The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-07-31
[iherata iudgment of Congress.

Within q, per1OQ less Gnau, u ~ eai Vie
legislation of Congress has attempted to
strip the Executive Department Of the
Government of some Of, its essential pow
ers The Constitution and the oath pro
vided init devolve upon. the President the
power and the duty to see that the laws
are a faithfully executed. The Constitution,
in order TO carry out this power, gives the
choice of the agents, and makes them sub
iect to his control and supervision. But
in the execution of theselaws the consti-
tutional obligation upon the President. re-
mains, but the power to exercise that con-
stitutional duty is efectually taken away.
The military commander is, as. to the pow
er of appointment, made to take the place
of the President, and the General OF the
army the place of the Senate, and any at
tempt, on the part of the President to as
sert his own constitutional power may, un-
der pretence of law, emet by official insub-
ordination. It is to be feared that these
military officers, looking to the authority
given by these laws, rather than to the
letter of the Constitution, will recognize
no authority but the commander of the
district and the General OF the army.
IF there were no other objection than
this to this proposed legislation, it would
be sufficient. While hold the chief ex-
ecutive authority OF the United States,
while the obligation rests upon me to see
that all the laws are faithfully executed,
can never willingly surrender that trust,
or the power given for its execution.
I can never give my assent to be made
responsible for the faithful execution of
laws and at the sametime surrender that
trust and the powers which accompany it
to any other executive officer, high or low,
or to any number ofexecutive officers.
If this Executive trust, vested by the
Constitution in the President, is to be ta-
ken from him and vested in subordinate
officer, the responsibility will be with Con-
gress in clothing the subordinate with un-
constitutional power, and with the officer
who assumes its exercise. This interfer-
ence with the constitutional authority of
the Executive department is an evil that
will inevitably sap the foundations Of our
federal system, but it is not the worst evil
of this legislation. 1t is a great public
wrong to take from the President powers
conferred upon him alone by the Constitu-
ton, but the wrong is more fragrant and
more dangerous whenthe powers so taken
from the President are conferred upon SUBJ
ordinate executive officers, and especially
upon military officers. Over nearly one
third of the States of the Union military
power, regulatediby noss fixed law, rules
supreme. ~.
Each one of those FIVE district comman-
ders, though not chosen by the people or
responsible to them, exercise at this hour
more executive power military and civil,
than the people have ever been willing to
confer upon the head of the Executive De-
partment, though chosen by and response
BILE to themselves. The remedy must come
from the people themselves. They know
what it is, and how it is to be applied. At
the present time they cannot, accordingto
the constitution, repeal these laws; they
cannot remove or control this despotism.
The remedy, ,neverless, is in theirhands; lit
is to be found in the ballot, and is sure
one, if not controlled by fraud, overawed
by arbitrary power, or from apathy on
their part too long delayed. With abiding
confidence in their patriotism, wisdom and
integrity, am still hopeful of the future,
and that in the end the rod of depotism
will be broken, the armed rule of power
be lifted from the necks of the people, and
the principles OF violated Constitution
preserved.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July I9,. 1857.
|