Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-03-04

years of friendship and favor be now declares his
deep gratitude and, editor, bids them an affec-
tionate farewell. L. P. WALTON.
THE POWER OF REMOVAL. FROM OFFICE.
At this moment, when it is palpable that the
President is seeking by the power of removal to
drive the Secretary of War from his department
supersede practically the Commanding General
(Grant,) and take to his own unchecked control
the army of the nation and the instruments Of en-
forcing the laws in all the unreconstructed States
and when, concurrently with all this, he is de-
nouncing the laws of Congress as unconstitutional
and void and both branches OF Congress as usurp-
ers, and has even intimaled that he may resort to
force to resist both--we think every patriotic
man, without regard to party, will hail with
JOY any solution OF the question, as to the power
of removal which shall check such dangerous and
alarming abuses The Government has already
come to the extremity Of either permitting the
President to go on to revolution and anarchy if
not to civil war, to stop him at the threshold by
impeachment. Never, but in the rebellion, has
the nation beheld so fearful scene How fortu-
nate then it would have been, both for the Presi-
dent and the country, if such abuses could have
been foreseen and prevented; and, when this
alarming crisis shall have passed, however it may
result, how happy thing will It be if the abuse
of power, out of which this danger has grown,
can be prevented for the future. Surely all good
men can agree TO seek for such remedy; and al
SO agree that it is TO be sought fairly within the
Constitution as it is or as, if need be- it may be
amended. We think it may be found fairly and
unquestionably in the Constitution as it is; and
that we shall try to show.
| The Congress of 1867 attempted to give such
a remedy by providing that removals by the Pres
ident, like appointments by him, shall be made
with the concurrence of the Senate yet reservng
to him the power to remove or suspend in the re-
cess Of the Senate, on reasons to be given to the
Senate when it next meets. 70 this the President
objects that Congress has not the right SO to limit
his power OF removal, and quotes the construction
put upon the Constitution by the Congress of 1889,
and the practice, from that time until 1867 This,
apparently, is very strong ground for the Presi-
dent, for it always has been conceded that con-
Struetion of the Constitution in any part, made
cOntemporaneously with its adoption and long ac-
quiesced in, is high authority. It is an argument
therefore that is not to be disregarded but rather
to be admitted for every jot and title that it
weighs, and to be scrutinzed to find its exact
weigbt gllH 14I aaI. 10 .-..... III. M.
A.. p..,
AgauS' inc argument OF inc Ires'uent we give
the first concurrent exposition OF the Constitution
on this question, by three of the leading members
of the convention that framed that instrument
=, 40, a., ,.,,o !. a.. ~ ;s.....;,
!, - 'i'e ny VI
Tue county before 'ne states had raIned IT, as the
true meaning of the Constitution, and to recon-
mend il for adoption In point of fact, therefore
this is as the nation understood il when The CON-
stitption pas adopted, and before the Congress of
1889 met. We quote from the article of ,Publi-