Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-04-24
Shall the Administration be Rus-
tained?

Only when it acts up to our construction
of the Constitution, say the opponents OF
the Government. Then, gentlemen sirs, that
Administration must surrender-basely and
ANONYMOUSLY surrender-our fair fabric into
the hands Of its most inveterate foes; then
must the Administration turn its back upon
its friends, who repudiated your monstrous
doctrines at the ballot-box, and accept your
doctrines, which the people have time and
again most resolutely pronounced against.
Abraham Lincoln was elected by the anti
slavery element of the Nation to place his
own construction upon his constitutional OBJ
legations, not inconsistent with the decisions
Of the Supreme Court, and not to submit to
the dictation of his political enemies. That
portion of the people who gave to Mr.. Lincoln
their suffrages, gave them expecting him to
be true to his friends, believing them friends
of the Government. But above and beyond
all party measures, there is duty incumbent
upon every citizen to support the Admins
tration of Mr.. Lincoln; because it is, in fact,
the Government, and he who is not for it
must be against it. ..f ..-
But, say its opponents, we do not recog-
nize an Administration as the Government.
What, then, is it? The Government is COM
posed of three coordinate branches-the Ex-
ecutive, Legislative, and Judicial. 1t is the
duty of the Executive to support and defend
the Constitution against all its enemies, and
to enforce such laws as the second branch,
the Legislative, may enact. The Legislative
enacts laws, and provides ways and means
for carrying on the Government. The Judici-
ary sits in judgment upon the rights of COM
munities and of individuals, and determines
the constitutionality of the acts of the other
branches. The Judiciary belongs not to the
active Executive power of the Government.
So far as the administration of the Govern
ment proper is concerned, it is, not strictly
speaking, the Government. Its DEGREES and
judgments are worthless and powerless with
out the aid of the Executive branch. Who,
then, is the Government
Suppose that the recent Congress had been
opposed to Mr.. Lincoln and had proceeded to
pass measures obnoxious to him and his
friends, and he had refused to enforce them
and they remained unenforced and dead
letter-who, then, is the Government?
Suppose England desired to enter upon
some new commercial treaty-whom would
that power first approach and propose its
termsp Not the people; not Congress
neither the Supreme Court. It would ap-
proach the Government of the United States
its recognized head and representative.
The Congress may declare war and provide
means to wage it, but the President may set
its acts at defiance and conclude peace
What we insist upon is, that the President is
the Government, practically. He is the head
of the Nation. Take away the Executive
branch of the Government, and where are
we? It is true he cannot carry on the gov
eminent without money and without power;
but if power and money be given by the Leg
islative, what right has any citizen to say he
will not recognize his authority because he
is President and not the Government? five
cannot support Mr.. Lincoln during his con-
stitutional term of Office, we cannot support
the Government. Our only choice is between
Mr. Lincoln and jeff. Davis. Those who are
opposed to the one must support the ether.
We can have but one. Recognizing Mr.. Lin
coin as the official head of the Government,
our election is with our Government. II you
are not willing to support him, then you must
prefer Davis. The line is drawn.