The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1897-01-01
CHANDLER DISSENTS
From the Claim Set Up by President Cieve-
land OF Exclusive Right TO Interpose I'm
Behalf of the Cubans or TO Refuse to So
Interpose, and Quotes from the Consti-
tuition to Make Good His Position.

L
Chandler, of New Hampshire. takes
issue with President Cleveland as to
the power vested in the president OF
the United States to alone recognize
or not recognize the belligerency or
independence of a foreign country or
a dependency of that country. He
lines up on the side of Cuba, and in an
interview made public last night, he
takes strong ground in favor of the
rights of congress. Discussing the
subject he says:
1.-The new immigration law, if it
passes, will require foreigners COM
ing to live in this country to read and
write as test five lines of the United
States constitution. There are cer-
| tain five lines which eminent Spanish.
| American lawyers ought to read.
section 8, after enumerating in IL
clauses the powers of congress, adds
| another, as follows:
| IS. To make all laws which shall be neces-
| sary and proper for carrying into execution
| the foregoing powers and all powers vested by
| this constitution in the government Of the
| United States or in any department or ofacer
| 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.
1t is not contended that the above
clause 16 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 implica-
tion. What are the powers expressly
given to the president?
1. To command the army and navy.
2. To grant pardons-
3. To make treaties with ! 5,fi-
sent of the senate).
4. To appoint officers of the United
States.
5. To convene congress, and to ad-
| journ it when the two houses disagree.
| 6. To receive am mbassadors and other
| public ministers.
Z. To take care that the laws be
faithfully executed.
8. 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 defense and general well
fare, and ending with the power given
| in the above clause 1S to make all
| laws necessary and proper to carry
into execution all the powers vested
| in the government, "or in any depart
ment or officer thereof"
The president can command the
army and navy. Yes, 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. lie may grant pardons.
Yes, this is an exclusive and uncon-
trollable power, but congress may by
law opon all prigon doors and let the
criminals go free. He may make treat
les 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.
| Yes, 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
lie can commission only those who are
appointed in pursuance of law. He is to
receive the foreign ministers. Yes, but
only ministers from countries which
congress chooses to have recognized.
| If two governments are striving for
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 gov
ernment and refuse to receive min
| lister from the other.
The idea that the president has the
sole prerogative of deciding what for
| eign governments shall be recognized
| by the United States has no founda-
| tion whatever in any words to be seen
| in the constitution. The fact that the
| president has recognized new govern
| ments without congressional eX-
preston 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
| COu u O1IcQ ny d law puSSeQ over veto
under the ample powers in congress
granted by section s, article 1, of the
| con stitution, which are not restricted
nor limited in this respect by any
other clause in the constitution.
There is no escape for the advocates
| of monarchical government in WASH
ington from the provisions of clause
| Is, section 8, article ].
1t is singular that the only two
| presidents who have undertaken to
| defy congress have been Andrew John.
son and Grover Cleveland. The one
tried to create and maintain against
the will of congress ten new state
governments in this Union; the other
claims the right, against the will OF
congress, to aid in sustaining abroad a
bloody tyranny over an oppressed peo-
pie. Mr.. johnson betrayed and aban-
doned the party which elected h i'm
his treachery was condemned by all
right-minded men and he went out OF
office without party and without a
friend.