The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-23
COSGREss.----yETO MESSAGE.

WASHINGTON, July 10, P. M.
SENATE.-The House amendment allow
ing negroes to serve as jurors was adopted
A joint resolution from the House multi
tying the DEGREES of the Court of Claims was
severely denounced by Mr.. Trumbull.
Mr.. Sumner introduced a resolution to
strike the word white from the naturali-
zation laws. Referred to the Judiciary COM
mittee.
| The veto message read; the bill pass
ed, Notwithstanding the veto, by vote of
80 to 6.
The nays were Messrs Buckalew, Bavard,
Davis. Hendricks, johnson and Patterson,
of Tennessee. The Chair announced that
the bill was a law.
| The reconstruction appropriation bill was
passed over the veto.
The Senate passed a resolution to adjourn
to morrow at o'clock to the first Monday
In December, by vote of % to Is. The
latter figure representing the impeachment
element in the Senate
HoUsE.-The Assassination committee
was allowed to take evidence by ub-commit-
tees and administer oaths.
A committee of five was appointed to in
vestigate the Paymaster's Department The
preamble and resolution alleges fraud.
The veto was received. The message COW
ers three columns, and argues deliberately the
Inconsistencies and unconstitutionality of
the act.
Abiding to the declaration that the State
governments are illegal, he says: ga singu-
lar contradiction is apparent here: Congress
declares these local State governments to be
illegal governments and then provides that
these illegal governments shall be carried on
by federal officers, who are to perform the
very duties imposed on its own officers by
this illegal State authority. 1t certainly
would be novel spectacle if Congress
should attempt to carry on legal State
Government by the agency of its own Off
GERS. 1t is yet more strange that Congress
should attempt to sustain and carry on an
illegal State government by the same federal
agency"
With regard to title by conquest he says:
" it is new title acquired by war. 1t APP
plies only to territory, for goods or movable
things regularly captured in war are booty, |
or If taken by individual soldiers, pIunder.
There is not foot of land in any one of
these ten States which the United States hold
by conquest, save only such lands as
did not belonging to either of those States, or
to any individual owner. Imean such lands !
as did belong to the pretended Confederate
States. These lands we may claim to hold
by conquest. As to all other land or terrific
~, whether belonging to the States or to in
dividuals, the federal government has now
no more title or right to it than it had be-
fore the rebellion"
The message concludes: Within period
less than year the legislation OF Congress
has attempted to strip the Executive Depart
ment OF the government, of some of its es-
sential powers. The constitution and the
oath provided in it devolve upon the Pres-
dent the power and the duty to see that the
law is executed. The constitution, in order
to carry out this power, gives him the choice
of agents, and makes them subject to his
control and supervision. But in the eXecu-
ton of these laws the constitutional obliga-
ton upon the President remains, but the
power to exercise that constitutional duty is
effectually taken away. The military COM
mander is, as to the same power of appoint
ment, made to take the place of the Pres-
dent, and the General of the Army the place
of the Senate. And any attempt on the part
of the President to assert his own Constitu-
tional power, may under pretence of law be
met by official insubordition. 1t is to be
! feared that these military officers looking to
the authority givea by these laws, rather
than to the letter of the Constitution, will
recognize no authority but the Commander
of the District, and the General of the Army.
If there were no other objections than
this to this proposed legislation it would be
| SulDC!euI w HilSI uOltl llle cnleI executive
authority of the United States-whilst the
obligation rests upon me to see that the
laws are faithfully executed can never
willingly surrender that trust, or the power
| given for its execution. 1 can never give my
assent to be made responsible for the faithful
execution of the laws, and at the same time
surrender that trust and the powers which
accompany it, to any executive officer, high
or low, or to any number of executive Off
GERS. II this executive trust, vested by the
constitution In the President, is to be taken
from him and vested in a subordinate officer,
the responsibility will be with Congress- in
clothing the subordinate with unconstitu-
tional power, and with the officer who as
sumes it's exercise.
This interference with the Constitutional
authority 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. It is great
public wrong to take from the President
powers conferred upon him alone by the Con-
stizutinn; but the wrong is more fragrant
when the powers so taken from the Presi
dent are conferred upon subordinate Execu-
tive officers, and especially upon military of
fcers. Over nearly one third 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,
exercises ut this hour more executive power,
military and civil, than the people have ever
been willing to confer upon the head of the
Executive department, though chosen by
and responsible to themselves. The remedy
must come from the people themselves. They
know what it is, and how it is to be applied |
At the present time they cannot. according
to the constitution, repeal these laws. they
cannot remove or control this military des-
potism. The remedy, nevertheless, is in their
hands 1t is to be found in the ballot, and |
is a sure one If not controlled by fraud |
overawed by arbitrary power, or from apathy
on their part too long delayed, with abiding
confidence in their patriotism. wisdom and |
integrity, am still hopeful of the future,
and that in the end the rod ofdespotism will |
be broken, the armed rule of power lifted
from the necks of the people, and the prin-