National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-03-04
The President and Congress.

The President and Congress.
1t has been telegraphed and published
over the country thas the friends of the
President are chagrined at the want Of re-
spect shown toward his veto message by
the Senate. What this want of respect con-
sisted in is not clearly stated but the Presi-
dents fricnds-and every Republican in the
country would be his friend If in their judg-
ment he was entitled to their friendship
seem to fancy that he has been treated dis
courteously by the prompt action of the
Senate on the veto message, for the reason
that 1t was passed at once, notwithstanding
the objections Of the Executive II was no
act of dscourtesy toward the President that
this was done. The Senate had discussed
the measure pro and con with marked de-
liberation prior to its submission for his APP
proval, and 1t saw no occasion for further
consideration. To delay would have been
a waste of time, and not TO deliberate and
discuss was in no degree discourtcous to the
Executive.
Speaking of acts of courtesy and dis
courtesy between the. Executive and Legis-
lativc branches Of the Government, we think
when that points considered the Legislative
has more cause for complaint than the
Executive. The President took early occa-
sion to remind Senators and Representatives
in Congress that he was to change exist
ing prccedents and usages and disregard
their counscls in future relating to appoint
ments. This innovation was much more
patent act of discourtesy than the prompt
passage of an act over his veto without dis
cussion. The truth is, il the President IL
weak with Congress it is the result of his
own policy. If Senators and Representa-
tives are alienated it is not Of their own
seeking. They would have chcerfully sus-
tanned him in his rightful measures if he
had not substantially ignored them, and by
his own policy suspended the relations that
had heretofore existed between the
Executive and Legislative branches
of the Government. The Senator or Repre-
sentative in Congress is as much entitled to
the respect due to his sphere in the Govern
ment as the President and when this fact
is overlooked by the Executive it weakens
the feeling Of mutual respect that has ex-
listed in the past. If the President, instead
| of prOnOuncing to the country that Con-
grcssional counsel had a corrupt or deleteri
Gus effect upon the civil service of the Gov
| eminent, had communicated his views on
that point to each Senator and Representa-
tive rs he had occasion, the feeling Of NOR
tifcation that the public announcement
produced might have been avcrted. But
the President marked out and pursued his
own peculiar line of policy, and ifhc now
finds himself weak with the Legislative
branch of the Government, he can charge
the misfortune, if misfortune il be- to his
own account. II the President is weak with
Republican Senators and Representatives it
is on account of his policies. If he is in n
| like category with the Democrats, it is for
the simple reason that their being permitted
to use him against the usages of the party
that elected him inspires no feeling of re-
spcct or confidence after the using. They
have used and abused him in the same
breath, and now they regard him either
with feeling of indifference or aversion.
Hence he is without such influence over
either side as fidelity to principle and
friendship usually inspires