The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-07-24
THE PRESIDENTS ri VETO

- =. Lancaster Express.
THE PRESIDENTS VETO
: WAsHINoroN, July 10.
The following a synopsis of the Presidents
veto of the supplementary reconstruction. Act: i
Abiding to the declaration that the State Gov
crnments are illegal, he's says "a singular contra
dietion is apparent here. Congress declares these
LEGAL 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 duttes imposed on its oWn: oh-
GERS by this illegal State authority. 1t certainly
would be novel spectacleif Congress should at
tenpt to carry a legal State Government by the
agency of its own officers. 1t is yet more strange
that Congress attempts to sustsin and carry ON on
| illegal State Government by the same novel agcn-
cy."
With regard TO title by conquest, he says .'it is
a new title, acquired by 1t applies only to
territory: for goods movable items regularly
captured in war are called booty; or, if taken by
individual soldiers, plunder. There is not foot
of ground of one of these ten States which the
i United States holds by conquest, save only such
land as did not belong to either of these States,
to any individual owner. ! mean such lands as
did belong to the pretended Government called the
Confederate States. These lands we may claim TO
hold by conquest. Asto oil other lands or terri.
tory, whether belonging to the States or to indi=
viduals, the Federal Government has now no more
title or right to it than had before the rebellion"
The message concludes as follows ''Within
period less than year the legislation of Congress
has attempted to strip the executive department of
/ the government of some of its essential powers
The Constitution. and lhe,oath provided in ii. de-
Yulve upon the President the power and the duty
TO see that the laws are faithfully executed. The
Constitution, in order to carry out this power,
gives him the choice of the agents. and makes them
subject to his coptrol and supervision; but in the
execution of these laws, the constitutional obliga-
ton upon the President remains but the power
to exercise that constitutional duty is efectually
taken away. The military commander is, MS TO-
the power of appointment, made to take the place
of the President, and the general of the army the
place of the Senate andiany attempt OH the part
of the President to assert his own constitutional
power may. under pretence of law, be met by Off
oiaI insubUrdination 1t is to be feared that these
military officers, looking to the authority given by
these laws rather than 10 the letter of the Consti-
tuition, will recognize no authority but the COM.
uander of the distrc. and the general of the ar
N.Y. If there was no other object ion than this to
this proposed Legislation. it would be sufficient.
Whilst Ihold the chief executive authority of the
/ United States; whilst the obligation rests upon
me 10 see that all the laws are faithfully executed
can never williully surrender that trust to the
powers given for its execution. can never give
my assentto be made responsible for the faithful
execution of the laws, and Ut the same time sur
it TO any other executive officer high or low, 80
any number of executive officers. Ii this execu-
tive trust, vested by the Constitution in the Presi
dent, is to be taken from him and vesledn o sub
ordinate officer, she responsibility viii be with
Congress, in clolhing the subordinate with uncon-
sttGtion1fl power, and with the officer who assumes
its exercise. This interference withtthe eohstilu
tional authority of the executive department, is an
evil that will inevitably sap the foundations of
FEDERAL system but it is not the evil OF this
Legislation. IL is great public wrong TO take
from the President powers conferred upon HIM
alone by the Constitution. buI the wrong is more
fragrant, and more dangerous wien the powers SO
taken from the President are conferred upon sub
ordinate executive officers, and especally upon
military officers. =. i,.- -ss5 =.
Over nearly one-tlird of the States f-the Union
military power, regulated by no fixed law, rules
supreme Each one OF these five district comman-
ders, though not chosen by the people, response
military and civil, than the people5ha ever been
| willing to confer3upon the head ofathc executive
department, though iichosen3by and responsible to
themselves. The remedy must come from the: peo
pie themselves. They. know what-it is and hoRit
is to beapplied At the present time they eannot,
according 10 the Constitution, repeal these laws:
they cannot remove or control this military despo-
tism. The remedy, nevertheless, is in their hands;
it is to be found iu the ballot and is sure one il
not controlled by fraud. overawed by arbitrary
power. or, from apathy on their part TOO long de-
layed. With abiding confidence in their patriot
ism, wisdom and integrity, I am still hopeful of
tue future, aud that in the end the rod Of despo.
tism will be broken, the armed rule Of power be
lifted from the necks of the people, and the prin-
ciple of a violated Constitution preserved
WASHINGTON, July 90.
A Snrratt juror was taken violently i'll with cho-
lera norbus, and the court took recess.
Gen. John A. McClernand of Illinois, has been
| nominated for the Mexican mission