The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-20
Conversational.

flying the District Court of Claims was Sc
verely denounced by Mr.. Trumbull.
Mr.. Sumner introduced resolution to
strike out the word "white" from the
naturalization laws. Referred to the Judi
ciary Committee.
The Presidents veto of the RECONSTRUCT
ton bill was read, and the bill passed over
it-ayes 30, nays 6-the nays being Messrs.
Bayard, Buckalew, Davis, Hendricks,
Johnson, and Patterson of Tennessee. The
Chair announced that the bill was law.
The reconstruction appropriation bill
was also passed over veto.
The Senate passed resolution to adj
journ tomorrow al o'clock until Monday,
December 22d, by vote of % to Is, the
nays representing the impeaching element
in the Senate. Adjourned.
HoUsE.-The Assassination Committee
was allowed to take evidence by sub-com-
mittees and administer oaths.
A special committee Of five was ap-
pointed to investigate the Paymaster's
Department. The preamble to the reso-
lutionS alleges fraud.
The message from the President vetoing
the reconstruction bill was received. 1t
fills three columns of newspaper, and
argues deliberately the inconsistencies, I'M
constitutionality, and tyranny Of the act.
Abiding to tho declaration that the
State governments are illegal, he says a
singular contradiction is apparent. Con-
gress declares these local State govern
ments to be illegal governments, and then
provides that these illegal governments
shall be carried OH by Federal officers, who
arc to perform the very duties imposed on
its own officers by this illegal State au-
thority. Ii certainly would be novel
spectacle if Congress should attempt to
carry on legal State government by the
agency OF its own officers. 1t is yet more
strange that Congress attempts to sustain
and carry OH an illegal State government
by the same Federal agency. With re-
gard to title by conquest, he says it is a
new title acquired by war. 1t applies
only to territory, for goods or movable
things regularly captured in war are
called booty, or if taken by an individual
soldier, plumber. There is not foot of
land in any one Of these ten States which
the United States holds by conquest, save
only such land as did not belong to either
Of these States or TO ali individual owner.
! mean such lands as did belong to the
pretended government called "the Con-
federate States" These lands we may
claim to hold by conquest. AS to all
other land or territory, whether belonging
to tie States or individuals, the Federal
Government has now no more title or right
to it than it had before the rebellion. The
message concludes:
"Within the period of less than a year
the legislation Of Congress has attempted
to strip the Executive Department Of the
Government Of some Of its essential pow
crs. The Constitution and the oath pro-
yided in it devolve upon the President the
power and the duty TO see that the laws
are faithfully executed. The Constitu-
ton, in order to carry out this power, gives
him the choice of the agents, and makes
them subject to his control and Supervi-
sion but in the execution Of these laws
the constitutional obligation upon the
President remains, but the power to eX-
ercise that constitutional duty is etfectually
taken away. The military commander is,
as to the power Of appointment, made to
take tue place Of the President, and the
General OF the army the place Of the Sc
nate and any attempt on the part of the
President to assert his own constitutional
power may, under pretence of law, be met
By official characterization. 1t is to be
feared that these military officers, looking
to the authority given by these laws rather
than to the letter of the Constitution, will
recognize no authority but the COM
mander Of the district aud the gene
raj of the army. If there were
no other objection than this to this pro-
posed legislation it would be sufficient.
Whilst l. hold the chief executive autho-
rity of the United States, whilst the OBJ
legation rests upon me to see that all the
laws are faithfully executed, can never
willingly surrender that trust nor the pow
ers given for its execution. l can never
give my assent to be made responsible for
the faithful execution of laws, and at
the same time surrender the trust
and the powers which accompany
it to any other executive officer, high
or low, or to any number OF executive
officers. If this executive trust, vested
by the Constitution in the President, is to
be taken from him and invested in su-
coordinate officer, the responsibility uM De
,gith ConqreSs IN clothing the subordinate
aoith unconstitutional poerer, and Nth the ctl-
GERS aoltO assume its exercise. This inter-
ference with the constitutional authority
of the Executive Department is an EVIL
that will inevitably sap the foundation OF
our Federal system; but 1t IS not
the worst evil Of this legislation.
1t is great public wrong to take
from the President the powers conferred
upon him alone by the Constitution; but
the wrong is more fragrant and dangerous
when the powers so taken from the fresl-
dent are conferred upon subordinate exec
utive officers, and especially upon military
officers. Over nearly one-third ofthe States
of the Union military power, regulated by
no fixed law, rules supreme. Each one OF
these five district commanders, though mol
chosen by the people or responsible &c
them, exercises at this hour more executive
power, military and civic, than the people
have ever been willing to confer upon the
head of the Executive Department, though
chosen by and responsible to themselves
The remedy must come from the people
themselves. They know what 1t IS, an.
how it is to be applied. At the presen