The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-01-16

In returning this bill to the Senate. I
deeply regret that there should be any
conflict OF opinion between the L2gisa.
tive and Executive Departments OF the
Government in regard to measures that
vitality object the prosperity and peace Of
the country Sincerely desiring to re-
concl'e the States with one another, and
the whole people of the Government of
the United States, it has leen my earle 1t
wish to co operate with Congress in al!
measures having tor their object a proper
and complete adjustment OF the questions
resulting from our late civil war. Har-
mony between the coordinate branches
OF the Government, always necessary for
the public welt re, was never more de-
manded than at the present time, and it
will, therefore, be my constant ann to
promote, as far as possible, concert of
action between them. The differences
of opinion that have already occurred
have made me only the more cautious,
lest the Executive should encroach upon
any OF TIE prerogatlves Of Congress, or,
by exceeding, in any manner, the con-
~titutional limit OF his duties, destroy the
equilibrium which should exist between
the severeral coordinate Departments,
and which is so essential to the harmon.
ious working of the Government.
know it has been urged that the Execu.
tive Department is more likely TO en-
large the sphere OF Its action than either
ot the other two branches ofthe Govern
ment, especially In the exercise ofthe
veto power conferred upon it by the
Constitution. 1t should be remember,
ed, however, that this power is wholly
negative and conservative in its charac
ter, and was intended to operate as a
check upon unconstitutional, hasty, and
improvident legislation, and as means
OF protection against invasions of the
just powers Of the Executive and Judi-
cial Departments. 1t is remarked by
Chancellor Kent that TO enact laws Is a
transcendent power; and, if the body
that possesses 1t be full and equal rep
resentation of the people, there is danger
OF its pressing with destructive weight
upon all the other parts OF the macln-
cry of government. 1t has, therefore,
been thought necessary, by the most
skllful and most experienced artists in
the science ofclvil policy, that strong
barriers should be erected for the pro-
lection and security Of the other ncces.
sary powers of the Governments Moth.
ing has been deemed more fit and expe-
dicnt for the purpose than the provision
that the read Of the Executive Depart
ment should be so constituted as to se>
cure requisite share of independence,
and that he s'ould have negative upon
the passing OF laws; and that the Judi,
ciary power, resting on a still more per.
manent basis, should have the right of
determining upon the validity OF laws
by the standard OF the Constitution
After full deliberation upon this
measure, | canuot bring myself to ap
prove it, even upon local considerations,
nor yet as the beginning of an expert
ment upon larger scale. yield to no
one in the attachment to that rule OF
general suffrage which distinguishes our
policy as nation. But there is q limit,
wisely observed hiterto, which makes
the ballot a privilege ard a trust, and
which requires Of some classes a time
suitable for probation and preparation.
TO give it indiscrminately TO a new
class, wholly unprepared, by previous
habits and opportunities, to perform the
trust which it demands, is to degrade it,
and finally to destroy its power; for it
may be safely assumed that that no po-
litical truth is better established than
that such indlscriminate and all,cmbrac-
ing extension of popular suffrage must
end at last IN its destruction
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WAsniNGroN, Jan. 2, 1867.
. . .