Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-04-30

Democratic state ''''
occidental Electors.
The nights s"d Powers OF tho
President.

~. f,di,sls Doubt the power OF toe
p...d.a,to Misplace Secretary Stanton. and
49,, there is ne precedent to justify
:. Ts. New York Tribune challenges the
,-o,aciien Of an sns'ancs wherein any
p,.,ii.n. bat johnson ever removed an or
a-.r whom the Senate lad decided should
n,t h.renovcd. There was . similar in
.,anc, during the administration Of Presi.
dsns Jackson. Mr.. Duane, Secrs.arv Of
he Trss,ury, declined or refused to carry
Oh, tn policy ofths administrator. Not
outstanding their previous satisfactory
u.rt, and personal relations General Jack
s,a prO npsiy removed Mr.. Duane, and put
n M. pi.ce Judge Tansy vino WAS in fnll
s,mpsthy with the financial policy Of the
pr,,e.nt While Webster, Clay, and Cal-
hoan. noble triumvsrats. we're adverse to
the removal OF Duane. upon party grounds.
,aey did not dispute or question the Prssi-
deaf. right to remove any obnoxious mem
her j, his cabinet II can not b question
"a Va, w.b,,.r aud Calhoun fully apprs-
e.s.d the prcrogasivss Of the President in
regard % the appointment Or selection Of
his ronsttutioual advisers. Those emf
men, statesmen. differing - vide - the
poles in their political sentiments, did not
differ upon the right Of the President 10
change his constitutional advisers, the
msmbsra Of his Cabinet, whenever, in HE
opision. the public interests demanded il.
Neither Webster nor Calhoun, and II muat
be admitted that they were constitutional
LAWYERS aud eminent Statesmen. doubted
the power Of the President to remove q
Cabinet officer. Webster. in his speech
upon the removal Of Duane. did mot ques
ton the right or power Of the President Il
exercise that psrosativs. Es said upon thu
occasion
In the Ara, place, thsn, | have 10 say
that did not vote Tor tho resolution 81
the mere ground Of tho removal OF Mr.
Duane from tho Office OF the Secretary Q
Treasury. AhgugA l dsapprore Of III
re aorai a'tog.thsr. ret tho power Of remov
~ does exist IN the President, according 4
the established coas,iuc ION Of the Con
iiutiou. Won OIL
agree that Mr.. Duane is out OF Office. II
hds no ,fe'c bsss stmpv,f BY u posoer con
'fns'ionasiy eempei,a, TO remove him.
The distinction 10 broa
aud visibls stvsou the power OF removs
AMI the power TO control an officsr not T,
moved The Presijent, it is true, may tel
n,nais his political life but he can ns
\ 4
upon him AZ = mere machine while he
ailo~ed 10 live"
Mr.. Calhoun, also. in his speech upC
that exercise Of authority by Prssiicl
jackson, remarked
"Iesn not doubt that ::tas Puiieat Ia
under ne Constitution, tle riyht Of rsmor,
from oi1iee nor can | ioubt The power
removal, wherever it sxists. does from m
css-ity, involve the power Of general sups
vision nor can doubt it might ne CO
sti.u,ionAllv exsrcise in reference to Il
d.posi,s."
General Jackson removed aa Gbnol O.
Cabin,t officer aud President johnson
,smptsda Similar exercise Of suthorit
Webster aud Calhoun, Herring radcai
upon political questions, did not quest.
the right Of President jackson to remove
member Of his Official fsmiy. Dan
Webster said ,hat Duane had, 'hssn Z
moved by power coas.ltutionalI, comp
be could not question tho right or pow,
81 the President, under tho Constitution
t. rsnaye ~ III TINS right or au,he
nv has 5ssn exercised tfom the fofmatio
Of the Government II has been tn cas-
with all officers whoss duty il is TO asss
the Presideat IN the execution Of the lsvi
Will it DE claimed by the most intense pat
usan that tie President should have 70
his Official advisers political and persona
en.micss Would II be Just to force me-
Of that character upon him The Con
sutu;ion makes the President responsible
Tor the faithful execution Of the laws
imposes that obligation upon him, an.
While Imposing that duty upon hin,iis ]
iust, is IL right, to surround him with pei
sonsl aud political enemies! The Con
stitui.on does not contemplate such a.
emergency. Common sense does not. An,
tic id-a OF Jasucs VII ch psrvadss the pub
he miad, I'D r,se above al party consid
er.ilons or prejui,css, will not condsn-
the Chef Magistrate Of the Nation for II
exercise Of authority necessary to maiutAi
h' personal integrity and enforce the faitl ,
Ia observance Of the Constitution and Ia
laws "