The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-08-08
The Harlan Letter.


To insult the presidents Of the United States
is to insult the American people. That this
has been done repeatedly BY radical men,
bers of congress during tho past eight months
Is patent to ell who read.
Those who have done it are soon to be on
trial before their constituents. That cabi-
mes minister could be found so wanting in
decency as to descend to impertinence when
about leaving his official position, is as NOR
tifying to the people as 1t should be to him.
But the SECRETARY of the interior, upon
ieaving his Office, writes 10 ths president az
follows - r-EFF seg
spraying that the Supreme Ruler Of nations
may bless you with health and Vlgor 10 endure
the arduous labors incident TO your high position,
and wisdom to carry into effect such wise meas
ures oil policy az congress may deviseto secure
domestic peace aud national unity, have the
honor to be, your obedient servant,
JAMES HARLAK.o
By referring to the constitution, it will be
seen that the president swears that he will,
to the best of his ability, preserve, protect
States
Fer this purpose, he. mas the power of We
tong the ..wise measures of policy" devised
by congress, which are unconstitutional in
their intended operation. But beyond this,
Section 3, Article 2, Of the constitution, says
the president "shaU, from time to time, give
to congress information of the state of the
Union. and recommend TO their consider tion
such measures as he shall judge necessary
aud expedient SO that instead of the presi-
dent having the wisdom to carry into effect
the measures of policy initiated by congress-
the constitution itself expressly declares lie
shall recommend "such measures as he shall
judge necessary and expedient to secure
a a..
"he may on extraordinary occasions, convene
both houses, or either of them, and in case of
disagreement between them, with respect to
| the time of adjournment, he may adjourn
tham to such time as HE may think proper"
The president of the United States is the
head of the government, not the tool or organ
of congress his only law is the constitution,
| and when he swears to "preserve, protect.
and defend" it, it is his duty to do So wheth.
| err it be against rebellious people or re
bellious congress. When congress abandens
legitimate objects of government, and de-
! sends to partisan class legislation, in viola
| tion of the constitution. for the president to
| approve suoh acts is to sanction abuses, and
| legaliZs entertainments. $50
Judge Curtis in his recent letter forcibly
| and clearly puts this matter of the power OF
the president in unmistak able language. He
| says THE question whether 'de-fdcto' gov
| ernments and hostile populations have been
| completely subdued by arms and the lawful
| authority of the United States restored and
established Is q military aad executive quos-
| ton. liz does mas require legislative action
| to esce, tain the necessary facts, and from the
| nature of the case, Legislative action cannot
| change or materially affect them. As com
mander-ia-chiet Cf the army and navy, and
| as the chief executive o hcer whose oonstitU.
tional duty it is to see that the laws are
| faithfully executed. it Is the eificisi duty OF
| the president to know whether rebellion ha,
| been suspended, and whether the authority
| of the constitution and laws of the United
States has been completely restored and firm
| ly established"
| The people everywhere feel that the major
| ity of the present congress are disgrace Il
| the country, and Tor a man retiring from
| cabinet ofice to insult the chief executive
magistrate in the manner Mr.. Hsy,an has. is
| without precedent in cur history, and il i:
| aggravated by the time and occasion, Proyi
| dentally we hSve a president who k1ows his
| rights and powers anL Gares exercise them
Had his constitutional recommendations Il
congress been adopted eight months ago, oul
! people would now be repeating in the bosom
! Of restored Union, feared abroad, -ad en-.
| Toying peace al home the voice OF passio n
| md faction would have been stilled and the
| stuggle for the preservation Of our couttitu
| ton and the restoration IF the Union would
not now be upon Us bat a il IS, let US stand
| united in the support Of those o9lsusGtlons
measures originating in the wisdom of the
| president TO secure domestic peace and ma
| ton al uni.y.-BOstoa Post.