The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-04
The rallacy of the Day.

Tribune: @-c
uBv the very terms Of his pledge, the.
success Of, Republican principles on any
Question is not won by the election Of Gene
ral Grant, but will, throughout his admin
istration, depend upon the ability of the
Republican party to maintain its MAORI
t;essin both Houses Of Congress. If Con-,
cress remain Republican, General Grant
executes Republican laws without question.
IF CONGRESS become Democratic, he executes
Democratic policies ,cits equal readiness ana
decision. This we believe to be in accord
ance with the true theory Of repubiicango-
yernment. and the very highest statesman
ship and soundest policy possible in an ex-
ecutive officer" @
General GRANTS pledge" certainly
warrants the declaration that g the success
of Republican principles is not won BY :"
his election. But we have seen no where
that General GRANT has declared that he
will he governed by Congress-thaf his
policy will be Republican if that body
remain Republican, or Democratic if the
Democratic party predominates. We truet
no candidate euen for the Presidency,
much less any President, will ever consent
to the dangerous theory that Congress
must rule the President.
We are not surprised that the Tribune is
pressing this idea. 1t is the Radical idea
of the day but one that would be at once
discarded by the whole Radical party II
they believed that the next Congress would
be Democratic. 1t is q theory at war with
the Constitution, and dangerous to the well
fare Of the nation, and one which would
only be espoused by a party IN poaoe'' 1or
it's own special and temporary advantage
The Radical congressional party under II
has usurped all the powers of the Govern
ment, and set up precedent full of danger
and evil. !,
The Tribune is at least consistent-more
so than its party would be-in saying that
General GRANTS policy should be Demo-
cratic if Congress should become Demo
cratic; and furthermore, that this is the
theory of republican government. The
French revolutionists had this theory, and
the anarchy and bloodshed which shocked
the world and disgraced the age was the
result. The legislative part of the French
government, us with the government al
Washington since the war, became the
whole government, and the violent partisan
and social prejudices Of the day ran riot
without rcstraint-law, conscience, civil
zaHon, and humanity were equally dis
carded in the wild fury of the times.
Closely have the Radical faction at Wash
ington initiated the French reyolutionists.
save alone in the shedding of blood; and
by so doing have entirely perverted the
letter and spirit of our form of govern
ment.
The wise trainers Of the Federal Govern
ment endeavored to establish checks and
balances by defining the powers and the
partition lines between the Departments,
with the view of preventing encroachments
on public liberty and the disturbing of the,
order Of government. The President has his
powers defined as clearly as those of Con-
gress. To him was confded veto power
over the acts of Congress. He is made an
advisor of Congress as well as the executor
of its laws; and he is placed in the high
relation of guardian of the Constitution
and the public interests. .,
The inference that the Executive Depart
ment was established as check upon the
legislative department, for the protection of
the public from improper legislation, is ire
sistible. 1t was to exert discretion and will
of its own. If the President becomesa mere
recording officer-a mere tool of Congress,
changing, chameleon like, with every change
Of hue of the politics of Congress-the very,
objects of the creation of his Office are de-
feated. 1t had better never been creaIeu'
and the entire business Of governing the e.
country should have been left to Congress.
The President himself is representa-
tive Of the people. The incumbent is
changed oftener than a senator. ne ~
elected not only for his opinions when
elected, but because Of q public confidence
in his integrity and Judgment, and ne Is
expected to act, when occasions require him,
according to both. these, under his oath ana
his solemn responsibility to the nation.
He is as good representative of the peo-
pie as Congress, and should act upon his
own sense of duty and his own knowledge
of the wants and wishes of the people
whatever Congress may say. The Constitu-
ton intends that he shall. If he fails in
this he fails constitutionally. - :. Y y.
So. was the Judiciary department made
independent of the Legislative. 1t was to
decide whether the acts of the Legislative
department conforined to the Constitution,
and to construe all their acts. With as
much reason shoala}it;be said thatthe Su-
preme Court must yield to the popular will
as expounded by Congress, and considerits
acts as of course legal and proper as being
the divine efnuence Of that will in all its
majesty! s& .szo G
What nonsense And yet this is the
Radical theory and practice of this day
Look at the present Congress-. Does any
man want more terrible example of the
dangers of concentrating the powers Of go
vernment in one branch Of it p Letsey
these Radicals suppose that the Democratic
party had the power of the Radical Con
gress, and welded it with the ruthlessness
that marks the acts Of that body. Gould
they contemplate it without q feeling of
han, q NJ so - 4! ~