The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-09-19

The Constitutional Question ~
Z Regard, to tho President "Aaop"
ing;n Policy. l. 4
| Senator Wade, Of Ohio, dcliyored's speech
dt ottors, Putnam Co., Ohio, on sao l!!n
inst. notwithstanding Andy's nultituanoes
declarations Of love and vencrauon' Tor INC
Constitution, tho following exposition very
clearly shows that it is the President anu not
Congress who is violating the provisions Of
that instrume emit.
Mr.. Wade said ..y..-..
We, the people, have got to study the Con-
stituton Of the country. Tho people nave
got to understand it like magistrates, IN or,
der to defend themselves against the nrts AMI
Vaccinations Of dcma gogucs. The balances
of.this great instrument, tho Constitution Of
the United States, must be preserved intact
IF any department Of the Government il per-
mitted to tramplo under foot another co.or'
tlinatc branch, the balances Of tho ConStit'l-
ton arc unhinScd, ind tyranny and anarchy
will supcryene. . ~. ...n......
Now, sir, n President TINT we set up
to execute our lawi, has, for the first tuc in
the history Of this nation, sought to make
himself supreme over every other department
Of this Government, and over the voice OF the
people. What does he claim? Why, Sir, he
claims the imperial prcrosative ofsct.ng up a
policy of government for tho people Of the
United States. You who have rradthc Constl-
tuition fyour country, and suppose all OF yon
have read i'll ask you where do you find the
ri.ht Of the President of the United States to
make policy for the people Of this country :!
If he could do it, our fathers, instead of having
formed Il LIBERAL free Constitution for us,
would have set up the most dcspicable des-
potiSm and tyranny on the face Of the Garth
You NIL perceive that If there was one thing
tllat our glorious old ancestry sought to eX.
clulc from this Government, it was this one.
man power. They had seen enough OF that
in the country from which they came. They
had experienced enough Of it under the ad-
ADMINISTRATION Of British kings and autocratS,
and they most ScdulouSly excluded it from
the Constitution. The President orthc Unit
cl States, Of his own free will, to set up n
policy Of government that you and must
submit to! ! say, sir, it is pirrosterouS-ab.
S,l,.l. There is no intimation Of any such
powcr in the instrument which you amt l.,
and AL Of It's, have sworn to support? What
does the Constitution say Oh that point? Why.
j, saws that the President Of the United States
shall hc the Commander. in.chicf Of the army
and navy: TO see that the laws Ofthe country
arc faithfully executed, and it gives him the
right to grant parlons for certain oilenSrS.
Now is there any other power i'll that inStru.
mcnt conferred on the President Of the Unit
ell States Is j: not clear and simple that
these three powers arc all he has-Conman-
,cr-in.chicf of the army and navy, the power
to execute the laws, and the power to pardon
criminals ? These three powers, and none
other. Ii there is any other, let some gentle.
man who Joins issue with me point it out
Where do you find it? Why, sir, before God,
il Is not there. lie has the power to appoint
certain officers, by and with the consent and
advice Of the Senate but am speaking Of the
powers he luay WELD PERSONAL---VERY. by himself.
Is there any other? Where then does he get
power To make 4 policy for the admission OF
tlc States into the Union? Congress, says
the Constitution, may admit new States, but
can the President do il? When you pur-
chased Louisiana; when the people anywhere
sec fit to -, up State government, do they
APPLY to the President? TO whom do they
appeal Why, they appeal TO Congress to
grant them the power to frame Constitution,
and il they make such II one rs the ConStitu-
ton o. the United States has pointed ont,
they are admitted. They hes that Congress
fp n MI
government. How perfectly absurd is the
principle that will claim that the President
can either do it, or refuse to do it; that he
has any right at his pleasure, to inauSuratc y
policy Oh that subject. Did he ever do il
Was any such thing ever before pretended
under heaven? low was it after We had
conquered from Mexico tie province Of Cali
inln;a? Did the President undertake 10 i'll
auYurate policy, and say upon what condl-
! linnS California could come into the Union
Us State? Let whoever is Spoutin; 10
the people OF this Scct;nn OH that subject come
hc:c aEll tell me- whclr YOU find tic powc:
tor this bcggar on horseback, us may say. to
ina,Iguratc policy that would make him 81.
mrme? lie has claimed, yea, sir, III his inc
lratc speeches throu. hout the country, he
has claimed that the time has been when hg
might have made himself dictator. with rct
Spnn>iblc power, to dictate over tho American
people. How lost to the spirit o! American
freedom and American institutions is the
wretch who SnppoScS that he could grasp in
his own hands, anil hold and wicld supreme
power OYER this nation Yet he claims he
can do it. He is doing it to-day The Pres
ent making policy for this nation! What
SAYS the Constitution again? II says that
Congress shal! guarantee to every State re-
publican Gnrla OF government, does it not l?
Who represents the people Of the United
States? The President Of tho United States
Us he the man? Docs he know what the
people want in this district better than your
honorcd representative knows? Is he near
or to you than your own representative, who
holds his Office for two years ut Your choice
DO you 20 to the President, to make known
Your wishes? No. sir. You keep your rep.
rcScnlativc to reflect your wishes. lie lives
among you and goes from You to the Capital
O: the nation. Lie is made acquainted with
your wants and wishes, and the moment he
',.isobcys you Inc is under your control. He
Gail hold lis office only for the remainder o;
the term he niny b" serving. and nj the expira.
;iun of that time YOU can turn him out. The
President is far removed from you. lie docs