The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-12-07

malice before he vii, endanger the public peacc,
and he will not adopt forcibe means, OF such as
might lead 10 force, long as channels which
are peaoeable roIaain open to him. or 10 his con-
stituents. It is true that cases may occur in
which thu Executive would be compelled to
stand on It's rights and maintain them regardless
of consequences If Congress should pass an
act which is not only in palpabe conflict with
the Constitution, but will certainly, if carried
out, p oduce immediate and irceparabe injury
TO the organic structure of the Government and
if there be neither judicial remedy for the
wrongs it inhiots nor power in the people to
protect themselves without the official all of
their elected defenders,-ii, for instance the
legislative department should pass an ac. 10
abolish coordinate department of Government,
in such case the President must take the high
responsibility of his Office, and save the life OF
the Nation ut all hazards
The so-called Reconstruction acts-though as
plainly unconstitutional any that can be
imagined--were not believed TO be within the
class last mentioned The people were not Who'll
iy dsarlned Of the power Of sclf-defense. In all
the Northern States they still hold in their hands
the sacred right OF ballot, and it safe to be-
lieve that in duo time they would come to rescue
their own institutions 1t gives me pleasure to
add that the appeal to our common constituents
was not taken in vain, and that my confidence
in their wisdom and virtue seems not TO have
been misplaced.
FRAUDS ON THE TREASURY.
II is well and publicly known that enormous
frauds have been peIpetratad On the Treasury,
and that considerable fortunes have been made
at the public expense. This species of corrup-
ton has increased, is increasing, and if not
diminished will soon bring US into total ruin and
disgraae Public creditors and taxpayers are
alike interested in an honest administration of
IL
the large-Aanded robberes of the recent past.
For this discreditable state of things there are
several causes. Some of the taxes are 40 laid as
to present irresistible temptation to eyade, by
the payment of the great sums. which officers
may well receive BY connivance ut fraud, and
create pressure which is more than the virtue
of many can withstand, and there can be no
doubt that the open disregard and constitutional
obligations aroused by some of the highest and
most influential men in the country. has greatly
weaken "a tie moral sense of those who serve in
subo,dinate places. The expenses Of the United
States IN .ding interest on the public debt, are
mere than six times much they were seven
years ago. To collect and disburse this vast
amount requires careful supervision az we'll as
SYSTEM vigilance.
TiiE TEN IRE or OFFICE BILL.
The sTssera- never perfected. was much disor-
ganizad by the Tenure Of Office bill. which has
almost destroyed official accountability The
President may b. thoroughly convinced that an
officer IS incapable, dishonest, or unfaithful to
the Constitution, but under the law which 7
have named, his utmost endeav0r 10 to complain
to the Senate, and ask the privilege of supplying
his place with better man. If the Senate be
regarded as personally or politically hostile to
the President, it is natural and not altogether
unreasonable for the officer to expect that it will
Ga hi. g,
his place. and give him a triumph over his ex-
ecutive superior officer. He has other chances
OF IMMUNITY arising from accidental defects of
evidence made in investigating it, and the score
~ OF the hearing. It is not wonderful that Off
cial rnalfeasance should become bold in proper.
ton as delinouents learn to think themselves
safe. arr entirely persuaded that under such
rule the PIesident cannot perform the great duty
assigned to him Of seeing the laws
faithfully executed, and that it tlisables
him most especially from enforcing that rigid
accountability which is necessary to the due ex-
ecution OF the revenue. The Constitution in.
vests the President with authority to decide
whether removal shall DE made in any given
case. The act of Congress declares in substance.
that he shall only accuse such ~ he supposes TO
be unworthy OF trust. The Constitution makes
him sole Judge in the premises but the statute
takes aHa9 his jurisdiction and transfers IL To
the s"nats and leaves him nothing but the obi
Gus and sometimes impracticable duty OF becom-
ing aplo'eoutor The prosecution il to be con-
Quoted before a tribunal whose members ar. not,
like him. losponsiLls to the whole people, but TO
separate constituent bodies. and who may hear
his accusation with great dlsfavor. The Senate
IS absolutely without any known standard of
decision applicatlo 70 sucl, case Its Judgment
cannot be anticipated for it is not governed by
any rule. The law does not define what shall
DC deemed good cause for removal II is i,npos.
sible even to conjecture what may or what NAV
not be so considered by the Senate. The nature
OF the subjects forbids clear proof if the charge
be incapaoity. What evidence will support il 7
Fidelity 70 the Constitution NAV be understood
or misunderstood in thousand different WAYS.
and by sioentparty men in violent party times.
unfaithfulness to the Constitution nav even
come TO he considered meritorious II an officer
be accused Of dishonesty how shall il b. made.
out Wiz it be inferred from acts unconnect.d
with public duties from private history. or from
general reputation: or must the President await
the co'nInlsslon ~ an actual misdemeanor IN
Office Shall he hi the meantime risk the char.
acte, and interest OF the nation in ,he hands az
mel 10 whom nc cannot give his confidence
Mus lie forbear his complaint until the mis-
chic IS done ai.I cannot be- prevented: If hi.
zeal II Tho public service should impe him 20
antlclpaie AZ overt act, must h. move nj the
peri Of being tried himself for the ofiense of
SLAM ring his subordinate I'm the present cir.
cumStoa.'e Of the country some one mnst be held
resPonsiblg for ofica! dclinuucucics of cvery
kind. Il ]. extremely difficult to say wher, that
responsibility should be thrown if Il be not left
whe~t I Las been placed by the Constitution
but al. Just men will admit that the President
ought {" be entirely relieved from such resp,n-
sibillt II he cannot meet it hy reason of re,tri,
ton placed by law upon his actions. Unre-
strlcted io*sr O. removal from ot'ice is a very
greaf ono 10 be trusted even to mpr;str,tc