Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-03-31

Tor the Lcslgtutuir 10 come forward
and approve Of the acts Of the Prcsi.
dent. Ordinary measures are presented
for tho consideration of Congress, and
when they are acted upon it is the
duty of the President to consider them
and to approve them or reject them.
Neither the Senate nor the Congress
of the United States can act In judg-
nent, as it wcrs, upon his acts with
reference to approving or rejecting
such measures as hc may think proper
to net upon. This would be scvering
the whole orderp and routine of legisla-
ton; would be sovcring the principal
upon which the Legislature has acted
for number OF years, or perhaps,
from the origin Of the Government
until tho pfcsctEtiinc.
SUCH ACTION CONTRARY TO PRECEDENT.
We remember very well, ! presume
every Senator here will remember the
resolutions that were brought forward,
yeaisngo, by the distinguished Sena-
tor from Kentucky, Mr.. Clay, with
reference to General Jackson. The
resolutions condemning him for rcmov-
ing the defendants, condemning and
censuring him in strong terms. Both
Houses Of Congress then were together
sitting MS the Legislative department of
the Government, and, notwithstand-
ing the Senate passed these resolutions
il was considered, and was determined
by the country afterwards that these
were illcgitimate, as it was not in the
power of the Senate to pass upon the
Executive, unless they were sitting MS
n Court Of Impeachment But now
we are called upon in the Senate to
approve of the acts of the President Of
the United States. The action in ref
crencc to the resolution that was
adopted condemning General Jackson
when he was President OF the United
States, and when both Houses were in
session, and when they were convened
under the provisions OF the Constitu-
tion, and when they were acting in
their legislative capacity, repudiated
the action of the Senate, and years af-
forwards these resolutions were ex-
Plunged from the journal Of the Senate.
Now, il seems to me, that should settle
the question most clearly tfat we have
no authority TO act upon resolution
of this kind, and especially so in the
absence of the other House. There
are many things that are as Legitimate
for us TO express an opinion upon as
this resolution.
WHAT DOES THIS RESOLUTION PROPOSE Z
II seems that it has required great
care to prepare it. The first one in
troduced by the Senator from Indiana
(Morton) was drawn up in somewhat
broader terms, perhaps too broad for
some members of the Senate TO sup
port. Then theScnator for New Jersey
{ (Frclinghuysen) introduced a rcsolu-
ton, seemingly not 80 broad as the
one introduced by the Senator from
Indiana. II seems to narrow il down
to be almost an abstract idea that when
we come to get at in substance the
resolutions are the same, u mere modi-
fcation in the matter of verbiage 10
suit the particular views of some indi-
vlduals, and it does not affect the sub
stance in the slightest degree. 1t is
simply calling upon the Senate to cx-
press an opinion with reference to
Executive conduct in the organization
OF the State government of Louisiana,
and approve Of that action. Now the
query comes up, what has been the
course of the Government with refer
cnce to cases Of this kind. will refer
to one for the sake of making an in
PRODUCTION to what am going to say.
THE TENNESSEE PRESIDENT
Mr.. johnson then related the his
tory of the struggle between the Gov.
crnor and the Legislature of Tennessee
in 1866, and continuing said "Now
here is the precise case that you have
in Louisiana Here Is a struggle be.
tween the Governor and the contend
ing members for seats in the Legisla-
turc. But the main issue is between
the Legislature and the Governor. Ii
is conceded by all who have spoken
on the subject that the military were
those obeying the bebests Of the Gov
ernor to organize the Legislature, and
to organize the Legislature that favored
him. Now what was done in the case
that have referred to2 There was
an attempt to force members to act on
the Legislature by the Governor re
fusing to accept their designations, II
was not for him to organize the Leg
islature, IL was not for the Governor
to- compel the attendance Of absent
members. Tho Governor applied TO
the military commander of the district
for assistance in bringing the fugitive
members back to their seats, and the
following correspondence took place
General Thomas was then in command
Of that department, and he was induced
by the Governor to apply to the Gen
cral OF the army here ut that time for
military aid to aid Governor Brownlow
to organize the Legislature.
This dispatch was brought TO the
Secretary Of War and tho Secretary Of
War brought it to the President Of the
Fnitcd States, and the following dis
patch was prepared and forwarded tc
General Thomas TO which | call the
attention of the Senate
WASHINGTON, ID. c., July II, 1866
General Grant will instruct Genera
Thomas that the facts stated in hit
telegram do not warrant tho interier
cncc Of the military. The administra
ton of laws, and the preservation oI
peace in Nashville belong properly tt
the State authorities, and tho duty o
the United States authorities Is not Il
interfere in any way in the controversy