Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-08-03

iatlon OF congress has attempted to strip tho
Executive Department Of the government of
some of its essential powers. The coustltu-
tion and the oath provided in it dcvo1c upon
the President the power and the duty to see
that the laws are faithfully executed. The
constitution, 10 order to carry out this power,
gives him the choice of the agents, and makes
y sub,ect y lis control and supervision
B But the $ec1tion of these laSs the consti
tutiohal Obligation upon the Presidentfemains,
but tho power to exercise that constitutional
duty is cfFectually taken away.
The Military Commander is, as to the now.
or of appointment, made to take the place Of
the President, and the General of the army
the place of the Senate, and any attcmpt on
the pwt Of tho President to assert his own
constitutional power may, under pretcncc Of
law, be met by official insubordinaton. 1t is
to bc feared that these military oiliccrss look
ing TO the authority given by these laws rath-
er than to the letter of the constitution, will
recognize no authority but the commander of
the district and the General Of the army.
1T there were no other objection than this
to this proposed legislation, it would be suff-
ctnt. Whilst hold the chief executive au.
thority of the United States whilst the obi.
CATION rests upon me TO see that all Z . laws
are faithfully executed, | can never willingly
surrender that trust, or the powers given for
its execution.
can never give my assent to be made re-
sponslblc for the faithful execution of laws
and mt the same time surrender that trust and
the powers which accompany it TO any other
executive officer, high or low, or to any nun
Der Of executive officers.
THE WRONG AND TIE REMEDY,
If this executive trust, vested by the con.
st'tutlon in the President is to be taken from
HIM nnd vested in subordinate officer, the
responsibility will be with Congress in clothing
the subordinate with unconstitutional power,
aud with the oiliccr who assumes its exercise.
lhls interference with the constitutional au.
'horlty OF the Executive Department is an
evil that will inevitably sap the foundations Of
our Federal system; but it is not tho worst
ev'l OF this legislation. 1t il great public
wrong to take from the President mowers con.
ferred upon him alone by the constitution but
the wrong is more fragrant and more danger,
tive officers, md especially upon mlnlary
officers Over noarly one ;hrif Of fhc States
Of the Union military power, regulated by no
fixed law, rules supreme.
Each one OF these five District Command
crs. though not chosen by the people or re-
sponsit!e 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 Exccutve Department though
chosen by and responsible to othemsclvca. The
remedy must come from the people them.
selves They know what it is, and how it is
to be applied. At the present time they can
not, according to the constitution, repeal
these laws; they cannot remove or control
this military dcspotism. The remedy, never.
thc!css. is IN their hands it is to be found in
the ballot, and is q sure one, if not controlled
by fraud, overnwed hy arbitrary power, or
from apathy cn their par. too long delayed =.
With abiding confidence in their patriotism.
wisdom and intensity, ! am stu hopeful Of
tho future. and That in the end the rod of des.
pntism will he broken. the armed rule of pow
or he lifted from the nccks Of the people. and
the principles Of violated constitution pre-
served.
ANDREW JOHNSON.