The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-12-02
CONVERTIBLE PRINCIPLES.

The adaptability and eont-overti
biiity of Radical principles arr
wonderful to contemplate in thu
light of history. keShakespoarel
hero, who proposed to be +ali thingI
to al men," RadicalIsm personifed
is anything or everything for ih'
occasion.
We recollect distinctly that dur.
ing the administration of President
Lincoln, to deny the absolute pow
or of the President, or the govern
ment," as he was called, was to be
guilty of unmitigated high treason.
He had the right TO do anything he
chose, and Congress had no other
dury to perform than to meet and
ratlfy bis acts. Instead of being a
co ordinate branch of the govern-
ment. the Executive was declared to
be the whole government. Ifthere
was no warrant for his Assumptions
OF power il the Constitution, q sub
ssrvient Congress was ready 10
KaIve over his stretches of arbitrary
power with the necessary legIsla-
ton, 81 that in fact the President
of the United States was as absolute
an autocrat as the Gear of Russia.
He held alike the reins Of civil and
military power, and whom he would
be could raise up, and whom he
would be esuld put down, without
being accountable, either TO the laws
of the people. Sis Cabinet officers
were merely his clerks, TO whom he
would listen If he fel. SO disposed,
and whom he set adrift to suit his
OWL Wins or convenience.
This was the ease from 1856; until
1885. Then came a change. When
by the death of Abraham Lincoln,
Andrew johnson assumed the Ex-
ecutrve mantle, there came a change
in the administration Of the afars
Of government, andian "about>face"
in Radical principles. The very
mel who for four years had been
inventIng arguments to show that
the President and the Government
were synonymous terms, and that It
was utterly impossible for the king
10 do wrong, were just as positive
IN their declarations that the Presi-
dent WAS not only not the govern
ment, bu. was not even a respecta-
bic part OF II. He was q mere fgS
ure head, who couid do nothing
that Congress did not permit him
to Go. Laws were enacted to pro-
vent hun from having his legal ad-
vlsers IN harmony with his views.
Every one of his clearly defined
constitutional prerogstrves were Ia
ken away from him. Cabinet Off
GERS were declared to DO lndepend-
ent of and superior to the Presiden',
the right to continue in Office
rs long as they chose, and inaugu,
rate and carry out any line Of poll
cy they saw TT in their respective
departments, although il was direct
ly opposed to the known policy Of
the President. Even the present
Ulysses S. Grant lent
lFimseif TO tins, and Throughout
carery aDAs faIsehood surrendered
The War Department. which had
been entrusted 10 him upon the
strength Of his own false represent
to an unworthy man, and
une who ~dagrantly usurped Its
functions.
So far did this spirit 60, that
IN ITS usurpations declar-
cd in the Tenurc-of Office Bill "that
every person holding any civil Of
ice TO which he has been appointed
By and with tho advice and consent
If the Senate and every person
who shall hereafter be appointed to
any such Office, and shall become
July qualified 20 act .thereispis, and
shall be entitled TO hold sueh Office
until a successor shall have been in!
like appointed and duly
qualified, except as herein other
provided /: Presided That the
Secretaries of State, of the TreasU,
ry. OF War, Of The Navy, and ofthe
Interior, the Postmaster General,
aud the Attorney General shaD
hold tneir Offices respectively for
md during tie term Of the President
BY whom they may have been ap-
pointed ard for one month thereaf-
Ter, subject 10 removal by and with
The advice and consens. Otto Sen
ste."
The penalty for the PfesrdsntI
making, signing, sealing, counter.
or issuing of any commits.
or letter of authority for or IN
respect" toany person appointed to
flee 10 fill vacancies created by
removals male IN contraven-
Ion Of Ahs law already quoted, WAC