Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-07-25
Proceedings Of Congress--Presfdeo
Veto Message.

! AsHiNGToN, July IL, IS67.-In the
Senate, the House amendment allowing
negroes to serve on juries was adopted 2
A joint resolution from the House mill
tying the District Court of Claims was Sc
verely denounced by Mr.. Trumbull.
Mr.. Sumner introd uced resolution to
strike out the word white from the ma
turalization laws. Referred to the Judi
ciary Committee.
The Presidents veto of the Reconstruct
ton bill was read and the bin passed over
it-ayes 80, nays 6-the nays being Mes
sieurs Bayard, BuckaIew, Davis, Hend-
ricks, johnson, and Patterson ofTennessee
The chair announced that the bill was a
law.
The Senate passed resolution to adj
journ tomorrow at three o'clock until
Monday, December %, by vote of % to
l3-the nays representing the impeaching
element in the Senate
In the House of Representatives. the
Assassination Committee was allowed to
take evidence by subcommittee and ad-
minister oaths.
A special committee of FIVE was appoint
cd to investigate paymasters' departments.
The preamble to the resolution alleges that
fraud has been committed.
Presidents Veto Message.
A message from the President vetoinc
the reconstruction bill was received. L
fills three columns of newspaper.
The President argues deliberately the
Inconsistencies, unconstitutionahty and
tyranny Of the act
Abiding to the declaration that the
State Governments are illegal, he says a
singular contradiction is apparent. Con-
gress declares these local State Govern
ments to be illegal governments, and then
provides thai these illegal governments
shall be carried on by Federal officers
who are to perform the very duties inpos-
ed on its own officers by their illegal State
authority. It certainly would be novel
spectacle if Congress should attempt 10
carry on legal State Government by the
agency of Its own officers 1t is yet more
strange that Congress attempts to sustain
and carry on an illegal State Government
by the same Federal agency.
With regard to title by conquest, he
says 1t is new title acquired by war. It
applies only to territory; for goods or mo-
vable things, regularly captured in war,
are called booty, or if taken by individual
soldiers, plumber There is not a foot Of
land Ia any one Of these ten States which
the United States holds by conquest, save
only such land as did not belong to either
Of these States or to any individual owner.
| mean such lands as did belong 70 tie
pretended government called the .'Confed-
ate States" These lands We claim to hold
by conquest. As to all other land or ter
ritory, whether belonging to the States or
individuals, the Federal Government has
now no more title or right to than it had
before the rebellion.
The message concludes:
"Within period of less than year
the legislation of Congress has attempted
to stip the Executive department of the Co
vernment Of some Of its essential powers.
The Constitution and the oath provided in
it deyolve upon the President the power
and the duty to see that the laws are faith
fully executed. The Constitution, in or
der to carry out this power, gives him the
choice Of the agents and makes them sub
ject to his control and supervision; but in
the execution Of these laws, the constitu-
tional obligation upon the President re-
mains, but the power to execute that con-
stitutional duty is effectually taken away.
The military commander is, as to the pow
err 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, I'M
der pretence of law, be met by Official in
subordination. 1t is to be feared that
these military officers, looking to the au-
thority given by these laws rather than to
the letter of the Constitution, will recog-
nize 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. Whilst | hold the chief Execu-
tive authority of the United States, whilst
the obligation rests upon me to see that all
the laws are faithfully executed, can ne
yer willingly surrender that trust, nor the
power given for It's execution. [ can ne
yer give my assent to be made responsible
for the faithful execution of laws, and at
the same time surrender that trust and the
powers which accompany it to any other
Executive officer, high or low, or to any
number of executive officers. If this Ex-
ecutivc trust, vested by the Constitution
in the President, is to be taken from him
and vested in subordinate officer, the
responsibility wiW be aoith Congress Ia
clothing the Subordinate soith uaconstitst-
tional poacer, and eetth the officers vzo as
sumed its exercise. This Inference with
the constitutional authority of the Execu
tive Department is an evil that will inevi-
tably sap the foundations of our Federal
system, but it is not the worst evil Of this
legislation. 1t is great public wrong to
take from the President the powers con-
ferred upon him alone by the constitution,
but the wrong is more fragrant, and more
dangerous when the powers so taken from
the President are confarrad nno,, e,,bor1;