New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-02-27
POSITION OF THE CABINET ON THE VETO QUESTION
Etc,
Ell.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.


OF the citizens of Missouri on the subject of re
construction, asking Congress to annul the acts o
the President in establishing civil governments il
the South, and to secure equal rights to all with
out distinction on account OF color. Referred tt
the Committee of Fifteen.
Mr. Wade introduced the following joint resolu
ton, proposing an amendment to the Constitution
RESOLVED, That the following article be proposed
to the legislatures of the several States as al
amendment to the Constitution of the United States
which, when ratified by three-f ourths of the sale
legislatures, shall be ruled as part of said Con
| stitution, viz:
ARTICLE.-The executive power shall be vested
in President of the United States of America
He shall hold his Office during the term of foul
years. and shall not again be eligible to that office
during the term of his natural life. In case Of
the removal of the President from office, or Of
death, resignation or inability to discharge the
devolve on the Vice-President who shall not again
be eligible to the office of President of the United
States during the term of his natural life. When
ever Congress may by law, provide for the case Of
removal, death or resignation, or inability both OF
the President and Vice-President, declaring what
officer shall then act as President, such officer shall
not again be eligible to the Office of President
during the term of his natural life.
Mr.. Wade, in offering this resolution said "
will state that this resolution is no new idea OF
mine, for have been an advocate Of it for many
years, and have derived the very strong impress
sion | have on the subject by a very careful OBJ
through such periods, as have been an observer
of it, and believe it has been very rare that we
have been able to elect President of the United
States who has not been tempted to use the vast
powers entrusted to him, according to his own
opinion to advance his reelection, and when say
this of the Presidents who have preceded Us, say
it in no attempt to depreeiate the merits of these
men, because the Constitution places before them
temptations which we can hardly expect that
human nature will resist and in the long run it
will never resist, as clearly shown in the history of
our government Washington himself who was
exceedingly sagacious in the workings of the gov
ernment informed us it was his opinion that there
was weakness that ought to be remedied He
saw it early. He saw that man entrusted with
these more than regal powers during the period
he was President, might be tempted to use them
TOR his advancement afterwards, and almost all the
Presidents since, have felt the necessity of some
such check upon personal ambition. 1t is the in
junction of more than human wisdom to be re-
lieved from these temptations.
We nigh trace this, had we time, through pre-
ceding administrations, and we should find that
this influence weighed like gravitation upon the
mind of almost every President we ever had. How
is it, sir, in the present case? have no doubt
that the present Chief Magistrate came into office
while he was perfectly single ia his mind, and sin
cere and truthful in his opinions. What were some
of these opinions? Why, sir, he spoke, and reit-
Grated it every day for two months, that treason
was great crime, that it ought to be punished, it
must be rendered odious, and he was the man to
do this He said it to every delegation that waited
on him until the words became stereotyped on the
mind of the whole people. How, sir has he per-
formed tibet pledge? Has he punished anybody?
Why, sir, we have the unheard of spectacle of one
of the greatest rebelons that ever cursed man
kind involving more people, more lives, more ex-
pense, than all the rebelons that have occurred
in history, and yet, sir, no man has been punished
in consequence of it. Something is wrong. If this
IS all right then the whole system of penltentiares
throughout the Union ought to be abolished. Sir
the President was right when he said that treason
was a great crime, and ought to be rendered
1dious. Why did he not carry out this declaration
What has occurred to change his position on that
question? l will not say this ambition which has
empted all who have gone before him weighed on
lis mind to tempt him. but it is exceedingly singu-
ar that's far from rendering treason odious by
punishment, he has hosted into most exalted posi-
ions many of the leading traitors in the South.
Who else at any period of the worlds history
,ver thought of taking a rebel red with the blood
If his countrymen and placing him in the position
If Governor Of a State, who has sought to over
brow the government of the Union, and who in
'oked despOtism to aid him i'll doing it? Is that
he way to make treason odious among mankind
S that the policy about which we have heard so
much? Nobody has been able to tell us hereto
ore exactly what that policy was We all, how |
yer, saw it was kind of policy that suits every |
ebel, every copperhead and every enemy of the
government of the United States both foreign and
domestic. Well, sir, as that policy has become
developed, we all now see precisely what 1t is, and
WY IL was so grate1ul 10 Ine ears ana neafLS OF |
very enemy of his country. 1t was no less than
his, that these States should suffer nothing, should
0rfeit nothing by rebellion, but that they should
re admitted, unwashed and red with the blood of
heir countrymen, into full communion with honest,
Oyal men, and into the councils of the nation.
What has brought about this change? Sir, it all
oints to this fact. 1t will not do to tempt men in
his way. Why, sir, this policy of bringing these
tates into the Union, with all their rebellion and
reason in their hearts, is no better than treason
self. | lay down the rule here, sir, and defy
ontradiction that there is any man. be he high
r low, who is an advocate for bringing traitors
ito the councils of the nation that man is traitor
his heart He is an enemy to the government
nd the nation, and nothing can make it appear
Inherently.
He who invokes the aid of unrepentant rebels to
ONE into the councils of the nation, to participate
nd is rebel at heart. How does the policy that
now devolved upon us differ from that policy
lat would be announced from the same place by
Ell. Davis? Where he tomorrow placed in the
lme position would he ask any more? Would he
SIX any less than that his co-conspirators should
e restored to the same positions they had when
ley left these halls. Why, sir, we all know the
STORY of the government at the time when these
zen first rebelled. How was it when they went
Il! They had the government all in their own
ands, and to the infamy of the Democratic party |
e 1t said, that with all their treason aud their
rimes here in the Senate Chamber, there was but /
ne man from their side ready to protest against s
lelr treason. With this exception, sir, you will
OF find single Democratic vote against the will
nd action enjoined by the Southern rebels lust
efore they went out of Congress. They had it
Il their own way and you and l, Mr., President, '