The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-03

of the Constitution. II is nothing more nor
less than an effort Of the Executive TO trench
upon the Ld,o-mdkinq branch Of the Govern
ment.
The trainers OF the Government were care
ful to separate the Executive and the Legis-
lative Departments as widely as possible.
The people we're determined to keep the law
making power in their own hands. Hence,
the House of Representatives is elected by
districts, and every Two years. Such tning
as Congress usurping power is, therefore,
next to absurd, for Congress is the direct
agent and representative Of the people, and
acts for the people in making the laws. The
Executive however, is elected for a far differ
ent purpose. His functions are those OF
less popular character. They correspond
more closely to kingly and imperial attributes.
He executes law. He pardons offenders.
He even nullifes the will Of the people in
certain cases. He nominates officers. He is
the one-ndn pooger in the Government.
Strictly confined to his legitimate functions,
however, he Is not dangerous to the liberties
OF the people, because ne cannot make the
laws, and he can only act in conformity to the
laws. But the moment he steps aside and
endeavors to add to his other powers that of
debating the policy of the Government,
which is nothing less than debating the
character of the laws, he then becomes
most dangerous functionary. He then exer-
les regalattributes, without the usual checks
thrown around emperors and kings.
The "policy" of the Government is the
cbaI acter OF its legislation; and this belongs
solely to Congress, because Congress is the
exclusive law-making power in the Govern
meet. If a certain "policy" with regard to
the tariff, for instance, IS to be adopted it is
exclusively matter for the people, through
Cor gress, to determine The Executive has
no right to interfere with the people in it.
When the law is passed, and the "poiicy"
thus determined, then his sole duty is to
execute the law. So of a "policy" with refer
ence to anything else. The people, and the
people alone, have the right to "policy," and
Congress is their constitutional organ for
making that policy an actualty in the Gov
ernment.
Executive experiments in attempting to
force "policy" on the people have not re-
suited in the past in bringing honor upon
their authors. We had a notable instance OF
this in the attempt of Mr.. Buchanan, during
his Presidency, to force his Lecompton Con-
stitution policy upon Congress and the peo-
pie. For months and months the entire power
and patronage of the Executive position
we're brought to bear on the effort to pass
"Lecompton pure and simple" through Con-
giess. But it failed, and in its failure over
whelmed the Democratic party in ruin. The
people took the alarm. hey were indignant
and dsgusted at beholding the President at
tempting to dictate 'polIcy" to the repre-
sentatves of the people, and trying to bribe
them by the use of official patronage. The
fate of the Lecompton "policy" should be a
warning. The people of this country are
entirely competent both to conceive and carry
out any line of policy that may be essential to
their welfare. AT least they are determined
that no "pOlicy" shall be forced upon them
from the outside; and least of all, from that
branch OF the Government most despotic in
its character, and to which the Constitution
has assigned for other and different duties.
THE PRoDIGAL.-Mr. Henry j. RaymO Ond
has returned to the fold, and has been loI
three consecutive days working in favor O.
the Republican party. The principal cause
of rejoicing at the prodigal's re turn is that he
brings with him "them 500 0000," of which il
is now possible we may have some account.