The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-03
COLUMBIA, IS. G.
Friday Morning. May s, 1872.
FlexibIlity In tho Government.

Iuo VRClIIRt1Ou OF Cno New 1OTk He
raid on political questions. and its syoo-
phaptic gr6elivities TO- identity. itself
always with the winning side in party
contests, have passed into proverbs.
Mistakipg the quiet WHICH. prevailed
throughout the political fieldj uphill q
very short while back, for d general
acquieseepoe and satisiaotiono Of the peor
pie in Gfa1t'sj jadministsaion, the He
raid. as matter Of course, has been one
OF the warmest and ataunohast support
era Of the great gift-taker.n SO confident
was the Herald Of Grants reelection
that. by III fnlsome zeal in praising and
sustaining whatever he has done. il has
irrevocably committed. itself .o support
him through thick and thin In tho oom-
ing oauvssG' All of this we can readily
understand. for It comports precisely
with the past history Of the journal.
But the Herald, fokle and unreliable as
1t has been in its political teachings, has
always enjoyed the reputation Of being
an ably conducted papet; and we must
confess our utter r;astonishment at finding
such crude and false notions Of the ma
+ture Of our Government as were con-
tanned in its editorial columns in its
issue Of the 29th ult. We ore there
given two column article in apology
for Grants course in thesmattar .of the
Washington treaty. and an effort to shift
the responsibility upon the shoulders of
Mr.. Fish. Secretary of State. In the
course of this there is depression upon
what the Herald terms the want of flexi-
bility in our Government, and its views
upon the nature and objects of the Pre-.
sidential Office, is what exoites our Sur
prise. rM
The ''want OF Aexibility" Of Which
the Herald complains manifests itself,
eccording to that journal. in cases of an
tagoniam or differences OF opinion be-
tween the Executive and Congress.
when, from the "rigidity" and undue
power Of the executive Office. the s'po-
pular will" can be effeotually thwarted
for term OF years, or until the next
Presidential election. by the caprice or
crotchets of single individual. The
case Of Andy johnson isSraferred to as
illustrative Of the point, and that noble
old deyotee 10 the Constitution receives
% aide stab. beoause he regarded rather
his oath OF Office and duty to the Con
stitutiop, than the threats and high
handed measures of Congress, Says the
Herald: "Had he been Prime Minister
~ e Government Ike the English. he
,gysopld have been driven ont Of power by
YaXSse OF q want Of confidence" The
ssE9sh evidently thinks this defect and
g ss-1.oo e weakness il our Govern
ment. and that it, is matter of regret
}, that there is not. some equally facile me-
Ahod Of Kidding Congress, of an obhox-
'ious President as there is of riddine
Parliament of an unpopular Premier.
In the South. at least, we have always
been taught, to, regard the President as
bearing the rotation ID Congress of that
sof the King or that Of Prime Minister
to Parliament. Further. too.: thai the
executive was coordinate aud co-equal
branch OF the Government. with all it's
rights, duties,aha covers well defined,
and az scored as that of either OF the
other two. SO far as the popular will is
concerned, Il is difficult to see why Con-
gress should be considered any more its
authorized mouth-pioce than the Presi-
dent. They are both the creatures OF
the people, equally responsible to them,
and equally liable TO their sovereign dis
pleasure. The President swears to sup
port the Constitution-not to be the
slave to do the biddihgs OF Congress;
and when the Office is'sunk 30 low, If it
ever is, that tho occupant descends to be
simply . sort Of great high sheriff or
marshal to Congress, sane men will pray
for the speedy Institution of an empire.
The great majority Of people of this
country who are opposed to being ruled
by mere hand-full of wire-pullers. sin.
cerely hope that the Cincinnati Oonvan.