The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-25
COLUMBIA.
Friday Morning, May Is, 1886.
The War ON the Constitution and
the President.

The war ON the Constitution ana
the President.
The most lamentable spectacle that
the people of the United States have
ever been called to witness is now
exhibited within the walls of the
National Capitol. 4 faction, for mere
party purposes, are thwarting the
needed legislation of the country,
usu4 ping the powers vested by the
Constitution in the other departments
of the Government, and are seeking,
by reckless legislation, to wipe out
every conservative feature of that
honored instrument framed by the
pursst patriots among the fathers of
the country.
A short time ago, these disorgan-
izers sought, by skullSing amend
ment to the post Office bill, to take
the appointing power out OF the
hands of the Executive, and vest it
in their own precious clique. That
failed, however, owing to the bare
facedness of the proposition; but the
whippers-in of the faction are again
Mt work, and seem determined to
push through their nefarious scheme
in some way. A radical from Mis-
souri,, Henderson, last week. intro
duced q bill, which was read twice
and ordered to be printed, and which
is virtually the same as the amend
ment referred to. It provides that
any person whose appointment to
civil Office under the Government has
been confirmed by the Senate shall
not be removed ut the will of the
President, but shall hold his Office
s',lntil his removal be consented t.
by the Senate" except members of
the Cabinet, and "that the President
shall not, during the recess of the
Senate, appoint or commission any
person to fill up vacancy in q civil
office under the Government, unless
such vacancy shall have happened
during such recess by death, resigna-
ton, expiration of term, or other
casualty not depending on the will
or action of the President"
The New York Herald very properly
designates this proposed bill as
one of the most revolutionary mea-
sures that has been brought forward
by Congress which is endeavoring
to change the whole framework of
the Government, and adds:
cit would reduce the President to
a mere automaton in the hands of the
Senate, and make that body the real
executive power of the country. Yet
strange to say, this is not proposed
upon any broad, statesmanlike views
to remodel our institutions or change
the action of the Government, but
merely as party expedient or from
personal feeling. Mr.. Henderson and
his fellow-radicals would upset all the
established principles and action of
the Government, and launch us into
dangerous sea of untried expert
ments for the merest party advantage,
and without any regard to the future
welfare of the country"
How long the people of the coun-
try can patiently submit to these in
sane attempts to overthrow the great
principles of their Government, we
do not know, but surely it cannot be
long. We may have to wait until
the next Congressional elections
throughout the North ere these fac.
tlonists are cast out of the Legislative
temple of the nation by all indignant
constituency, whose masters, instead
OF servants, they aim to be. 1t is
fortunate for the country that the
people have the strong, interposing
hand of Andrew johnson to save
them from the full force of the de-
structive blows which these men are
aiming at the Constitution and best
interests of the country Their ma
chinations cannot all proceed from
hatred to that eminent ana conserya-
tive patriot; they spring chiefly from
ltheir cravings for patronage and
party power, and they seem to care
not if in these wild attempts they