Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-03-19

the contest, as far as | am concerned, that
they should avow this object in prosecuting the
| war. 1t is now a contest forced upon the non.
| slaveholding and loyal slaveholding States, by
those who are endeavoriUg to build up re-
public based on slavery To PROSTATE rebel
lion that has that object in view, l am willing
to devote any means, any time, any exertionS
within my power, during the rest of my life
Applause and three cheers,
THE ACTION OF CoNGRRss-THE POWERS GRANTED
TO THE PRESIDENT.
Now let Us see whether there is anything
worth considering in what is suggested by
those who dissent from US, and are unwilling
to prosecute this war The measures that have
been recently adopted by Congress are SO late
ly adopted that it becomes any man who is
careful in what he says, to be guarded in
speaking of them. The President issued two
proclamations- both Of them, as | have fire.
quently stated, l disapproyed. He issued both
before spoke on the 18th of October, and
before Gov. Seymour spoke. Neither Of US
saw anything in them which prevented US from
favoring vigorous prosecution of the war
If there was nothing then, it is certain there
is nothing now. Applase The bill which
has excited the senSi Utilities of several gentle
men who have spoken in New Jersey, and at
certain hall in this city, [hsses,] was bill
which gives extraordinary powers over the
purse aud sword 10 the President of the Unit
ed States. They are bills which seek to pro-
tect by indemnity the President and those con-
nected with him from arrest. They are oppos,
ed to another bill, as [ understand, which has
become the law, which authorizes the Presi
dent, in his discretion, to suspend the writ
of habcaS corpus | will state now, as
briefly as ] can. what are my views in regard
to this. In the first place as to the bill which
gives the President the enormous power over
the sword and the purse, | agree that it makes
him almost a dictator. | agree that it is
very great stretch of power.
THE POWERS OF THE PREsIDENT-A HISTORIC PAR
ALLEL-THE POWERS GRANTED PRESIDENT VAN
BUREN.
| argue that unless there may be necessity
for it, it should not be done. Everybody
knows that in prosecuting a war under Re-
publican Government, which consists of sever.
al States, the great apprehension is that there
may not be unity on the part Of the States suf
licent to impart energy to the executive heads.
That was predicted as one of the grounds up
on which our system of government would fail.
| call the attention of my Democratic friends
to this because there seems to be particular
solicitude about them now Laughter. The
President was given the power OF the purse
and the sword in 1889, when Great Britain
had directed forcibIe possession to be taken of
portion of the State of Maine, and Sir John
Harvey had moved troops of Great Britain
into that territory to hold it. The Governor
of the State of Maine met this action by NOV.
ing Maine troops on to the same territory -
The President of the United States called the
attention of Congress to it, aud left it to their
| own wisdom what ought to be done. Now [
hold in my hand copy of the bill that they
passed upon that occasion, in 1889. | will
state to you the substance of the various sec
tions, without OBTAINING you at this late hour
by reading the bill. The first section puts the
whole naval and military force of the Uaited
States, aud the militia, at the disposal of the
President. Applause. The second declares
that the militia, when called out, shall be CON-
PEELED 10 serve six months The third gives
the President power to cal! out so 900 voun.
teers. In those days when our army had nev-
er reached 5000 men, it was weishty matter
to call out 80 600 men, aud was regarded as
an enormous authority. Laughter. The
fourth section gives the President power to
complete and employ all the armed vessels of
the United States-thus putting the whole
army aud navy of the United States at his
disposal. Applause. The fifth section ap-
propriates 100000 to carry into effect the
provisions Of this act La those days ten mil
lions of dollars was great deal of money
| Laughter The sixth section apprOpriates
$4,000 to send q special minister to Great
Britain. The seventh section authorizes him
to expend million of dollars in finishing the
fortl6catiOn upon our seabOard, and building
them The eighth section directs that the mi
litia and volunteers, when called out, shall be
portions of the army Of the United States.-
Now, how do you suppose that bill passed 1t
put the whole sword and purse into the hands
of the President of the United States. Clay,
Webster, and Calhoun-men perhaps inferior
to the SolonS of our day laughter were
members of the Senate. The bill passed the
Senate, and these three stattSmen-although
oil violently opposed personally and political
ly to the President of the United States
voted for the BILL and it passed the Senate
unanimously. Applause. 1t passed the
House of Representatives, after a full discus
sion, by Vote of 20l to 6, and the leader of
that six was Henry A Wise Kisses The bold
brigadier who distinguished himself so greatly
at Nag's Head [laughter] while his brigade
was fighting anc his son dying. Applause.
WHAT THE DEMOCRACY THOUGHT IN 1889 ON THE
QUESTION OF ABSOLUTE POWER
Now, let US see whether the Democracy of
our day was alarmed at this union of the purse
and the sword, aud, in the first place, let US
see how the political opponents of the Admin
stration treated it, Gov. Seward was then
Governor of New York, having been elected
in 1888, and political opponent of the Pres
dent. On the 7th of March be communicat.
ed this act to the Legislature, with most
praisewosthy message, concluding thus &"
respectfully call your attention to this subject,
| | with the tinn that axnrassinn q n nnr