Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-07-23
THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

The National LnteHigencer of Thursday
has an article of great seriousness, in which
it deliberately announces" its conscientious
belief that rational crisis is at hand" and
calls upon all citizens to consider with it "the
transcendant issue which appears at last to
have arisen in the country from the long and
distracting strife of partisauship, and which
We are constrained to believe threatens con-
sequences of Infinite calamity to all classes of
the American people" 1t then proceeds to
an examination of the supplemental recon-
structiOn bill, which is before the President
for his action, and says that the marked fea.
lures of the reconstruction laws are as fol-
lows:-
a. That tie Government IS cssentiaNy
military. (2.) That oil the officers ana
agents employed an ats administration, escecu-
tire, legislative and judtciaI-prtmGrily Fed
cT0l, or so by adoption, umder and Jy vittue
Of the said statutes are removable at pleas
ure. (3.) That the President file United
States as UItuGt!y crOnerdtcd Gy these Ea,cs
from agency or responsibility an their erecu-
ton. ~ fourth peculiarly of the highest
consequence at an earlier day has now fallen
somewhat behind the present inquiry, except
as facilitating apprehension. viz: The Presi-
dent was Ousted Of his magis;racy, in great
degree, over these States, in common with
the other States of the Union, in as far as
their constitutional relations corresponded
with the latter, by the passage of the act Of
I'd March.
But the pleasure of Congress in excluding
all their representatives lett their condition
l, "a
ment, rather TO waive the question than to
prolong the disturbance. This forbcarance
he had the power, however Intellectually for
the end, to exercise, because he was not bound
to decide upon the constitutionality of the
acts. They were acts which could be exccu-
ted, and if so, but one Executive existed to
perform that duty. But acts of Congress.
which purpcrt to exonerate from or forbid
the President to execute them. cannot be
laws, for "ofhiHg is Il huir # tie GRiicd States
'cAich tie President Is not Gomhd 10 crecuie
After quoting from the Constitution and
other authorities, it declares that "an act
passed by Congress to be executed without
the responsibility of the sole Executive of
the United States is not law; as well might
the City Councils of Washington pass such
ga "''' IL GShSi " ldL lHeu Is Ine IreSl-
dents duty" 1t says:
1t cnactmcnts purporting to be in force in
the United States as laws of the land. vet
which cannot be, because not executable by
the only executive which can execute law,
are put into practical operation BY persons pre-
tending to be their executives, and the opera
tons OF these persons contravene or hinder
in any degree other laws really in force, no.
body can pretend to doubt what the case is,
what the Presidents duty is. and what are
the consequences Of any hesitation or falter-
ing on his part
When such collision, between the laws
and the unwarranted authority of insurgents
orrevolutionists, (Or.what are the same things,
executive officers, not agents Of the ONLY ex-
ecutive) actually arises, he the abstract mer.
its of the controversy what they may. and be
the motives of the parties good or evil. it is
certain that public order is brought to the
fearful extremity of dependence for time
on the courage, prudence and fidelity of one
man-the general magistrate of the Union.
Whether this imports anything more than
purpose to bring the public mind to a reaIi-
cation of the departures which have been
made from the old order of the government.
we cannot say, but in any case, it seems the
practical result must be the continued preva-
lence Of the will of Congress, whatever that
may be.