The Shasta courier., 1866-03-17
Authority of the President.

The "policy of the President" is approved
and extolled by men who never deign to
think where the authority came from on
which that policy is based. Andrew John.
son, IN his extraordinary speech on the I'D
OF February, said he was tailor, and had
hlled nearly every grade of Offices from the
lowest to the highest. He appointed Gov
ernors for all of the rebellious States he
has authorized the calling of Conventions in
ehose States he has told those conventions
what constitutions he would recognize +; he
made the adjustment of slavery imperative ;
ne has recognized the governments formed
unuer those constitutions; and he has die
tated acts to be done by those governments
Now no one will pretend that simply as q
man, citizen, tailor, or a subordinate
ofhcer, Andrew johnson had any authority
to do any or all of these things. Where
then, does he get the authority =? Oh. saws
his ardent admlrer, he does it as President
OF the United States. Well but the Pres
ident is Constitutional officer whose duties
are defined in the constitution, and can use
only those powers which are delegated to
him in that instrument Therein it is ex-
pressly provided that all powers not express
ly delegated are reserved '' to the States re.
spectively, or to the people," Let US emu
merate all the powers delegated to the Pres
ident; there are only thirteen cf them, and
when the supporter or =" friend Of the Pres
ident" comes to the one under which he
exercises this authority, let him stop there
| and rest contented.
The President has power, first. to veto
bills second, to command the army and
navy third, to grant pardons; fourth, to
recommend measures to Congress; fifth, to
call extra sessions sixth, in case of dis
agreement between the Senate and House,
to adjourn Congress seventh to execute all
laws; eight, to make treaties, with consent
of the Senate; ninth, to receive foreign en-
bassadors; tenth, to appoint officers by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate
eleventh, to grant commissions to officers
twelfth, to fill vacancies; thirteenth, to give
information to Congress.
Now under which of these heads will you
locate the authority to restore the " impair.
ed vitality" or to set in operation the : sus
pended function" of State within this
Union? Where does he derive the power tc
create an office and fill it with man of his
choice? Take the constitution, lest we have
omitted some clause granting power, and see
if you can where the President finds bis
warrant to create - Provisional Governor
for State. Perhaps if he have such power
he may save us the trouble CT electing q
chief executive for California If we car
fully appreciate his right to dictate amend
ments to constitutions with g impaired vital
ity," perhaps we can get him to doctor ours
Utah may possibly make a better bargain
with him than she h Is been able to effect
with Congress, if the United States vii
onlyadmit his right to recognize States
All, no it is sad day for country
when it is debateable whether it is better tc
be g friend of ruler or a d" friend OF
liberty The Constitution contemplates a
pyramid rising rapidly to an apex from q
broad fonndation-the people-the States
-Congress-the President The first is the
source of aH power, with the right at all
times to resume any that it may have dele
gated the second is clothed with vast pow
ers, as may be seen in any State Constitu-
ton the third, with limited but plenary
authority and the last is mere agent
with limited and specific duties. Wo worth
the day. when hasty or confiding people,
forgetrul Of the relation between the depart
ments of government, shall pride themselves
on being called the friend Of any oae who
oversteps the limits of his true sphere OF
action. Fortunately for America, there is
too much intelligence, too much love Of lib
erty, and the people are too much accustom.
ed to the exercise of rights, long to overlook
an error. or long to hesitate about correct
ing it when it is observed.-Bee.