Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-12-05

promises, beelder, III We now aek nOWledge
that the national debt was created, not 10 hold
the State in the Union, a. the tax payers were
led 20 suppose, but 10 expel them from ID and
hand them over 20 be governed by negroes,
the moral duty 10 pay IL may seem much lees
clear. ] say " may seem go, for do lot admit
That this or any other argument In favor Of re-
pudiation can be entertained as sound, but It's
influence on some classes OF minds may well be
apprehended, The financial honor oil grea,
commercial nation, largely indebted and with
afepnohess form OF government administered
by agents OF the popular choice, is thing Of
such delicate texture, and the destruction OF IL
would be followed by such unspeakable Calam-
ity, that every true patriot must desire TO avoid
whatever might expose IL 10 the slightest dan
ger. The great interests of the count try require
immediate relief from these enaclments Bust
ness IN the South Is paTalyzed by sense OF
general insecurity, by terror Of cOnfscatioH
and the dread OF negro supremacy, The South
ern trade, from which the North would have
derived so great profit under goytTnment Of
law, still languishes, and can never be revived
until u ceases TO be iettered by the arbitrary
power which makes all lite operations unsafe,
That rich country, the richest In natural 70,
sources the world ever saw, is worse than Tort
II itbe not seon placed under the prot, elton Of
a free constitution; instead of being, as IL
ought 10 be, source of we lth and power, II
win become an intolerable burden upon the
rest Of the nation. Another reason for retrac-
ing our steps will doubtless be seen by Congress
In the late mantle stations of public opinion
upon this subject. We live In country where
the popular will always enforces obedience TO
itself sooner or later. II Is vain TO think of OPP
posing 1t with anything short OF legislation,
backed by overwhelming force. II canpot
have escaped your attention that from the
day on which Congress fairly and formally
presented the proposition 10 govern the
Southern States by military force with
a view 10 the ultimate establishment of negro
supremacy, every expression of the general SEN
timent has been more or less adverse 10 II. The
affections of this generation cannot be detached
from the institutions of their ancestors. Their
determination TO preserve the inheritance Of
free government in their own hands, and trans
nit il undivided and unimpaired To their own
posterity, is too strong to be successfully
opposed. Every weaker passion will disappear
before the love of liberty and law for which the
American people are distinguished above all
Others in the world.
THE PRESIDENT VS., CONGRESS.
How far the duty of the President " 10 pre-.
serve, protect and defend the Constitution
requires him TO 90 in opposing an unconstltu,
tional act of Congress, Is avery serious and
| important question on which have deliberated
much, and felt extremely anxious to reach a
proper conclusion. Where an act has been
passed according to The forms of the Constitu;
/ ton by the supreme Legislative authority, and
| is regularly enrolled among the public statutes
Of the country, executive resistance TO ii espe-
cially in times of high party excitement would
be likely to produce violent collision between
the respective adhCrents of the two branches OF
| the Government This would be simply civil
| war and civil war must be resOrted to ~ Iy as
| the last remedy for the worst of evils. What
| ever might tend to provoke it should be most
| carefully avoided. A faithful and conscientious
| magistrate viii Concede very much to honest
| error, and something even to personal malice.
| before he will cndanger the public peace; and
| he will not adopt fOrciblc measures or suCh as
| might lead to force as long as those which are
| peaCeable remain open 10 him or to his Consti-
| tuents tits true that cases may occur in which
| the Executive would be compelled TO stand on
| his rights to maintain them regardless Of all
| consequences. If Congress should pass an act
| which is not only in palpable conflict with the
| Constitution, ii will certainly II carried out
| produce immediate. iTreparable injury 10 the
| organic structure of the Government. and if
| there be neither judicial remedy for the wrongs
| it infliCts nor power in the people TO protect
| themselves without the official aid ofthcir elect
ed defender IT, for instance the legislative
| department should pass an act even through all
| the forms ofaw to abolish a coordinate depart
ment of the Government, in such case the
President must take the high responsibilities OF
his office and save the life Of the nation at all
hazards The sO-called Reconstruction acts
| though as plainly unconstitutional as any that
can be imagined, were not believed 10 be within
the class last mentioned. The people were not
| wholly disarmed of the power of self-defense.
In all the Northern States they still held in Their
hands the sacred right of the ballot, and it was
| to the rescue of their own institutions 1t gives
me pleasure to add that the appeal to our com
mon constituents was not taken in vain, and thai
| my confidence in their wisdom and virtue seem:
not to have been misplaced.-
FRAUDS ON THE TREASURY.
1t is well and publicly known that enormous
| frauds have been perpetTated on the Treasury
aud that colossal fortunes have been made at thu
public expense. This species of corruption ha
| 50 fr1rr ngaiT nyH n a.
| will soon bring us into total ruin and disgrace
| The public creditors and the taxpayers are alik
interested in an honest administration Of III
finances, and neither class will long endure tn
| large handed rObberies ofthe recent past. Fo
this discreditabe state of things there are sever
| al causes Some of the taxes are so laid as L
present an irrepressible temptation TO evad
i payment. The great sums which officers ma
win by ConniyanCe at frauds create pressur
which is more than the virtue ofmany can with
stand, and there can be no doubt that the opcl
disregard of constitutional Obligations ayowe
by some of the highest and most influential me
in the country has greatly weakened the mora
sense of those who serve in subordinate place:
PRESIDENTS POWER To APPOINT OR REMoy
sUBoRDINATEs.
The expenses of the United States includin
! interest on the public debt, are more than 81
times as much as they were seven years age
To collect and disburse this vast amount II
uuires careful supervision, as well as systemati
! vigilance. The system. never perfected, wa
) much disorganzed by the " Tenure Of OtliC
. bill" which has almost destroyed official AZ
: | cOuntabitv The President may be thorough
e convinced that an officer is incapable, dishoncs
Orunfaithfu to the Constitution, but under ii
law which have named the utmost he can do
10 complain to the Senate and ask the privilee
r ofsuppying his place witha better man. If Il
1 Senate be regarded as personally or political
!, hostile to the President it is natural and NJ
d altogether unreasonable for the officer to eXpe
{ that it will take his part, as far as possible,
e restore him to his place, and give him TRUMP
d oyer his executive superior. The officer h
: other chances of impunity arising from acc
r dental defects of evidence, the mode OF invest
s eating it, and the secrecy ofthe hearing. 1t
= not wonderful that official malfeasanCe shOu
d become bold in proportion as she delinquen
l. | learn to think themselves safe. | am entire
n | persuaded that under such a rule the Preside
e | cannot perform the great duty assigned to hi
It of seeing the laws faithfully executed, and tn
II | il disables him most especially from cnfOrcil
that rigid accountability which is necessary
. the due execution of the revenue law. The Co
W stitution invests the President with authority
n decide whether removal should be made in a
K given case; the act eff Congress declares in su
lie stance that he shall only accuse such as
l | supposes to be unworthy of their trnst. 7
re Constitution makes him sole judge III the pl
y, misses, but the statute takes away his jurisd
le ton transfers ii to the Senate, and leaves HI
De nothing but the odious, and sometimes impr;