The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-08-01
From the sa,,oaai latellIs.serr.
The war Powers of tho Contributions


There is much reason 10 apprehend
THAI those who are rendy TO sanction any
and every resort by injuiicious Generals
to Extraordinary powers because, as
they say. we are living in "war times
and that the regular modes Of proceeding
are no, adequate to the cxigency, have re-
ally fail ID TO understand how truly the
Constitution provides for a time of war.
A Republican contemporary, the Buffalo
Commercial Advertiser, in replying to
those no would deny the existence Of
the belIigerent preloga,ives conferred 10y
that instrument ON Congress aud the
President, says:
"Our Constitution. like the people for
whom It was made, is, it is true, adapted
to state of peace. Our fathers--its
founders 1890 expected and intended that
this would be pre-eminently a peaceful
nation; and accordingly they made full
and fair provisions for this national con-
ditlon. Bur they nlso knew full we'll, not
only by reason and By the example OF all
national history, but also by their own
blood bought experience, that ability in
VIZ "a condition precedent to national
peace and accordingly they embodied in
the Constitution and in the Government
thereby created the most perlec, and eff
iectlve war power that any nation ever
possessed.
1T was not necessary, nor even proper,
to insert in that great instrument com
plete war code. They who prepared and
composed il bad too much soundnrss Of
judgment TO attempt to do SO. Their
lar e-miudedness would not permit them
TO disGgure their great work, as some pol
itielans would perhaps now do, with petty
details. But they did insert abundant
and plain provisions for the exercise by
this nation of all the functions and pow.
ers OF war allowable to any nation. We
quote some OF its provisions to show how
plainly it is war Constitution:
"'That Congress shall have power TO
define and punish pirscies aud felonies
committed on the high seas, and offences
against tho law OF nations to declare war,
grant letters OF maIque and reprisal, and
make rules concerning captures on land
,
10 provide and maintain q navy to make
rules for the government aud regulation
OF the land and naval forces TO provide
FOR calling forth the militia to execute
tho laws of the Union, suppress insurrec-
tons and repel invasions; to provide fol
organz ng, arming, and discirlining the
militia, and for governing such part OF
them as may be employed in the service
OF the Uniied States
1.-The Executive power shall BIO vested
In a President of the United States of
America. He shall take the following
GA b or affirmation: i do solemply swear
(or affirm that | will faithfully execute
the office OF President of the United
States, and will, 10 the best Of my ability,
preserve, protect. and defend the Consli.
tuition OF the United States Tho Presi
dent shall be Commander in Chief Of the
Army and Navy of the United States and
OF the militia of the several States when
called into the actual serviee-of the Uni
ted States. He shall take care that the
laws be faithfully executed
''lt Is impossible To allow force to these
provisions, TO attach TO the words used
their plain, simple, and obvious sign flea,
ton, and yet deny to THIS nation and to
Its executive agent all the war powe,
whieb can righttuly be ever exercised
by any nation on earth. This power /.
not abrogated by the peace provision,
contained in the same instrument. Both
stand and are to be interpreted togeth
err"