The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1868-01-30

es-.
htElEE.IHg -
How the President views. AIS Posi
.ttt5I ton.
At an interview with the President
saws a writer Of the New York World
who was with him on Saturday night
the following views were express
ed. 81 sNt aHn
CONGRESS AND THE IMPEAcHAESr
The President said grimly: "The
Radicals In Congress are desperate
They have made ofthat body a politi
cal m~ofnstrosity. While they still seek
to hide their deformities with the cloal
, of patriotism, or strive to distract pub.
lie attention from them by specious
,nanauvres, they arc becoming more
and more convinced that the people
see through itall. Having gone furth'
or than they intended, so far that they
have oyerleapt all bounds save those
of party and personal ambition, retreat
would be equivalent to Aari-kari. Per-
haps they trust by such a conquest to
awe and svbdue a majority in the
North whom they are failing to lead.
This extreme party, which is reprcscn,
ted by men like Nj. Bingham, MI.
Boutwell,, and Senator Sumner, is in a
worse dilemma than ever party vas be-
fore in the Republic. Its vacillating
legislation in respect to many vital
matters, and the character Of its late
struggle for impeachment, prove gross
lack Of principle. What kind of dispo.
sition and estimate of human nature
was shown by the person Ashley and
those who assisted him in getting up
the assassination charger They had
simply to seek in their own natures for
ample support of their theory that hu
man nature is corrupt.
How did they proceed to obtain
their so.called evidense2 BY ransack.
ing brothtls and slums, and accepting
statements from the lips Of q felon.
After employing such means to COM
pass the removal ola President. it is
not surprising that, banked as they
are, they are capable Of employing means,
constitutional or unconstitutional, to get
rid of him or shear aauay his powers."
REVOLUTIONARY MEASURES.
"Well, SIR" suggested, "now to
consider what Congress is actually do
ing"
1Why," responded the Eesidcnt,
"These measures are of course Rev0lu-
tionary. The arguments used to de-
fend them are as clearly ~fallacious as
the assertion that black is white would
be. A proposition to deprive, by mere
act of Congress, the President Of the
United States Of any portion Of the au-
thority vested in him as Commander
in.C Chief of the Army and Navy, is a
proposal to do direct violence to the
Constitution. For a special and des-
potic purpose, the bill submitted by
Mr.. Bingham is being forced through
the House, to place in the hands of a
military subordinate of the President,
independent ofthe latter, an Executive
privilege which can only be lawfully re-
moved from the Presidents hands by
the people them elves voting the rcqui.
site amendment TO the Constitution
This bill assumes q right of Congress
to do away with the President altogeth
or, If it chooses, and make itself eXccu-
tor as well as legislator for the Gov.
eminent"
The attitude of the Executive has
ever been one of defence or resistance.
1t is his plain, simple office, while see
ing that all laws are put in force that
conform to the Constitution. to see thai
on law obtains, so far Us his veto or
authority can prevent it from obtaining,
which does not conform TO ii. I re-
peat that he is obliged by his solemn
oath to defend that instrument from
any and every assailant. DO / make
myself understoodi'
perfectly, sir"
The President is elected directly BY
the people, and is therefore as directly
their representa- We, as Congress is
But Congress claims to be nearer to
the people than the President. Yet,
while members of the House of Repre-.
are chosen every two years
Senator'S are elected once in six years,
The President is chosen every four years,
The President is chosen oltener by two
years than the Senators are ch0sen-a
fact which seems virtually to equalize
the respective nesrness Of the Elective
and the Legislature to citizens at
TIE SUPREME COURT.
A Presidents office, after all is said,
Is one that, in q crisis like the present,
be held superior to everything
except his fealty to the law"
"Then you regard the Supreme Court
Is equally independent of Legislation by
.0ngress?"
"Unquestionably it is. The Su-
preme Court is as much a separate and
branch of the Government as
Congress or the Executive. What
right has Congress to usurp the pre-
rogative ofthe people in this case, more
han in the otherT"
A majority Of judges have always
prcvailedin all courts, in England,
France and elsewhere as we'll as in the
United States. This is an attempt to
nip the judicial branch Of the govern.
t!ent Of q right which it is competent
% define and maintain"
rms 80 CALLED RECONSTRUCTION BILL
destinsd il carried into effect, so TO
increase and consolidate the military
lyranny which has already come nigh
"a min tho Southarn Staiaa thai No