, 1866-09-27
EOIznapDING LEGISLATION.

VIC C<l4lVQ HltNl4L4OA E11aAC AS5S ~
claim sradc by the President III ono Of his I
speeches that he was the representative of |
the people in the Government Of the Union. |
We cndeavorc1 10 show that the Colstitu- |
tion made the President the representative |
of the National Government, and thecxec
TOR OF It's laws; that the Congress was the |
representative in the Government OF tho
States In one brunch, md directly Of tho
people In the other. Andrew johnson, how
ever, us lie progressed in his journey, en-
larg.i in lis views OF his own flnpor-
.taucc, personally and politically, and when
be reached speaking time Ut the Pittsburgh
banquet, he was prepared to make the fol-
lowing declaration.
Ut wonll not BE- considered ont Of place 10
ratsc tic que: tim, Is not tho Executive tie
fDonslbIe ard dirrct Ttp e ent.ifsc oi tie people:
i b. remains at the door Of The Legislature, and
JuJGfds IfS z1fcsHffs Until ilic voice VI tt.u couE-
trJ can 1't heard, where Is tho cncToachnltnt:E
Ono of Andrew Johnsnn's first speeches in
Congress was ventilation Of lis Understand
irg o. the origin oftEc veto. II commended
itsvlf to his judgment, because IL was the
exercise Of power by The officer elected by
The people to arrcst The legislation Of tho
Ken,an Senate. WHICH WAS not elected by the
people. And though since that 1imc hc has
denounced The arrogant presumption Of
President for yctoing an act Of legislation
passed by Congress, lie scc.as 10 have SWING
round The circle and arrived ut the conclu-
zion that Coagress Is some hereditary and
lntric1An body, having no Interest In the
people, while he, alone representing tho
Masses, s.autls between tic people and their
ar.stov,atic fuless. Andrew has got be.
forged OIL this subject, and hence II is that
Soft nc -, AT r
Ercss ior'Idding 1t to ltgislatc.
in the first l'late the Roman trihuncs lad
AT absolute veto. which the President Of The
UTtcd States has not and III the mkt place
thc Congress Of the Cnitcd States n,c the
tho.cn representatives oftAc people, clothed
with all legislative authority, even to over
rule the qunliiicd veto Of the Executive,
whose rnwer mud function in the Gnvcrs,~
mcnt Is not Legislative nor judicial, but
merely to execute tho will Of the legislature
nnd the judiciary. This assumption Of The
euthoElty Of the Ro,nan Executive serves
only to show that the mans brain las be-
comc confused in his researches after licta-
torial prcccdents. llc 14ucies that lie is the
peoples representative, appointed by them
10 protect them from the other brauclics
OF the Government, whc:, ln fact he
~ 4NVlC t4E4A 1ii.,H
appointed TO scc that the laws enacted by
the peoples representatives III Congress art
faithfully executed. So widely different I.
Ills real position from the one Ike fancics Il
IL, that he loses sight Of the important fac
that The Constitution places in the hand
Of the House Of Representatives, the iulnlc
dlatc representatives Of the people, The au
thority nj their discretion to Inapeach an1
fo$ Il
states may lawfully stand at their doors an
forbid their lncaslirc<. Had the PTe>ilen
any clear conception Of what lie was sayin
when he uttered this prolosi,iou: Did |,
racan that it was lawful for him in any wa
to undertake to arrest tho legislation Of Cor
gross, other than BY tile exercise Of lis qual
iticd veto US prescribed in the Constitution
II lie did, then lie las read the Constitution
10 very little purpose, md has permitted Iii
Eclfestce1n to impose upon j1de
1neut naturally inclined to- t
tyranical. Hc mistakes his destiny. II
eucccss in reaching Offices from one grade /
the other inclines him to the opinion III:
naturc Designed him for something bcyo,,
the Constitutional limits OF this Govcrn.ncn
and lie fancics himself ALREADY rlnying II
part Of eotnc one oi the usr.pcrs, who Ii
finally as tyrant- The people Of tho Unit,
States, however, do not share this estima
Of Andrew Johnson's greatness, and wh,
l,c talks Of standing at the doors of Cengrcs
torbidding it TO legislate, they understand
not as the hcroIsm Of u patriot defending Il
rights OF the people, but rs tho rawlings
who thinks it is lis mission on cart1,
ss.,tn s.t. vii I'm
tion of the Union, md 10 makc limsclft
cntirc. Government Of the COUNT
The people may pity the 1nisfortu
Of the riclim Of such IN hallncination, Il
they arc none The less determined to ass,
the supremacy Of the Constitution, and t
authority and privileges Of Congress, and
ccnfinc the President TO the clear and well {
fined llrnils Of his power, which is to I
that the laws are faithfully executed.
The President, with IN air OF innoccn
asks where would be the cncroaehncnt If
Was to stand at the doors Of Congress q
forbid any legislation not satisfactory
him? The question or course implies
use of force to make the. prohibition eff
nal. The cncroacbrncnt would possibly O
amount TO the denial of tho right +,
authority Of Congress to 1cgis1atc,
as that is their principal duty
branch OF the Government,
would be a virtual suppression Of
living principle Of the Government
well ask where would be the cncroachn1
uron the judicIary in placing regimen
sold1crs at every Court House 10 enforce
prohibition of any exercise Of Judi
power. Mr. johnson 1nay b
argued The case out to his
satisfaction TINT the country can get al
very well without any Congress, but
people think otherwise, and MS long MS
think 80, esmiaon prudence should dlctat
Andrew johnson that he refrain from stt
ing at the doors Of Congress to forbid legl
ton. However blind he may be to the
that such au act would be an -cncroacha