The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-03-26
MR. WILSON'S spEEcII.

w 'pAU tuO 'V''oW'"B tAilbVls NOm
tie speech Of Mr.. Wilson Of Iowa on
Impea ,bmoni
x He Che President. is not mekcr Of
law, or Judge thereof and II is enough
for him TO know that the Constitution
which he is sworn TO preserve and pro-
seebfSHd defend, SAYS Tint he shall take
care ina! the laws shall be- hilbtully ex
ecuted. What lawsl Those that are
passed in pursuance of the terms Of
that, Constitution which he has sworn
to preseryelprotect md defend,
Aud how ore these laws passed? BIZ.
the Two houses Of Congress, with the
approval ofthe Presldenlj orin such case
.t as be does mol approve, he shall return
u it, withahis objections, to that house in
which il shall have originated who shall
enter the objections at large on thar
journal and proceed to reconsider il; and
Latter sach reconsideration. two.ihius
Of The house shall agree to pass The bill
il shall be sent, together with The OBJ
iection. to the other house; by which it
shall likewise DO considered, and. if ap,
proved by two thirds of thot house ii
shaIl become law. What kind OF
lavi One which the President shall
sake care to faithfully cxacu'e. The
constitution does not make him Judge of
the law, but an executor thereof. and
be is bound 10 execute that which the
law making power DEGREES 10 be the law
of the land. Whatever may be his To-.
individual opinion as member of tho
national family, hO is bound to yield to
that higher duty which the Cousilu.
lion imposes upon him as an officer of
Ethe State. If'his conscience forbids, he
may resign the trust, bat he has no right
10 retain the power of a public officer
and subordinate that to the judgment Of
Of mere individual member of The com.
munitB or nation which has clothed him
with the executive power for the enforce
ment Of it's laws. AS public officer,
no such plea can be properly entered
in bis behalf, because he is not only
sworn 10 execute the law, but also pos.
sesses the right of resignation. If his
conscience will not permit him 10 exc,
cute given law, be may resign his trust
and leave to his successor the perform.
Rnce ola du'yin which his judgment as
90 individual will not surrender 10 his OIL
legations as q public officer.
A willingness 10 sabmitto the penalty
prescribed for violation of the law, may
10 some extent excuse disobedieuca on
the part Of private citizen, and at the
some time avail nothing TO the public
officer. The latter may al any time, by
registration, become private cilizen;
hut the former cannot become o public
{ fiirer in this county except by the sui
frage Of his fellow citizens It he &C
cePts the result Of their suiIroges he
msrges his individuality into that Of the
official creature which binds Itself by
oath, as an executive officer, 10 do that
as mere individual, he may not be-
4ieve 10 be just, right or constitutional.
Such an acceptance removes him from
the sphere of the right 10 private uig-
ment 10 the place Of the public officer,
end binds him to obey tho law. his judg.
mrnI 10 the contrary notwithstanding.
Mr. Spcaker-It has been urged in
this debate, that tho Presidents sole oh
ject is to secure judgment Of the courts
as 10 the con,tilu,ionality of the act reg.
ulating the tenure Of Office Of certain
civil officers. Such an intent will not
Justify the commission Of high crime or.
misdemennor. Suppose the courts
should hold the act TO be constitutional
would The fact that his intent was to
have that question decided, be good plea
10 an indictment for a violation of ils
provisions? Who is SO insane az to as
sert SO preposteroua q proposi,on?-
Who ever acts in the way. and ior the
purpose suggested, does Ii at his peril
Tho ri'k belongs 10 the President in
this case, not 10 the law. The plea in
defense is not that il was the result Of
iuadvertance or mistaken Judgment. 1t
lie that, with calculation and deliberate
purpose, he committed a high mis-.
demeanor in order 10 secure iuds-
ment of the courts. Sir, we will crafty
his desire by referring his case TO the
.highes, tribunal known 10 the Constilu-
tion CT the Rapublic-,be high court Of
impeachment To that august tribunal
we will present this case, and with it the
law and the criminal. He shall have his
day in court, and be brought there for
his own good and that Of his successors
In office, aud that of the United States
WANTED IN CoNNEcTTcUT The Re-
publican papers Of Connecticut, are en-
treating the Democratic Managers to i'm.