The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-12-28
POWER or THE President.


Constitution.
Washington, Dec. Ex-senator Chand-
ler of New Hampshire takes issue with
President Cleveland as to the power
vested in the president to alone recog-
nize or not recognize the belligerency
or Independence of foreign country,
or dependency of that country. In
an interview made public tonight the
senator says:
Section 8 of the constitution, after
enumerating in seventeen clauses the
powers of congress, adds another as
follows:
'1S-To make all laws which shall
be necessary and proper for carrying
into execution the foregoing powers and
all other powers vested by the consti-
tuition in the government of the United
States or in any department or officer
thereof
"A study of the above clause may
lead some of the defiant advocates of
an arrogant personal government at
the executive mansion to revise their
assertions.
"It is not contended that the above
clause Is gives congress power, by law
passed over a veto by a two-thirdS
vote to interfere with any power made
exclusive in the president by express
words or necessary implication. What
are the powers expressly given to the
president?
ITO command the army ana navy.
Uvn erro,t n1r6OnG
"3-To make treaties (With the con-
sent of the senate)
"4-To appoint officers of the United
States
$50 convene congress and to ad-
iourn it when the two houses disagree.
.6-To receive ambassadors and other
public ministers.
ITO take care that the laws be
faithfully executed.
"S-To commission officers of the
United States.
''The above are all the powers grant
ed. Compare them with the long list
of powers given to congress, including
that to declare war and to provide for
the common defence and general wei
fare and ending with the power given
in the above clause 18, to make all laws
necessary and proper to carry into eX-
ecution all the powers vested in the
government or in any department otti-
Ger thereof.
.erhe president may command the
army and navy, but congress by law
may give him specific directions what
to do with them to use them in any
particular direction, or not to use them
at all. He may grant pardons, but
congress may by law open all prison
doors and let the criminals go free. He
may make treaties, with the consent OF
the senate, and they become law. Here
is the only power to make law not
vested in congress. He may appoint
officers, but congress may create and
abolish the offices, and regulate the
power of appointment by civil service
rules. He is to commission all officers,
but he can commission only those who
are appointed in pursuance Of law. He
is to receive the foreign ministers but
only ministers from countries which
congress chooses to have recognized.
'If two governments are striving for
the control of country, congress may
by law decide which government the
United States will recognize, and the
president is bound to obey the law and
| receive a minister from that govern
ment and refuse to receive a minister
| from the other.
''rhe idea that the president has the
sole prerogative of deciding what for
| eign governments shall be recognized
tbe lot inr
whatever in any words to be seen in the
constitution. The fact that the presi-
| dent has recognized new governments
| without congressional expression. when
| congress and the people have approved
| his action is no proof whatever that
when they disagree with him they can
not control him by law. He is their
agent, and when he does what they
want him to do, no law is needed.
"When he threatens to conduct him
self otherwise, whether by action or
non-action, the whole subject may be
controlled by law passed over veto
under the ample powers of congress
| granted by section of article / of the
| constitution, which are not restricted
nor limited in this respect by any other
clauses in the constitution. There Is nc
| escape for the advocates of monarchial
government in Washington from the
| provision of clause 18, section 8, arti-
| Gle T.
| ut is singular that the only two
| presidents who have undertaken to de-
| fly congress have been Andrew John
son and Grover Cleveland. The one
| tried to create and maintain against
| the will of congress ten new state gov
ernments in this union, the other claims
the right against the will of congress
| to aid in sustaining a bloody tyranny
! over an oppressed people. Mr.. John
son betrayed and abandoned the party
which elected him. His treachery was
condemned by all right minded men
and he went out of office without a
party and without a friend. Mr.
| Cleveland still fingers with u.s."