The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-07-26
ExcnoAcHMExrS OF ExEcuTIvE
POWER.

Republican Government. And the leadins
feature is the recognition of the Sovereignty
peppleto b declared b. a majority thereof y
the polls in accordance with the Constitution
and laws, and to be exercised By the Repre-
sentatives Of the people and the States in
Congress assembled in the enactment Of laws
for the general good. 49,
Congress is constitutionaIly declared the
Law making power, and is the true source to
which the people should look for the inaugu-
ration Of measures and policies. The Con
stitufen expressly designates the President
she Executive whose sole province is tc
see that the laws enacted by Congress arr
executed; and tits very clear thatthe trainers
Of our Constitution were solicitous chat one
Department of the Government should not
encroach upon and absorb the powers Of
other DepartmAats. The wise men sbo made
the Constitution, provided therein that Con-
gress should be the law making, the judiciary
the law interpreting, and the President the
law executing department of the Govern
ment. Theoretically this is still generally
regarded as the true Interpretation of the
Constitution, but practically the President is
constantly encroaching upon the province o.
Congress, and using his power and patronage
to corrupt aud control the Representatives o.
the people And thus year by year the one
man power is becoming the controlling power
of the country, and we are tending more and
more to look to the President for measures
policies and laws, and to regard Congress al
the mere register of his will, and to denounce
Congress if it manifests a will of it's own.
Our Fathers looked to the elected Repre-
sentatives of the people as the source o.
law, the fountain of policy, and the guardian.
Of the rights and interests Of their constltu-
ents. In our day there seems to be a grow
ing tendency to look rather to the monarchc
branch of our government, and to exalt the
Executive at the expense of the Legislative
Department. This is most dangerous ten
dency of the public mind, and threatens to
imperil the perpetuity Of the Republican
Government In our country. The evil Il one
that is felt and recognized by the best and
wisest men of all parties in the land, and i,
lsa growing evil, which cannot fail eventually
to work serious mischief, if not fatal disaster,
to our Great Republican system Of Govern.
ment.
We have just passed through great Civil
War, for which no specific provision was
made IN the Constitution, and as q natural
consequence the necessary powers incident
TO such state of things ware left to a great
extent TO the discretion of the Executive
Department of the Government. And
the loyal people of the country, anxious
for the pressrvation of the Cnion and the
Government were not disposed to scar very
critically the course of the patriotic head Il
the nation IN the exercise Of powers, which
they knew were assumed with pure motives
for the preservation Of the Union. But now
that peace is restored to the country there is
no occasion nor excuse for the assumption
OF extraordinary powers BY the President, or
for encroaching upon the Legislative Depart.
ment, or absorbing its powers.
II there ever was an exigency in the history
OF this country which above. any other de.
msnded the nitro position of the Representa-.
tives OF the people in Congress assembled,
and appealed to the Law making Power for
policy for the pacifcaton of the eouutry,
and the establishment of the authority Of the
Government, and the security of the liberties
and the rights of,the people, and the perpetu-
tation Of peace and liberty, il was AZ
ter the collapse of the rebellion. At such
time Constitutional amendments. and
legislative enactments, were deemed essential
and the Representatives of the people, the
Congress of the nation, was the only const;tu.
tional power competent to establish the ult;.
mate policy for the restoration of the Union
Yet the President did not perform his consti
fuhonal duty, and in the words of the const
tuition call Congress together in extra session
on this extraordinary occasion. He knew
hat Congress would not register his scbame
and therefore he assumed to himself the du
ties and powers devolved on Congress by III,
Constitution, and proceeded by executive de-
crees and proclamations and appointments t.
carry out hit own policy in spite Of Congress-
And when Congress assembled he still pur.
sued the same course, seeking to monopolis.
to himself the powers and duties BELONGING ,c
congress, and vesoing every attempt on tbe;,
part to resume their proper control Of the AZ
fairs Of the country. And in the m;d,t =
peace claimed for the Executive Head of n,
nation the sole AND exclusive power of in
augura6ng and perfecting the most importan
measures, and disposing of the most import-
ant matters that have ever arisen in the his
Tory OF this country. And to-day recreant Il
70 the principles upon which he was elected
ana a renegade aud betrayer Of the psrtv thu
elected MN, ne = welding the entire natro,
mage OF the Government In . shameles. n,h
Lie brazen effort p concept the people. br;b.
prominent men to support him in his wa, =,
on Congress for the stipulated removal :
official spoils, and ejecting all from Office. /.
whose efforts he owes his own election, tina
move Too independent or honest to sell on
their principles, and assume his collar.
Now we take it that it must be perfectl,
clear TO every man of common sense, thas
congress has no constitutional authority owe
.ne very important matters, tho most impor
tant known an our history, now before a.
country In reference to ms..u,.. G.. a..
ci6cation of the eoansrv .nd .,.~.!"
ofthe unlor, and the psrpet.is of d. ,Ibse
ties and rights Of the people o. N. R,,.,n
then Congress has no vocation, ana !. -
N Idle and expensive incunbnnce. t,na;,.
only 70 impede the pssnpt acsieu q 0oy,.
nent Surely If matters Of such inmen,
moment asl aneA krrsaeaine eosseo,sse,
are within - sxclnsive province ofths RI
ecutive, then the mere routine business Q
Ievyins tazasaad nakisgszaaeeasets ~ or
ming - ~ Gov~nnsst y ~ various h
parsns6h caa b. satssdsd - bY H. 1Esss
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