The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-01-23

ARroEoAN1HToE oiD1D1C1.
Under the Constitution, Of the United
States the President has Tie power Of ap-
poiatmeat, snbisct 70 the eonsene of the Sen.
ate of the United States. In the view Of the
frsmsrs Of the Constitution, the assent Of
The Senate wa ia ~ material to the ap-
pointment of executive officers ~ the nomi>
nation by the President. But Andrew john
cen has practically ssllised thss provision Of
the Constitution, By usurping the sole con-
troll Of the whole matter. He nominates TO
Office, and the nominee takes possession, and
when the Senate declines TO consent TO the
appointment Johnssa iii retains he officer,
in spite of ths Senstss and thereby practical
" sbrosates most important feature " the
Constitution, which he has sworn to support
and defend.
In order 10 enforce this provision of the
Constitution, . stringent bill has just been
adopted by the Senate, and will, no dsnbt,
pass the House, making the consent Of the
Senate, an essential condition precedent to
the assumption of the duties Of the Office by
any nominee Of the President, except in ca
SEES where vacancy occurs during the recess
of Congress, or when the officer may be re-
moved for malfeasance in Office.
lis apparent that such Legislation is need
cd, in order to carry into effect the design OF
the Constitution, especially when We have
such vulgar and arbitrary despot rs now
hlls the Presidential chair. When we have
. President who habitually and shAmelessly
violates all the properties and deceneies OF
private and public life, and publicly pro-
claims his purpose to kick every man out Of
ONCE, who will not follow in his footsteps,
and play traitor to his party and his country,
and makes the equally bold announcement
that be will veto every bill passed by Con
grsss, as fast as they come to him, it is time
for Congress to make laws 70 curb the daring
usurper of imperial power.
There was no single provision of the Com
stitution that caused the Convention more
trouble than that relating to appointments.
Propositions for eonferripg the appointing
power on Commissions, variously constituted,
giving it to the Supreme Court, aud variety
of other schemes, we're introduced in the
Convention. and debated at considerable
length, before the provision finally inserted
was agreed TO. Hence, we may readily in
fer that the trainers Of the Constitution re-
garded the power of appointment as a very
important one, and that they duly weighed the
=, he ~-,sa.t
clusion practicable, in the treatment Of 80
difficult subject And it behooves us, there
fore, the more carefully to guard against any
departure from the mode agreed upon, or
any violation Of that provision Of the Con-
sttution, in spiri, or in letter. Butabove all,
let Congress guard agsins, the palpable dans
ger likely to arise from the disregard of this
check 10 tho Presidents power and take
warning in time from the wisdom of the fra,
mers of the Constitution, whose apprehsu-
sions on this subject we're expressed in the
Convention, and are on record, for our guild
ance, even to the present day.
Col. Mason, Of Virginia, one Of the wises.
and best men of Revolutionary times, in the
discussion in the Convention, said
THAT . vote had already passed, he found-hs
was out at the time-for resting the executive pow.
ers in single person. Among these powers was
that Of appointing to Offices certain cases The
probable abuses of negative had been we'll L
planned by DR.. Franklin, as proved by experience,
the beet Of oil tests. Will net the same door BE-
opened here The executive may refuse its assent
to necessary measures, till new appointments chs
be referred to him and having by degrees en-.
crossed all these into his own hands, the American
executive, like the British, will, by bribery and
influence, save himself the trouble and odium Of
exerting his negatise Afterwards. We are, Mr.
Chairman, going very far in this business. We
are not, indeed, constituting British govern
ment bnt q more dangerous monarchy--An cleo
tive one"
This opinion was confirmed and strength.
ened by DR.. Franklin, the wisest and mos,
practical Of Americans, in these memorable
words, to which we, in our day, will do we'll
to take heed:
"Col. Mason had mentioned the circumstances
OF appointing officers. He knew how that point
would be managed. No new appointment would
be suffered as heretofore, in Pennsylvania, unless
IL be referred TO the executive so that all prohta
BILE Offices win be at his disposal The first man
Put At the helm viii be . good one. Nobody
Knows what sort may come Afterwards. The ex-
ecutive will be always increasing here, a. else
where, till i. ends in s monarchy"
We will not weary our readers by further
extracts, for the authority and the wisdom Of
the men already quoted is verified by history,
and the dangers which they prognosticsted
are now lowering threateningly in the poliii.
calsky. johnson is seeking to control and
direct the policy of the country, and to ab-
sorb all power into his own hands, and be 10
usurping the sole power of appointment. into
his own hands, in violation of the Constitu-
ton, in order to strengthen and perpeiuate
his despotic power.
By all means. let the Representatives 81
the people and Of the States-tbe law making
power Of the land--exercise their functions
while they may, in restraining the usurper in
his practical pervefsion of the Constitution,
IN way which our Fathers regarded - the
certain path 70 elective, and, in the end, &c
hereditary monarchy.