Omaha daily bee., 1886-08-13
What MaY Be Done.

What May Be Done.
The daily reports-most of them un-
doubtedly sensationaI-of unusual activ
ity IN military and naval circles, and of
the movement of troops whose conjec-
tured destination is the Mexican frontier,
is very likely to mslead the uniformed
public INTO the notion that the only meas
ure necessary to the opening of hostili
ties with Mexico is a proclamation of the
president declaring war. 1t isvery likely
that most of the Young men who are eX-
hibiting such n patriotic readiness to en-
roll themselves to fight Mexico, entertain
the idea that al! that stands between
them and the ''pomp and circumstance of
glorious war" is the word of Mr.. Cleve-
land to go in" But the president has
10 power to utter that word without the
authority of congress. The constitution
of the United States confers upon con-
gress alone the power 10 declare war, and
any action on the part of the president
having the character or effect of declar-
alton of war would be usurpaton of
the power reposed by the funda-
mental law exclusively in tine
hands of congress, for which he would
be subject to Impeachment. In the pres
ent Issue with Mexcio, should all efforts
for settlement by diplomacy fail and
the president be convinced that the rights
of American citizens and the dignity and
just claims of the government demanded
recourse to military measures for
securing settlement, his first
duty would be to convene con-
gress in extra session and to lay
the whole subject before them. In the
meanwhile, as n means of security
against invasion, he could concentrate
any portion or the whole of the army of
the United States on the Mexican from
tier, occupying such strategic positions
as should be deemed best, but carefully
avoiding any overt act of hostility. He
could not, without the authority of con-
gress, call to the aid of the federal forces
the militia of any state, nor accept any
tender OF volunteers to be equipped and
paid out of the public treasury,
nor authorize any extraordinary
expenditure for military purposes.
In the event, however, of an
invasion becoming so formidable that it
could not be repelled by the federal
forces, the president may undoubtedly
accept the cooperation of the militia, the
state or states from which it is drawn
bearing all the obligations incurred by
the employment of this auxiliary force.
1t is thus seen that so far as relates to the
war power OF The government, or more
properly the power to make war, the
authority of the president is greatly re-
strictcd, that function beng with the
representatives of the people. What the
president may do is simply to make pre-
paration for possible exigcncy and
provide such protection as he can with
the means given him, pending the author
ity of congress to proceed bevond this.
In these days, however, congress can be
convened 10 very brief time, and as IN
this matter it would assemble for n
specific purpose the character and de-
mands of which would be fully under
stood in advance of the official piesenta-
ton of the issue, no army of invasion
could advance far before being con.
frontcd by force fully able to repel
it. In the present aspects of
the situation. however. there APP
pears to be no good reason why patriotic
ardor should be allowed to fuse to white
heat. 1t is evident that war with Mexico
is by no means imminent. and should the
pending controversy lead to that ex-
srcmity those who are eager for military
glory will be allowed plenty of time to
get ready.