Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-03-14

been prac,iced VIII be found indispeusa,
Die. Under these circumstances a. a de,
posltory or the executive authority Of the
nation / do not feel at liberty TO unite
with congress 10 severing il bv givinO
ny approval TO the bill. At the earIS
day when this question was settled and
indeed at the several periods when Il
has subsequently been agitated, the sue.
cess Of the constitution Of the Unifed
states as a new and precious system OF
free representative government was held
doubtful IN other countries, and was even
a subject Of patriotic apprehension
among the American people themselves.
A Trial OF nearly eighty years, through
the vicissitudes Of foreign conflicts and
OF civil war, is confidently regarded ~
having e~xtin9uished all such doubts and
approximations for the future. During
eighty years the people Of the United
States have enjoyed q measure OF ssc,,-
rity, peace, prosperity and hapuinees
never surpassed by any nation. II can
not be doubted that the triumphant sue
cess Of the constitution isdue % the won
derful wisdom with which the fupe.
tons OF the government were distrih-
u Ell between the three principal depart-
aeBts, the legislative, the executive And
the judicial, and 70 the fidelity with
which each has confined itself or been
confined by the general voice Of he
nation within it, particular and proper
sphere, while q just, proper and vatehful
Jealousy OF the executive power con-
stantly prevails as it ought ever 20 pre-
vail Yet 1t is equally true that an eff
cient executive capable in the language
OF the oath prescribed to the president OF
executing the laws and within the
sphere OF executive action Of preserving.
protecting and defending the constitu.
ton OF q United States Is an indispen-
sable security for tranquility 81 home.
and peace, honor and safety abroad
Governments have been erected IN many
countries upon our model. II one or
many Of them have thus far failed in fIllv
securing TO the people the benefits which
We have derived from our system. il NAV
be confidently asserted that their failure
TO maintain the integrity of each of The
three great departments while preserv-
ing harmony among them all. AavinR
at an early period accepted the constitn-
uon IN regard to the executive Office in
the sense in which it was interpreted
with the concurrence Of the founders, I
nave FOUND no sufficient grounds ia the
arguments now opposed to that eonstrHc-
tloni or In any assumed necessity Of the
terms Tor changing these opinions. I re-
turn tie bill TO the senate in which house
1t originated for the further consideration
OF congress which the constitution pre-
scrihes.
In 50 much as the special parts of the
bill, which / have not considered. are
written chiefly Of details, and are based
altogether on the theory OF the constitu-
ton from which l am obliged 20 dissent.
l have not thought it necessary to ex-
anime them with Q view to make them
an occasion Of distinct and special OBJ
Jeetions. Experience 1 think has shown
that it IS the easiest, and it is also the
most attractive of studies to frame a
constitution for the self-Qoverument
Of free states and nations. But 1
think experience has fully shown
that it il the most difficult OF all DO
btical labors to preserve and maintain
such free constitutions Of self govern
ment when once established. I know
no other way in which they can be pre-
served and maintained, except by a con-
stant adherence TO them through the
various vioissitudes Of national existence.
which such adaptation as may become
necessary, always to be effected, how
ever tnrOugn d agencies and in the
forms prescribed in the original constitu-
tons themselves. Whenever an admin
lstration fails or seems to fail In securing
any OF the great ends for which a repub-
HcaA government is established, the
proper course seems to be to renew the
original spirit and forms Of the eOnstitu-
ton itself.
(SlgnedJ ANDREW
v ~AsHISGrON, March r, 1867,