The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-10-11
Ghe Watf @tp.
IS m Y POLICY

The Elmira advertiser, by the pen Of tn
Rev. Thomas K. Bsecher tbrother to Watd)
thus sums up the issue between the Presiden
and Congress: ~
For the President to originate policy ant
use every influence at his command to carr,
it through, contrary to the Will Of Congress
is unconstitutional, however customary; ant
in high degree dangerous in its tendency.
The powers of government are classed I'M
der three heads-Legislatiye Executive anc
Judicial. The duties and powers Of each are
clearly defined by the Constitution. These
cannot clash, except by one or the othe
overstepping its constitutional bounds. Int
President is the executor of laws-the ma
tons right hand. He is not law-maker
hand say to the head, ~ hare thought Q
my otra7'
The hand may send information to the head
but the head directs the hand. A Presiden
may give information" to Congress. HI
may recommend" laws and measures "tt
their consideration But surely he can con
stitutionally do no more than this.
Shall Speaker Colfax dictate decisions II
Judge Chase? Shall Judge Chase revers,
military orders issued by the President Ma,
Congress NEEDLE with Court or Court will
Congress? As little may the President inter
fere with either Court or Congress. The per
manence OF our Government depends upor
each department respecting the dignity of the
other two, and thus avoiding collision.
What shall we say then when q President
policy seeks to preoecupy the place Of Con
gressional policy2 ! reply that the executive
is not charged with the duty of policy >mak
ing. Its duty is to execute laws and meas
ures, not originate them. He may recon-
mend this or that ITO the consideration" o
Congress. But it is impairment and uncou
stitutional for the President to endeavor te
carry his measures through Congress.
| know that it has been for many years Gus
tomary for Presidents to do so. | know
that since Martin Van Buren, taught Andrew
jackson how to use the Presidential patron
age to intimidate Congressman or buy them
it. has come to be thing of course that the
President should endeavor to mould legisla'
ton and dictate laws in this unconsttunona
and indirect manner.
But all this is wrong and dangerous. Ii
will eventuate sooner or later in collision
between the nations head and the nation
hand-leaving government stunned as tc
wisdom, and helpless as to strength.
A President should not make DEGREES di'
rectly or indirectly And when, as now, q
President during recess of Congress, devses
a policy upon questions of vital and perma
nent moment, and next hastens to execute il
without any advice or authority from Con
gress and next lmparts 1t to Congress as
''my policy, working finely already; and
then, when Congress would examine thor.
oughly and deliberately on the matter, Is
vexed and angered by criticism and de.
lay, and at last undertakes to be himself q
tribune of the people, and speak raledic'
tons upon the peoples chosen representa-
tives, and by argument, threat and patronage
endeayor to carry out my policy rather
than aid and execute the laws and resolves oil
startled, and by sober and respectful admo
milton declare that legislative power belongs
exclusively to Congress and does not belong
in any other degree to the Executive.
Congress may err, no doubt. The Pres-
dent may be wise and Congress foolish. But
a temporary: error of Congress does not
threaten such wide disaster as an oyershad
owing executive power prophesies. Con-
gressiona error is but blunder. A law.
making President is revolution.
When in 1s6rthe nation was cannonaded
at Charleston, and her very Capitol threaten
ed by gathering Rebels, the modest President
called for $4,000 troops, TO serve three
months aud keep the peace against insurrec.
ton. Aud IN the same proclamation he
called also for Congress. Come, come as
quick as you can, and GRE me the lars by
which TO raise an army and save the nation,
Congress came. And in his first message the
President apaiosized for the vast response
. bility he had taken pointing to the crisis thai
compelled the act. Congress promptly legiti.
mated all his proclamations and order, ane
listened respectfully to his recommends
tons.
But in 1865 another President startled the
snation by the haste he made ON matters pro
fonndly intricate and momentous-the adj
justment Of a whole nation, but yesterday
convulsed and sweating in the agony of war.
Wait oh wait for Congress, or at least ask
counsel.
But no. Whereas one President wher
duty was simplest and most emphatic, did tbs
very least he dared do and then apologized
the other when duty was most complex Anc
difficult made haste to do all that he coulc
do, hurrying lest Congress should NEEDLE
with the plan.
Thus Abraham Lincoln showed himself {
constitutional ruler, even amid wars ex
plosion; while Andrew johnson has shown
himself unconstitutional in the use of powe
just when peace was promising abundan
time for deliberation.
est and patriotic. But his jealous haste ha
led him into very conspicuous and danger
Gus irregularity.
A bad custom must not plead its age as
reeson for longer life and larger growth
Presidential interference with Congress, al
ways an evil, is to-day grown up to startlin
proportions And therefore, even though
approved the Presidents policy as wiser tina
that Of Congress lin fact, they are very near
" the same) should by my vote uphold Con
gress, because in my Judgment the Presidsn
errs grievously when he accounts himself i
any sense representative Of the people, an
responsible for policy. By the Constitutio
President is required to execute the laws {
Congress and defend the Constitution. If b
does more he is acting unconstitutional,
Congress alone, and not the President, rep
resents the people and makes the laws an
astohlichas pnliries