The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1867-07-24

period of less than year, the legislation of
Congress has attempted TO strip the Execu.
tive department ofthe G0vernment of some
Of its essential powers The Uon,tituti "a
and the oath protided in 1t, devulved on
the Pre-: ident the power and duty to y,
that the laws ART faithfully executed.
The Constitution, in order to carry out
this power, gives him choice OF the agents,
and make them subject to his control and
supervision; but in the ex cution OF thare
laws the Constitutional obligation upon the
President remains, but power to exercise
that Constitutional duty is effectually taken
away. The military commander is, as 10
The power OF appointment, made to take
the place of the Pre-, ident and the G, neral
OF the army the place IF the Senate; and
any att rpt en- the part of the President
% assert his own Constitutional power may,
under pretenje or law, be met by official in-
'ubord nation. 1t is to be feared these mill
tary officers, looking to the authority given
by these laws rather than to the letter of
the Constitution, will recognize no autho ity
but the Commander of the district ana the
General of the army. If there were no 9th
er objections than this to the proposed
legislation, it would be sufficient. While |
hold the chief Executive authority of the
United States while the Obligation rests on
me TO see that the laws are faithfully execut
ed, can never willingly surrender that trust,
or the powers given for its execution, |
can never give my assent to be responaible
for the faithful execution of laws, and at
the same time surrender that trust and
power which accompany to any other ex-
ecutlve officer high or low or any number OF
executive ofic RS. If these executive trusts
vested by the Constitution in the President,
are TO be taken tiom him and vested in a
subordinate officer, the responsibility will be
with Congress in clothing the subordinates
with unconstitutional power and with the
officer who assumes its exercise. This in.
reference with the Constitutional authority
of the Executive Department is an evil
that will inevitably sap the foundations of
our federal system but it is not the worst
evil Of this legislation; it is great public
wrong to take from the President powers
conferred on him alone hy the Constitution;
but the wrong is more hagrant and more
dangerous when the powers so taken from
the President are conferred on subordinate
executive officers, and especially on militia y
officers. Over nearly one third OF the
States OF the Union military power, regnla-
W. ~ ~ uA' u law IuItS SupTG1le, Zach
OF the five district commanders, though not
chosen by the people or responsible to hem
| exercise at this hour more executive power
than the people have ever been willing to
confer upon the head of the Executive DE
partment, though chosen by and responsible
| to themselves.
| The remedy must come from the peo3le
themselves. They know what it is, and
how it is to be applied at the present time.
They cannot, according to the forms of the
Constitution, repeal these laws They can
not remove or control this military despot-
ism. The remedy is nevertheless in their
hands. 1t is to be found in the ballot, and
sure one, if not controlled by fraud and
awed BY arbitrary power, or from apathy
on their part too long delayed. With abid
ing confidence in their patriotism, wisdom
and integrity, | am still hopeful of the fu l.
ture, and that in the end the rod of despot-
ism will be broken, and the armed heel of
power lifted from the necks OF the peop e,
and the principles of a violated Constitu-
ton preserved.
[Signed ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, D. G. July l9, 1867.