Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-04-23
PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.

The question:: on whom devolves the
responsibility for solving the problem
OF Cuba has been discussed in aud out
of Congress and many opinions have
been rendered,
The Constitution OF the United
States is the national compass which
directs the course of the ship of state
in its entire sea of navigation. II is
the absolute legal code for the guild
ance of the action of the United States
government in all OF its departments.
As the President submitted to Con.
gress the full responsibility of action
in the controversy between Spain and
the United States in regard to the
future status of Cuba as a body poll
tic, few quotations from the defined
powers of the Constitution appropriate
to the situation may prove interesting
in illustrating that Congress alone is
the paramount supreme authority of
the United States government to de-
fine the policy by the enactment of
laws for the solution of the pending
condition of affairs; and to also show
that the constitutional powers of the
President are entirely subordinate to
and dependent upon the action of Con-
gress.
THE POWERS or CONGRESS.
The constitution provides that:
THAT Congress shall have power
to lay and collect taxes, duties, i'm.
posts and excuses, to pay the debts
and provide for the common defense
and general welfare OF the United
States.
ITO borrow money on the credit OF
the United States.
ITO regulate commerce with foreign
nations.
"To define and punish piracies and
felonies committed on the high seas,
and differences against the laws Of
nations.
ITO raise and support armies.
TO provide and maintain navy.
ITO make rules for the government
and regulation Of the land and naval
forces.
ITO provide for calling forth the
militia to execute the laws OF the
Union.
ITO provide for organizing, arm
ing, and disciplining the militia, and
for governing such portion of them as
may be employed in the service of the
the United States.
ITO dispose of and make all need
full rules and regulations respecting
the territory and other property be-
longing to the United States.
THE POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT.
In defining the powers of the Presi.
dent the Constitution states:
1.-The executive power shall be vest
ed in a President of the United States
of America.
"The President shall be command.
er-in.chief of the army and navy oil
the United States, and of the militia
of the several states when called into
the actual service of the United States.
"He shall have power, by and with
the advice of the Senate, to make trea-
ties, provided two-thirdso of the senators
present concur; land he shall nominate,
and by and with the advice and con-
sent Of the Senate, shall appoint am
bassadors, other public ministers and
consuls, and all other officers OF the
United States, whose appointments
must be established by law.
"Hc shall, from time to time, give
to the Congress information of the
state of the Union, and recommend to
their consideration such measures as
he shall judge necessary and expe-
dent.
"He shall take care that the law be
faithfully executed.
These several clauses quoted from
the Constitution clearly defines the
paramount authority of Congress in
all affairs of the United States govern
ment, which compared with the con-
stitutional powers of the President,
also quoted, would seem to be sufi-
cient to relieve the public mind of al
doubt as to which department OF the
government is primarily responsible
for any action on the question OF free
Cuba!
- . .-~'s--
The Busy Bee In New Fields.