The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1867-01-23
W TO M EssA G,E
PRESIDENT JOHNSON.

ESIDENT JOHNSO
Returning TO the Senate Bill entitled An Act
Regulate the Elective Franchise in the District,
Columbia
(csncluded.)
ln returning this bill 10 the Senate,
deeply regret that there should be, any con
fict Of opinion between the legislative ant
Executive departments of the Governmen,
in regard 10 measures that vitality affect III,
prosperity and peace Of the c"untry. Sin
cercly desiring 10 reconcile the States witt
one auo;her, and the whole people TO th,
Gogernment OF the United States, IL ha
been my earnest wish to cooperate will
Congress in all measures having fnr their
object a proper aud complete adju'tmcn
.f ihr questions resulting from our iAir ci
vii war. Harmon, beIseen the coordinate
branches OF the Government. always neces
sary Tor the public weli.re, was never more
tlemanaed than at ,he present time. and q
will, therefore, be ny constant aim 70 pro
mole as far as possible. concert Of actior
between them. The difference oil opinion
that have already occurred have rendered
me only the more cautious lest the Erecu.
tive should encroach upon any OF the pre-
rogalive. of Congress. or by exceeding u
any manner the constitutional limit OF hi
duties, destroy the equilibrium which
should exist between the several co-ordi'
nate departments. aud which is 50 essential
10 the harmoniuus working Of the Gosern-
aent. know i, has been urged that III.
Executive department is more likely TO en-
large the sphere oil IFS action than either oI
The ather branches uf the Government. and
especially in the exercise Of the yetopower
conferred upon il by the Constitution. |,
should be rene mbered, however. that this
power is wholly negative and conservative
in its character. and was intended TO ope-
rate as a caeck upon unconstitutional, has.
~ aud improvllent legislation. and as a
means Of protection against invasions Of the
ius, powers Of the Executive and Judiclsl
Departments. II is remarked by Chan.
ccllnr Kent that ito enact laws is tran
scendeut power; and IL the body that pos.
sesses it be Iull and equal representation
III the people, there is danger vi its press.
,nf with destructive weight upon all the
other parts IL the machinery OF Govern.
ment. II has, therefore. been thought ne
cessafy, by the most skilllul and most expe.
rirnced artist. in the scienc. ai civil pollty
that strong barriers shonld be erected Tor
the protection aud security OF the other ne
cessary powers Of Government. Nothing
has been deemed more fit and erpedienl
Tor the purpos. than the prosision that the
head oI the Executive Department should
b. so constituted as to secure q requisite
share Of independence, aud that he should
have negative upon the passing of laws
aud that the Judiciary power. resting on =
still mnre permanent basis. should have the
right. Of determining upon the validity ol
laws by the standard of the Constitution
The nscessity al some such check IN the
hands Of the Executive is shown by reie-
renee 10 the must eminent writers upon our
system Of government. WIN seem TO con
cur in the opinion that entertainments are
most to be apprshendei from the depart
ment in which all legislative pswsr. ar,
vested by the Constitution. Mr.. Madison
IN referring TO the difficulty of providing
some practical security Tor each again.t the
invasion OF the other. remarks that the
Legislative department is every where eI.
tsaJing the sphere vl It's activity, and
ara~ing all power int its inspeiunus vor.
,cx." Tie founders Of our republic seen
ae,er TO have reeollsetsd the danger from
legislative ssurpativa. which. by lsem.
bling all power Ia the same hands, must
lead to the same tyranny a. 10 threatened
By Executive usurpations. +" fna represen-
,slive republic. where The Executive mag.
is,racy is carefully limited, both in the er
isntanj the duration Of It's power. and where
the legislative power iserercised by sn a..
.smbly which is inspired by supposed in-
aasnce over the people. with an intrepid
ssahdsnce in its own strength; whichis suf-