress would do
its duty, President Davis could readily
be driven into course OF efficiency. He
IL President of the Confederate States for
six years. The Cont utlon has not
been proved to be inadequate to rectf.
bis imbccillties. He can be controlled
and directed as the King Of Great Brit
ain is.
That Government 10 constitutional
monarchy. having coordinate branches.
In Great Britain no policy Of the govern
mcnt, no cabinet adviser, can stand
4gainst the ex rc-sed opinion Of the
.ouse OF Commons. Are the people
less potent in the Confederate States,
through Their representatives in Con.
gress, than the people OF Great Britain
IL Parliament? We do no, believe it.
Parliament has no power like that Of
Congress, to pass q law in spite Of the
Kings veto, YETI King since 1858. hap
dared 20 veto bill passed by Parlia-
meDt. No King has dared to defy pub
lie opinion IN the appointment OF nation
al counselors and the commanders of
armies, setting " personal tavoriti,m
aud pastsanship above efficiency.
The legislative
power which Congress possesses, as to
measures and men, can control tue Gov
eminent and force Efficiency INTO the adj
m,nislraliop, whether in the appoint
mcnt oil Cabinet officers, commanders OF
armies aud bureau Off ers, or in the
management Of our diplomacy, our f.
nances, our military operstlUns, our ma
val p operations, and the efficiency OF
our Bureau u Consumption, cOmmissary
stores and quartcrmaster It res. Ban
this can never he done bv those who
look upon President DAVIS as "ouI
Moses" Congress must assume its dn-
ties under the Con titutlon, as an indc
pendent element OF power. 1t must
alb .ndon tho dea that it is oulv eccrc,
toby for registering the will OF the
President. IT must be the people,
standing forth in the light OF day cloth
ed with the whole legs alive power Of
the 90 eminent, and with tueir agent,
the President, instrumental for their de-
llve'ance.
Tnat our cansc will ultimately triumph
we 90 NOT doubt, in spite of the incompe-
tcncy OF President Davis aud his silly
and most disastrous p Icy, by VIII CHI
the Confederate States have been delug-
ed with blood AMI covered over with
suif rioe and misery. His inc tliclency
and Yankee efficiency will both be over
come.
But if President Davis is to be treat
ell as "our Moses" we ica.y do not SIC
the use of Congress. Il the pc pie,
through their representatives in Cor
gress, are to exercise no power but at
the bidding OF the Executive Congress is
nonent,y. lis worse; it is tool IF
the Executive. by whirh the Clnstitu
ton is practically ovcrlhTown and
military dictatorship established in its
stead, characterized hy bare assump-
ton Of power on the part of the Execu-
tive, aud baser betrayal Of trust on the
part of Congress-,