Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-05-18

("Civis." who contributes the article
on ..The Executive and Congress" write.
us as follows;
Il send YOU an art icle for the American
It's views may be different from yours, a.
they are probably different from the i'm
pressions of the people, gencrally.-ED.l
The Executive and Congress.
Congress assembled in au unfortunate
: spirit. During .he war, the Executive ha(
exercised almost unlimited power. Thu
exercise of such powers in times of grea
emergency, constitutes ours. while it il
the most popular. the strongest of Gov
ernments. 1t has the rapid, concentrated
force Of despotism. while it is sub.
stantially under the control of the PEG
pie.
The war had made the Executive. much
more than in time of peace. the leading
branch of the Government. 1t is so, of
all times. The constitution regards it as
such. The executive is the permanent
branch-always at the scat of the Gov
ernment, managing and controlling nation
al affairs.
The President is Commander in Chief
Of the army and navy. He can suspend
the great writ of Habeas Corpus. lie ap-
points all prominent officers of the Gov
eminent He can convene Congress when
the state of the country requires it. He
informs Congress of the state OF public
affairs, and recommends to it such meas
ures as the good of the country appears to
him to require. No one can read the Con-
stitution without pcrceiying that it was
the design of those who framed it, that
the Executive should be the leading branch
of the Government.
The solctude of Congress in regard to
its own position. was apparent soon after
its present session commenced. Its jealousy
of the power of the Executive was mani
fest. 1t was not satisfied to be a co-ordi-
nate branch of the Government, i'll many
respects, while i'll others a subordinate enc,
but it claimed to be, and acted as if it
were, the leading power in the Govern
ment A claim ms unsound rs a principle
of Government, as it is inconsistent with
the whole spirit of the Constitution
Tn. executive during the life of Presi
dent Lincoln. and long before the tcrmina-
tb. y,r b,l ,tur.,1 ap1 snt in
operation a plan for restoring the Rebel
States to their proper relations to the
Union. 1t was emineutly fit that it should
do so-bccause of its superior and more
appropriate power.
This same plan is adhered TO by Presi-
dent johnson and is well adapted to the
end in ,icw-yiz., the prompt return Of
the country to its former condition of
peace, harmony and prosperity. Its p,inci-
pal features are, the loyal organization of
the rebel acceptance of the amend
mcnt of the constitution abolishing
slavery protection Of the African
race in their civil rights by appropriate
State and National legiSlation-aHd elect
ing to the Senate and House those who
are, and have been, loyal to the Govern
ment II to these we add the trial and
condign punishment OF the leading rebels,
we shall have substantially the policy of
President johnson i'll reference to the re-
brilon.
How should this plan have been recciv-
ed by Congress respect certainly.
and with sincere desire to act in co-opcra-
ton with the Executive. 1t should at
least. have been taken a. Il basis Of action,
and such modification made, il need be,
as would fit it in the opinion of Congress
more adequately to meet the necessities of
the times.
How, in fact. was it rcceiyed-wth con-
tempt almost. Congress by its course.
saws to the Executive, You are transcend
ing your powers. 1t belongs to us and to
us alone. subject to the veto, to devise a
course of measures for this emergency -
and it entered upon the work i'll open and
direct opposition to the Executive.
The Reconstruction Committee of fif-
teen, as it is termed. was appointed; and
it engaged in the mi cradle farce of send
ing into the southern states for testimony.
forsooth, in regard to the condition of the
southern mind. What can be expected,
at this early day, but feelings of uneasi
ness and dissatisfaction. The south en-
tered into the war with high hopes of
success 1t has been overwhelmingly
crushed. and without the exerton, by apy
means, of the full power Of the loyal por,
ton of the people. Its territory has been
swept, as with the bosom of distruc-
ton. The institution which it has been
accustomed to regard as essential TO lis
prosperity and prestige, has fallen. They
are conquered people--a portion oi the
price of their own subingation, even, they
must pay. Under such circumstances, time
alone can produce the desirable state oil
feeling-anh meanwhile, as ever. the
security is mt in constitutional provisions
or legislative enaetments, or i'll the loyalty
of the South, but in the dismal effective
ness of the bayonet. Il any one veal,
enough to believe that the South could be