Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-01
THE DEMOCRATIC POLICY.

pro tenn. of the House, during the debate on
Saturday on the army bill, was of great i'm
portance, as it was evidently carefully con-
sidered and represents fully the matured
policy of the Democratic party as regards
the power of Congress to regulate the dispo
sition of the army. The point was raised
that the President being, under the constitu-
ton, the commander-in chief of tho army,
it was not competent for Congress to inter-
fere with his powers by forbidding him from
sending troops to the polls on election day
to preserve the peace. Ia deciding the point
Mr.. Springer said:
Congress creates the army, it provides it's
support, it makes rules for it's government, and
although the President is by the constitution
the commandment chief of the army, Congress-
makes all laws necessary and proper for carry
ing into execution the powers vested in him az
such commander. Congress may, therefore, fix
the places where the troops may or may not be
stationed, and may prohibit the President and
all civil and military officers from using the
army for any purpose deemed improper, and
from interfering with the freedom of elections
or from doing any acts dangerous to the iber-
ties of the people.
The effect of this ruling is to declare that
Congress and not the President is the COM
mander-in-chief of the army; that the
President is simply the executive officer of
Congress, bound to obey the laws for the
government of the army that may be en-
acted, ard only so far as he is authorized by
law can he exercise the functions of COM
mander -in-chief. If he possessed the broad
powers claimed for him by the Republicans,
he would be practically superior to control
might declare war, grant letters of marque,
invade State or municipality at pleasure
and to suppress Instructions and repel in
vasions without authority from the Congress
of the nation. Such powers are specially
reserved by the constitution to Congress
and if diverted and vested in the Presiden
would give that official dangerous power
liable at any time to gross abuse, and con
tinually menacing the liberty of the citizen
Any intelligent reader of the constitution
must be convinced that the interpre
tation of the Presidents powers as
given by Mr.. Springer is the cor
rect one. To grant him the privileg
of absolute control over the army-to orde
, the military here or there at his caprice O
the caprice of his party, would amount to O.
abdication of the powers of Congress. A
we'll might subordinate employe in me,
l camille house claim the power to control tn
business of his chief independent of or i
0 opposition to the wishes of that person.
!, The powers of the Preaident are mos
/ clearly defined by the constitution. He
. created commander in-chief of the arm,
! but his rights in that as we'll as in all othe
: respects are circumscribed by the power
Q delegated to Congress. Congress can Great
q Or it can abolish an army as to it may see,
9 fit. Without authority of Congress the arm
!. cannot be paid. To Congress alone is r
served the power to declare war and to gi,
Q employment to the army. It is very eviden
y therefore, that the true intent of the col
Q stitution was to make Congress commando
in-chief of the army, while the Presidel
was the nominal head of that organization
tae figure head, executing the laws, but n
q acting Independently of them.
l. This being taken as the correct interpr
l. | GAClOu OF Inc CO0SLlCQG1On-an0 no Otn0r
; depreciation is possible to any intellige
If reader of that instrument is compete
Z for Congress to prescribe what duties Il
y military forces of the government shall pc
< form. It can declare that troops shall
? shall not be stationed at any given point, al
% in the past history of the government it b
IL exercised this right unquestioned. But no
10 when partisan advantage can be obtain
o by giving to the President arbitrary and q
a heard-of powers, it is sought to make
Is appear that the purpose of Congress is
n abridge the legitimate authority of the Pre-
dent. Such is not the case. He will co
IF tinue to be-, as his predecessors have bee
?, the commander-in-chie of the army. i
n vested with all the powers of such an Office
9. But he will not possess any axtra-constit
d tional authority, but must, as his predece
IS sors have, conform to the constitution Al
~ the laws. This ls the whole meaning of t
/ proposed amendments,