Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-03-26

ers rendered to the Executive by the mea
ures relating to civil rights and the Free,
mems Bureau. Contrary to most prccedcn
IN the experience of public men, the powc,
thus placed within my graap were decline,
as IN violation of the Constitution, dangcrou
to the liberty of the people, and tending t
aggravate, rather than lessen, the discord
naturally resulting from our civil war. Wit
a large army and augmented authority,
would have been no difficult task to direct a
pleasure the destinics Of the republic. and t.
make secure my continuance in the highcs
oihcc known to cur laws.
Let the people whom I am addressing from
the Presidential clair during tile closing
hours of a laborious tenn. consider how differ
ent would have been their present condition
had yielded to the dazzling temptation Of
foreign conquest, of personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT
and the desire to WELD additional power. Let
them with justice consider that, if | have moi
unduly" magnified mine Office" the public
burdens have not been increased by my acts,
and other und perhaps thousands or tens of
thousands Of lives sacrificed to visions of false
glory.
Much as | ~vcncLate the Constitution, it
must be admitted that this condition of afflirs
has developed a defeat which, under the au.
gr'sslve tendency of the Legislative depart.
ment OF the Government, may readily work
Its overthrow. 1t may, however, be rene.
died, without disturbing the harmony Of the
instrument.
The veto power is generally exercised upon
constitutional grounds, and whenever it is 40
applied and the bill returned with the Exec.
utive reasons for withholding his signature.
it ought to be Immediately certified to the Su.
prcme Court of the Unitod States for its de-
cision If its oonstitutionality shall be dc.
clared 10y that tribunal it should then become
a law; but if the decision is otherwise. il
should fail, without power in Congress to re
enact and make it valid.
In cases in which the veto rests upon basty
and inconsiderate legislation, and in which
no constitutional question is involved, I
would not change the Fundamental law for
IN such cases no permanent evil can be in.
;orporated into the Federal system.
1t is obvious that without such An omcnj.
nent the government, as it existed under the
prior to the rebellion, may be
subverted and overthrow by a two.
birds majority in Congress. It is not,
therefore,, difficult to zee how easily and how
npidly the people may lose shall [ not s,y
ave lost their liberties by an unchecked
nd uncomfortable III ,jprity in the law.m,k
ng power, AMI, when once deprived Of their
how po1crless they are to reg lin
Let rs turn for a moment to the history of
ne najo NY in Congress which has acted in
ioh utter disregard Of the Constitution
While public attcn i'm has bcen c1refully IN
instantly turned to the past and expatiatcd
MS OF the South, tho servants of the people.
high places, have boldly betrayed their
ust, broken their oaths Of obedience to the
onstitution, and undermined the very foun. |
alton Of liberty, justice aud good government
Then the rebellion was being suppressed by
10 volunteered service of patriot soldiers q
mid h c.dangcrs Of the brittle. field, these men {
opt, without question, into place and power +
the national councils. After all danger a
I'd passed, when no armed foe remained. |
a punished and rcpeutant people bowed :
cir hcads to the flag and renewed their al. L
to the Government of the United h
ateS, then it was that pretended patriots fl
poarcd before the natl, ;, and began to pratc a
out the thousands of lives and millions Of tt
assure sacrificed in the suppression Of the b
'ellion. They have since pcrsistently il
light to inflame the prejudiccs engendercd ic
tween the sections, to retard the restoration Of
and harmony, and, by every means. tr
keep open and exposed to the poisinous di
Of party passion tho terrible wounds Of in
our years war. They have prevented the al
urn Of peace and Tho restoration of the ev
ion, in every way rendered delusive the tn
rposes, promises and pledges by which the W
ny was marshaled, treason rebuked. and ii
'ellion crushed, aud made the liberties Of IN
people and tho rights and powers of the Al
objects Of constant attack. They he
% wrested from the President his %constitu tr'
,al power of supreme command Of tho at. r'
and navy. They have destroyed the fe
'ngth and efficiency Of tho Executive De. to
tment.; by makiur subordinsta on3oors in ia