The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-04-10
Cleveland Talks on "Independ-
ence Of the Executive"
AT PRINCETON
COMMENTS UPON THE OFFICE
OF PRESIDENT.
Refers to Incidents of a Public Ma
ture Made Familiar to Him by the
Incumbency of That Position
-Partisanship Follows Party Or
ganization-The First Congress.

Princeton, April 9.-Ex-President
Cleveland delivered before a large audi
ence in University hall this evening the
first of his two addresses in the new
~lectureship founded by Stafford Little,
esq. He announced as his theme THE
independence of the Executive" saying
that he proposed to comment upon the
Office of president of the United States
and upon some incidents of a public
nature made familiar to him by the
i~ncumbency of hat Office.
Mr. Cleveland began by speaking Of
the Indictment presented by the
original thirteen colonies against the
oppressive exercise Of executive power
by the king of Great Britain. The
colOnists dreaded a repetition of these
abuses through the powers that might
devOlve upon an American president.
Thus the articles of confederation pro-
vided for no executive head, but in the
constitutional convention, ten years
later. it was conceded that if the ex-
pertinent of popular government were
10 be successful. an executive branch,
invested with power and responsibility,
must be n of its essential factors.
The Peoples Office.
In the scheme Of our national govern
ment, as then established, the president
is p~re-eminently the peoples office. The
laws passed by congress are inert and
vain without executive impulse; and
the federal courts pass upon the right
of the citizen only when their aid is oc-
casionally invoked; but under the con-
nt s~,rNTA~aT ~ u ----slA- -
shall take are hat the laws be
constantly within the protection and
restraint OF the executive power.
Furthermore, it is only IN the selection
of the president thai the body of the
American people can by any possibility
act together and directly il the equip
ment of their national government. To
the wisdom of the men who composed
the convention we are indebted for the
creation of an executive department,
limited against any possible danger
of uSurpation or tyranny, but, at the
same time, strong and independent
within its limitations.
First Session of Congress.
Mr.. Cleveland then reviewed the de-
bate in the first session of congress in
1889 over the power of the president
under the constitution to remove an
officer appointed by him by and with
the advice of the senate. The outcome
of this debate was a legislative con-
Struction Of the constitution TO the eff
feet that the president had the power of
removal without the participation or
interference of the eenate. But the
question was again raised in 1886. IN a
sharp contention between the senate
and the president.
In order TO make clear the nature of
this controversy, which he expects to
discuss in detail in the second lecture,
Mr.. Cleveland described the tenure Of
office act passed in 1867 for the express
purpose of preventing removals from
office by President Johnson, and COM
pared it with the tenure Of Office legis-
lation passed in 1859, during President
Grants first administration.
81 fully appreciate the fact" said
Mr.. Cleveland in closing, that par
tisan6hip follows party organization,
that it is apt to be unduly developed
in all parties. and that it often hamp-
ers the best aspirations and purposes
of public life. but I hope I have reach
ed a condition when 1 can recall such
adverse craftsmanship as may have
entered into past conflicts and per-
plexities without misleading irritation
or prejudice-especially on such an Oc-
caSion as this"