Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-07-23
THE VETO.

P'OSSSS ~ "uICH tue congress OF the United
States has destroyed the Constitution and
subverted every principle Of good government
established by it; that he has observed the
downfall of the public liberties and knows
the wicked hands that wrought the deed;
and that he has, in apt aud forcible words,
placed on enduring record warnings of the
ruin to which the reign of faction was hasten
ing the nation.
In the use, of the various vetoes he has
from time to time employed to arrest the
baleful legislation to which our sad condition
is now attributable, he has pointed out, with
admirable precision, not only the purposes of
the monstrOus measures of usurpation adopt
ed by the party in power, but the sure de-
struction that must attend their execution.
In his recent message to Congress disap>
proving the acts supplementary to the recon-
structiOn act of March last, he foresees con-
sequences with the eye of true statesmen
OF the nature of the gov eminent provided BY
this bill for the South he observes that ''over
all these ten States this military government
Is now declared to have unlimited authority.
- 20 Nv AOASSl SOultbGu ~ llC preservation
the public peace, the administration of GRIM
lnal law, the registration of voters, and the
superintendent of elections; but sin ali re-
spects' it is asserted to be paramount to the
existing civil governments"
or the Legitimate effect of such a govern
ment he truly says: sit is impossible to con-
ceive any state of society more intolerable
than this, and yet it is to this condition that
twelve millions of American citizens are re-
duced by the Congress of the United States,
Over every foot Of the immense territory oc.
cupied by these American citizens, the Con-
stitutiOn Of the United States is theoretically
in full operation. 1t binds all the people
there, and should protect them, yet they are
denied every one of its sacred guarantees.
"Of what avail will it be to any one of
these Southern people when seized by file
| of soldiers to ask for the cause of arrest, or
for the production of the warrantY Ofwhat
avail to ask for the privilege of bail when in
military custody, which knows no such thing
as bail! OF what avail to demand a trial by
| jury, process for witnesses, a copy of the in
dictment, the privilege of counsel, or that
greater privilege the writ of hdLe0S corpus ?"
President johnson then discerns the des.
potism prepared for the people of the States
by this act of Congress. lie knows that
more than onc>third of the nation are about
to pass under the yoke and become serfs and
slaves, although fully entitled to all the priv
ileges and SACRED guarantees" of the Con-
stitution. Not only so, but with an equally
clear perception of consequences, he sees the
powers of the high Office which he occupies,
and which were intended as guards against
the very outrages he so much deprecates, are
stricken down, and without even the forms Of
law, he has been reduced to a mere cipher in
the government. Without impeachment,
and without trial of any description, all has
been effected which conviction and removal
could have accomplished; and to day, al
though under the Constitution, he is declared
to be the cOmmander-ih. chief Of the army and
navy of the country, he has no more power
as such in ten States than the chief butler
aye, than the meanest scullion of the White
House he occupies non,inaUy as the Presi-
dent Of the United States
Says Mr.. johnson:
The Constitution and the oath provided
in 1t devOlve upon the President the power
and the duty to see that the laws are faithful
ly executed. The Constitution, in order to
carry out this power gives him the choice of
the agent and makes them subject to his con-
troll and supervisor. But IN tie crccution Of
these tG'rS tie Constitutional OLHgGtioa upon
the PRESIDENT remains, LmHe posrcr TO crey-
case that Constitutional duty as c6IC'udHy to-
ken arGy.' He has then, Ly his own ac-
acknowledgement been virtually deposed from the
| Office Of President of the United States, and
deprived of his authority as COMMANDMENTS
Chief of its forces-thc agents necessary to an
execution of the duties OF his high position
by process that could not legally strip n
lieutenant of the army or navy, of the pres
negatives Of his official rank. The President
then, as we have before minated, is not TO-
norant of the appalling situation Of the ma
ton, He tells us that the constitution has
been overthrow that he has been an intelli-
gent spectator of its overthrow, and that ne
has been cOgniZant of the means employed
to that end. lie informs us, too. that he has
permitted himself to be deprived of powers
entrusted to him, as he very we'll knows, for
the purpose of preserving the government
from the very assault to which it has suc>
cumbed. lie has stood by and witnessed the
cruel blows dealt at the life of the nation
without the interposition of the shield which
the law places in his hands for its protection.
He has solemnly sworn "to preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution of the United
States;' and that is but a poor apology for a
derelictiOn of duty which urges that he has
not the means for the task required of him,
because he has quietly and without a strug>
gle surrendered tie power necessary for the