The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-08-24

has done, ana PROPOSES " uoi III tue PREM
ises; and by his proclamation, he immedi-
ately put himself in communication with
"a the plain people every where, that all
might understand his position.
For these proceedings, the President Is
arraigned by H. Winter Davis, Chairman Of
the House Committee ON Rebelllous states,
and Il. F. Wade. Chairman OF the Senate
Committee, in a manifesto Of several col
umns, in which they call upon the support
ers OF the Administration Ito check the
entertainments oil the Executive on the au-
thoritv of Congress, and require it TO con-
line itself to its proper sphere" they de-
clare the proclamation "a political mani
festO against the friends Of the Govern
men, and the proposal Of the President 10
execute the provisions Of the bill is charac-
terized as "a grave executive usurpatiOn:'
and il is declared that "a more studied
outrage on the legislative authority Of the
people was never perpetrated." The proc
lamation is also denounced as rash and
fatal act Of the President--a blow at the
friends OF his administration, al the rights
Of humanity, and at the principles OF Re
publican Government" and the people are
invited Ito consider the remedy for these
uSopot,0ns, and having found it to fear
lessly execute il.
We are unable to see wherein the Presi-
dent has usurped, or proposed to usurp-
any power not Tighfully belonging 10 him.
| That he has a constitutional power 10 with
hold his signature from any act Of Con
gress, thereby preventing its becoming &
law, unless passed again by a twO-third;
vote is what no one denies. This power
he has exercised. Then, as Commander
in-Chief, all power to govern a rebelliOui
State which has been conquered, cOncen
trates in him, "a head OF the military forces
until Congress chooses to establish a civi
government therein by law; and after tina
the civil power Of The President over TN
State ceases The President has all pOwe
in the conquered states nor: Congress
has attempted to legislate, but the Presi
dent has not cOncurred, the act has 10 force
Military power must necessarily govern un
Ill a civil power is organized; and th
President will be the rightiul ruler Of III
conquered States until an act for their re
construction shall be passed by Congress
and signed by the President; aud until tina
tine shall come, the President may right
fully, OF his own authority, as military hea
of the nation, carry out any provisions sue
gested in the bills Of Congress, or lie ma
disregard them altogether, and follow hi
own original convictions exclusively.
The indictment preferred against tn
President by Wade and Davis Is, not that h
has used unwise!y one of his rightful power
as President, hut that he has eacTbdche
on the authority Of COngress-he has uSuTl
ed powers not belonging 10 him; and tina
he OUGHT To be checked by the peOpl
: for doing so. This indictment the mass
the people will not believe. They will ash
..what power has he usurped." And III
less a clear and satisfactory answer can
made they will not withdraw the confidenC
they have had i'm the President, but will /,
the allegation pass 10y as the idle wind.
Rut Wade and Davis not only impeac
the acts Of the President, but they attribui
to him unworthy motives for those act
They say, in reference to Louisiana an
Arkansas:
1.-The President. by preventing this hi
from becoming a law, holds the electors
votes Of the rebel States, at the dictatiO
of his personal ambition"
such charge would have come muC
more appropriately from the Free Press
the Chicago Times. But now those pape
& publish the same charge glOrying in II
fact, that, mean and false as it is, it W;
first preached by two distinguished Repul
lican Congressman. The Constitution pr
vides that the votes for President shall
transmitted from the several States to Il
President Of the Senate, and shall by hi
be opened in the presence Of both Ilous'
of Congress same Houses that hdl
d passed has bW-and if there he any illeg
votes presented, will they not be throw
out? How can the President make al
j. thing out Of any selfish management on h
$ part, so long as he has nothing whatev
to do with receiving. counting, or reiectir
10 votes of the Electoral College
The publication of this document "
damage its authors far more than it will Il
President. The members OF the COngre
= sional Committees with Wade and Dav
disavOw all approval of the Protest; it
, condemned by Republican papers almo
! without exception; and we notice that ,
the Western Reserve, AT the primary NEE
ings, resolutions were unanimously adOp
ed looking to the passage of vote of ce
sure on Mr.. Wade 10y the 18th and 10
! Congressional Conventions, and reQueStir
: him TO resign his seat in the Senate.