The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-07-26
JoHNs0N's VETO.

We give below tho closing part OF Mr..
Johnsons veto Of the Supplemental Recon.
strurton Bill. II is understood that the
whole veto was written by Mr.. Black OF
PENN To ordinary men il would have
been deemed wise and advisable to have
signed the hill under the protest without
the attempt to hnrl balls against the COM
ct since no hal Eliminated his impotcnt
thunder against two bills exactly similar to
this one and consequently carried his feeble
rhrtoric sufficiently for his own reputation.
lsu, no such opportunity Of threatening
Congress AMI the country to whom he is a
continual, tho Intellectual threat while he
holds his present office, would DO allowed
to go by: .. ." Go.
u il tn bc feared that these military off,
GERS, looking to the authority given by these
laws rather than Ia the letter Of the Consti.
tuition. viii recognize moro authority but
the Commander OF tho district and the
General Of tho Army. u there were no
other objections than This TO this proposed
k.-;siation il would be sufficient. Whilst ]
hold the chief executive authority Of the
United States whilst the obligation rests
on mc to see that all the laws arc faithfully
executed, can never willingly surrender
tia, tr,,s, or the powers given for It's execu-
tion. I can never give up my assent to he
n, "r responsible for the faithful execution
of,lie laws. and ut the same time surrender
tina; trust and the powers which nccompa-
nv IL 10 any other executive officers. IL
this executive trust, vested by the Consti-
tuition in the President. is to be taken from
hin, and vested In subordinate officer. the
responsibility viii be with Congressin cloth.
ING the subor,linaies with unconstitutional
powev and with the officer who assumes its
EXERCISE. O.. .,..I. I....
This interference with the constitutional
authority of the Executivs Department "
~, evil that will inevitably sap the founda.
lion Of oar Fedral system, but II IS not the
worst evil Of this legislation. II Is great
public wrong TO taka, from the President
powers conferred on him by tho Constitu.
iion, bat the wrong 10 more dangerous when
the powers 80 taken from the President arc
conferred upon subordinate executive ON
Gers, AMI especially upon military officers
over nearly one third OF the States Of the
Union. The military power Is regulated by
no fixed Lave il rules supreme in all OF tho
five districts. Tho commandsr, though not
chosen by the people OF responsible 10 them
tor the exercise OF this power has moro cx'
scutivc power, military and civil, than tho
psoplc have ever bccu willing to confer
upon the hea,l Of the Executive Departments
though chosen by and responsible to them
selves. Tho refnedy mus come from tho
lrop,e themselves they know how il b
and how Il must b applied. 80 Hs
Al tho present time they cannot, accord
inx 10 the forms Of the Conssitutiou, rcpcal
these hws. They cannot remove or con-
,rul this military despotism. The remedy
nevsrthclo. isia the ballot, and b sure one
n mot couuollcd BY freud, and awed by ~
E,rary po,Ses, or from apathy on their par
too long delayed. w. ga. ''r !.
Win abiding cou6dewcc In their patriot
is,n. wisdom and integrity, sm still hops.
fuI Of the fuuire, and that IN tho end, th.
rpd Of ds.potsm will be hrokes, tho srnet
hal of power Iilesd from the Decks Of th<
people, sd che prsssiplo Of vio'aiet
constitution preserved. ''