The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-07-27
The Last Presidential Message.

lTa.F
The Veto of the second Supplementary Act,
! after repeating the objections previously urged
against the constitutionaity Of the Rcconstruc-
tiou programme of Congress, concludes with
the following remarks:
Within period less than year the lcgisa-
tion of Congress has attempted to strip the
Executive department. of the Government of
some Of its essential powers. The Constitution
and tho oath provided in it dcvolycs upon tho
President the power and the duty to sec that
the laws are faithfully executed. The Consti-
tuition, in order to carry out this power, gives
him the choice Of the agents, and makes them
subject to- his control and supervision. But in
! the execution Of these laws the constitutional
obligation upon the President remains, but the
power to exercise that constitutional duty is ct.
tcctually taken away.
The military commander is, as to the powcr
OF appointment, made to take the place Of the
President, and the general of the army the
place of the Senate, and any attempt on the
part OF the President to assert Ills own consti-
tutional powers may, under prctcncc Of law, be
met by official insubordination. 1t is to be
| feared that these military officers looking to
the authority given by these laws, rather than
to tho letter or the constitution, will recognize
no authority but the commander of the district
and the general Of the army.
If there were no other objection than this to
this proposed legislation, it would be sufficient.
Whilst hold the chief executive authority of
the United States, whilst the obligation rests
upon me to see that all the laws are faithfully
executed, can never willingly surrender that
trust, or the power given for its execution.
can never give my assent to be made re-
sponsiblc for the faithful execution of laws and
at the same time surrender that trust and the
powers which accompany it to any other cxecu-
tive officer, high or low, or to any number of
executive officers.
If this executive trust, vested by the consti-
tuition in the President is to be taken from him
and vested in subordinate officer, the respon-
sibility will be with Congress in clothing the
subordinate with unconstitutional power, and
"i''A viz oiAiooi WIN ueoudicS lCo cAcTciSc. Ills
interference with the constitutional authority
Of. the executive department is an evil that
will inevitably sap the foundations of our fedc-
raj 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 tho
powers so taken from the President are confer
rcd upon subordinate executive officers Over
nearly one third of the States of the Union
military power, regulated by no Gxod 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
evor been willing to confer upon the head of
the executive department, though not chosen
by and respons bic to themselves. The remedy
must como from tho people themselves.
tAny know what it is, and how it is to applied.
Attic present time they cannot, according to
the constitution, repeal these laws, they;
cannot remove or control this military dcspo-
tism The remedy, nevertheless, is in their
hands ;zit is to be found in tho ballot, and is
sure ono, IT not controlled by fraud ovcrawed
by arbitrary power, or from. apathy on their
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