New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-06
HOW NOT TO DO 1T,

The facts that perfect harmony and good
understanding do not now exist between
the President and CongreSs-that such accord
is most desrable-and that it can only be
attained through concession and conciatlon-
are obvious to the meanest capacity. Vi course
they are perceived by The NeT- York Times.
That journal proceeds therefore, 10 counSel
concession and harmony after,he following lip
perary fashion:
"The position OF the President does not admit OF ms
apprehension. He has done nothing which ealis ioI
retraction correction defense. All that can UuY
be said in regard to him ia that he has exeIeu tne NJ
bory vested in him By the Constitution In the manner
contemplated los the ConstitntiOn-that Is IN cohior
nifty wish the dictates of his independent judgment
Nothing short Of revolution can drive HIN from ms POI
sition; and revolution were that possible, WOMB HIM w
rather more likely to be in his favor than against MN
For he claims nothing that Is not by universal cohen'
conceded TO him. asks nothing that lie Il NOT eht'cu ~
ask suggests nothing that be may nor WIN propI''y
suggest and does nothing hich he has not sworn 10
do TO the best Of his Judgment and ability. IL u thee
fore evident that President johnson not only cannot
but ought not to rccedc single step Az the eTnS s
sion which IL is In his power Ia make ne mas arcau!
made And inasrnucn as existing difficulties are nor
attributable 10 him. but the product oil inderence
or hostility to bis suggestion the reasonabie presump
lion is that their removal is in degree dependent
upon his will. go 80.
with Congress the case Is different The Difficult.
| ties OF which patriotic men cohpih1 "
the obstacles 10 harmonious acton center us'e lc
responsibility arising out of these dihcutes rests
f,rs. The worst OF the matter Is however tbht these
difficulties are wantnn. needless griiutons, abd thh'
the hindrance 20 their removal springs nov ron he
ence to any operative point OF evident utility but RON
az effort TO dominate IN manner II variance Win the
Constitution"
In so far as the Presidents own action,
within the sphere OF Executive duty, Is CON
cerned, we can quite understand that he should
not allow Congress TO dictate his course nor any
part Of it. He is responsible To the People, not
to Congress and must look TO his responsibility.
No one else can share it. il he does wrong, no
one else can shield him from the consequences
of his error.
We do not see why the same just rule does not
operate both ways. Why not Congress is just
as independent in il own sphere as the Prosl-
dent is in his. II cannot delegate nor halve,
nor sub.let lis responsibility. 1t must act on
lis own judgment, and account to the People
for the discharge of its high trust. In certain
remote contingency. it is the Presidents judge:
in no possible contingency, is the President ITS
Judge. Is to admitting or rejecting members
or delegations to seats in either House, that Is
entirely the business of Congress. and not at all
that of the President. II strikes u, therefore,
that. if be- "claims nothing" asks nothing
suggests nothing" that is not within his line
of duty, there is no need Of any trouble, and no
excuse for any.