The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-07-27
The Last Presidential Message.

|sysss "a - ~ e,,-,
The Veto of the second Supplementary Act,
after repeating the objections previously urged
against the constitutionality Of tho Reconstruc-
ton programme of Congress, concludes with
the following remarks:%
HaWithin a period less than year the logisa-
tion of Congress has attempted to strip the
Executive department. of the Government of
some of its essential powers The Constitution
and tho oath provided in it devolycs upon tho
President thcpowcr and the duty to sec that
the laws are faithfully executed, The Consti.e
tuition, in order to carry out this power, gives
him the choice of the agents, and makes them
subject to- his control apd supervision. But in
! the execution of these laws the constitutional
| obligation upon the President remains, but the
power to exercise that constitutional duty is cf-
fcctually taken away.
The military commander is, as to the power
Of appointment, madc to take the place of the
President, and the general of the army the
place Of the Senate, and any attempt on the
part of the President to assert Ills own consti
tutional powers may, under prctcncc of law, be
met by official insubordination. 1t is to be
feared that. these military officers, looking to
the authority given by these laws, rather than
to tho letter or the constitution, will recognize
no authority but the commander of tho district
end 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 executive authority of
the United States, whilst the obligation rests
upon me to see that all the laws arc faithfully
executed, ! can never willingly surrender that
trust, OR the power given for its execution.
|. / can never give my assent to be made re-
sponsible for the faithful execution of laws and
at the same time surrender that trust and the
powers which accompany it to any other execu-
tive officer, high or low, or to any number of
executive officers.
If this executive trust, vested by the consti-
| tuition in the President is to be taken from him
and vested in n subordinate officer, the respon-
sibility will be with! Congress in clothing the
subordinate with unconstitutional power, and
with the officer who assumes its exercise. This
| interference with the constitutional authority
of.the executive department is an evil that
will inevitably sap the foundations of our fedo-
raj system but it is not tho worst evil of this
legislation. 1t is great public wrong to take
from the President powers conferred upon him
alone by the constitution, but the wrong is
more fragrant and moro dangerous when tho
powers so taken from the President are confer
rcd upon subordinate executive officers. Over
nearly one third of the States of the Union
military power, regulated by no fxod law, rules
supreme.
Each one of these five district commanders.
though not chosen by tho people or responsible
to them, exercise at this hour more executive
power, military end civil, than the people hayc
ever boon willing to confer upon the head of
the executive department., though not chosen
by and responsible to themselves The remedy
must come. from the people themselves.
They. know what it is, and how it is to applied.
Atithe presont time they cannot, according to
the constitution, repeal these laws, they
cannot remove or control this military dcspo-
tism. The remedy, nevertheless, is in their
hands i7it is to be found in tho ballot, and is
sure ono, IF not controlled by fraud, overawed
by arbitrary power, or from. apathy on their