The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1867-07-25
'ut simply rcrossessed them.

but simply rerossessed them.
| must respecttullyrcall tho atten-
of Congress to one more question:
1t vests in military commanders
subject only to approval Of the Gen
eral Ut the United States, an uniimis
ted power to remove from Office ann
civil or military officer in each 3,
these ten States, and further power
to discharge or appoint any militar,
officer or soldier Of the United States
to perform the duties Of tho office,
so removed, ard to fill all vacan-
Ecies Is he q civil officcrofthe State
or civil officer the United States |
W here is the Federal power in our
Constitution which authorizes his an.
pointmcnt by any Federal officer? If
however, he is to be considered d
civil officer Of the United States, as
his appointment and oath would
seem To Indicate, whereas the author
ity, Of his appointment? BY the
Constitution, the power Of appoint.
ment OF all officers of the United
States, civil er military, wher. now
provided for in the Constitution i.
vested in the President, by and with
the advice and consent OF the Sen
ate, with this exception-,hat Con
gress, by law, vested the appoint
ment OF such inferior, officers as they
think proper in the President alone,
in the courts of law, or in the heads
OF departments. But this bill, il
these are. to be considered inferior
officers within the meaning ofthe
Constitution, docs not provide for
their appointment by the President
alone, or by courts of law, or by
heads OF departments, but vests APP
pointment in subordinate officer
SO if VIC put the question, and fix
the character Of the military appoints
ee, either way the provision Of the
bill is equally opposed to the Consti-
tuition.
Within the period of less than a
year the legislation Of Congress- has
attempted to strip the Executive
department OF the Government of
some OF the essential powers. The
Constitution and the oath provided
in it developed upon the President
OF the United States the duty to sec
that all The laws OF the land are
faithfully executed. The Constitu-
ton in order to carry out this pow
er gives him choice Of the agents and
to make them subject to his control
and supervision. But in the execu-
ton of these laws the constitutional
obligation upon the President re-
mains, but the power to exercise
that constitutional duty is effectual.
" taken away The military COM
mander is, as TO the powerof appoint
ment, made to take the place Of the
President, and the General Of the ar
my the place of the. Senate. Whilst
| hold the. executive Office of the
United States tho obligation rests
on me to see that all laws are all
faithfully executed anu can never
willingly surrender that trust or the
powers mentioned for It's execution
nor, believe that, frost, vested by the
constitution in the President, is 10 be
taken from him. and vested in sub
ordinate officer. The responsibility
Will ba with Congress i'll clothing tie
subordinates with Unconstitutional
power and with the officer who as
sumes its exercise The in,erefer-
ence with the constitutional authori-
ty Of the Executive Department. is
an evil that will inevitably sap the
foundation of our Federal system
The wrong is more fragrant and
and more dangerous when the pow
er is taken from the President and
conferred on military or subordinate
executive officers. The REMEDY must
come from the people Themselves
They know whatit is, ana how it is
to be applied at the present time
They cannot. according to the forms
OF the Constitution, repeal these laws.
They cannot remove or.control this
despotism. The remedy Il
nevertheless, in their hands. Il is
TO be found IN the ballot-bcx, and is
a sure one it not controlled by fraud
and awed BY a. military power, or
rom apathy on their part, too long
delayed. With abiding confidence
ia their patriotism, wisdom and in
,egrlty, | am still hopeful of the fu-
lure, and that in the end the rod of
iespDtism will be broken. the armed
1eei OF power lifted IRON the necks |
u the people, and The principles Of a !
'lolated4 Constitution preserved invi-
,late. 5..i a8 ANDREW JOHNSON.