Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-07-20
ALEXANDRIA.
SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 90
The Veto Of the New Reconstruction Bill.

The Veto Of the New Reconstruction" Bill.
The. President, yesterday, sent into Congress
his veto Of the new Reconstruction bill He
states that all his objections to the act of March
last, apply to this act, and he reiterates them
with the addition that the present bill con-
J tains features still more Objectionable, and he
enumerates them The bill he states mo lon
preservation of the public peace, the admins
tration of criminal law, the registration Of
voters, and the superintendent of elections,
but in all respects It is asserted to be para
mount to the existing civil governments. tits
impossible to conceive any state OF society more
intolerabe than this, and yet it is to this con-
dition that twelve millions Of American citizens
are reduced by the Congress of the u. S.
Over every foot of the immense territory occu-
pied by these American citizens, the Constitu-
ton of the U. S. is theoretically ia full opera
ton. 1t binds all the people there, and should
sacred guarantees.
Of what avail will it be to any one Of these
Southern people when seized by a fle Of sol
diers to ask for the cause Of arrest, or for the
production of the warrant? OF what avail to
ask Tor the privilege of bail when in military
custody, which knows no such thing as bail
OF what avail to demand trial by jury, pro.
cess for witnesses, a copy of the Indictment,
the privilege OF counsel, or that greater pllvl-
lege, the writ ofhaLeas c0rpns? %
The President. contends that the appoint
nent Of military officer to perform civil du-
ties, under federal authority, leads to the inev
liable result that the federal government as
sumes the civil government OF the States. lie
shows the inconsistency Of the assumption that
the ten communities OF these States are not
States, by the acts Of Congress recognizing them
as such, the recognition of the Supreme Court,
and the holding of the courts OF the u. S. in
those States. IL.
He reminds Congress that the ten States,
now under military rule have been called upon
by Congress to act as States through their
legislatures, upon at least two amendments to
the Constitution ofthe u. s. As States, they
have ratified one amendment, which required
the vote Of twenty States Of the thirty
six then composing the Union
''The power of appointment of all officers of
the y. s., civil or military, where not provided
for in the Constitution, Is vested in the Presi-
dent, BY and with the advice and consent OF
may by law vest the appointment of such inte-
rior officers as they think proper in the Presi-
dent alone, in the courts of law. or in the heads
OF departments. But this bill, if these are to
be considered inferior officers within the mean
ing Of the Constitution, does not provide for
their appointment by the President alone, or
by the courts of law, or by the heads of depart
ments, but vests the appointment 10 one sub
ordinate executive officer, subject to the ap-
proval of another subordinate executive officer
So that if We put this question and fix the
character of this military appointee either way,
this provision OF the bill is equally opposed to
the Constitution. ~ d. ..
The President concludes the Message as
follows:
Within period less than year the legs!a-
ton of Congress has attempted to strip the ex-
ccutiVe department of the Government of
some Of its essential powers. The Constitu-
ton and the oath provided in it devolve upon
the President the power and the duty to see
that the laws are faithfully executed. The
Constitution, in order to carry out this power,
gives him the choice of the agents. aud makes
them subject to his control and supervision.
But in the execution of these laws the consti-
tutional obligation upon the President remains,
but the power to exercise that constitutional
duty is efectuay taken away. The military
commander is as to the power of appointment,
made to take the place OF the President, and
the General of the army the place Of the Sen.
ate. and any attempt on the part of the Presi-
dent to assert his own constitutional power
may, under pretence Of law, be met by official
INSTRUMENTATION. 1t is to be feared that these
military officers, looking to the authority given
by these laws, rather than to the latter of the
Constitution, will recognize no authority but
the commander of the district and the General
Of the army.
Ii there were no other objection that this to
this proposed legislation it would be sufficient.
Whilst | hold the chief Exccutiye authority
o! the United States, whilst the obligation
rests upon me to see that all the laws Gre
faithfully executed can never willingly sur
render that trust or the powers given for its
execution
can never give my assent to be made re-
sponslbe tor the faithful execution of laws and
at the same time surrender that trust and the
powers which accompany it to any other exc
cntive officer, high or low, or to any number Of
executive officers
1t this Executive trust, vested by the Con.
stitution in the President, is to be taken from
him and vested in a subordinate officer, the
responsibility will be with Congress 10 clothing
the subordinate With unconstitutional power
and with the officer who assumes its exercise
This interference with tie constitutional al.
thority 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. 1t is great public wrong to
take from the President powers conferred upon
him alone by the Constitution but the wrong
is more fragrant and more dangerous when the
powers so taken from the President are confer
red upon subordinate executive officers, and
especially upon military officers. Over nearly
ohe-thlrd OF the States OF the Union military
power regulated by no fixed law rules supreme.
Each one Of these five district commanders.
though not chosen by the people or responsible
to them, exercise at this hour more executive
power, military and CIVIL than the people have
ever been willing to confer upon the head of
the Executive danartmant thounh choSa,, h,.