The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-23
WOULD TIE THE PRESIDENTS
HANDS

On the motion of Senator German the SEN
special commissioner to Panama has been
recalled and the nomination has been held
up. This is part of Senator Germans plan
TO make war on the Presidents Panamaian
policy by denying his right to take any
steps in the matter without the advice and
this plan it is averred that no person can
be appointed by the President and confirmed
by the Senate to a position that has not
already been created by law, and that
the office of minister to Panama had not
been created the nomination of Mr.. Bu-
chanan was null and void.
1t will probably be found on investigation
that there are several precedents for the
action of the President in this matter but
a recent one covers every essential point.
The appointment of Paramount Blount
as special commissioner to Hawaii involved
than the appointment of Mr.. Buchanan to
Panama. Mr.. Blount was appointed by
President Cleveland on March 9, 1893, five
days after Mr.. Cleveland's Inauguration.
treaty for the annexation of Hawaii had
been signed and sent to the Senate by
President Harrison and was pending in
the Senate. President Cleveland withdrew
1t and appointed a special minister with
plenary powers to go to Hawaii. investigate
the situation and report on new policy
to be adopted by the United States Mr.
Blounts letter of instructions from the
State Department said:
Your authority in all matters touching
the relations of this government to the ex-
listing or other government of the islands
and protection OF citizens is para
mount; and in you alone. acting in CO.
operation with the commander of the naval
TO determine when such forces should be
landed or withdrawn
The office to which Mr.. Blount was ap-
pointed had not been created by law and
his powers were much larger than those of
minister. AS matter of fact, he ordered
the American flag to be lowered abolished
the provisional government which had been
established and inaugurated new form of
government AS special minister to Pana-
ma. Mr. Buchanan has no such powers as
these.
To deny the right of the President to ap-
point a special commissioner to treat with a
foreign country In an emergency without
waiting for previous authorization by the
Senate would be to seriously curtail his
power. 1t matters not what the official
may be calied-minister. commissioner or
envoy extraordinary-the power of appoint
ment should rest with the President to meet
emergencies, whether the Office has been
previously created or not The treaty of
peace with Mexico at the close of the Next
can war was negotiated by a special COM
missioner appointed by President Polk
without consulting with the Senate The
commissioners to conclude treaty OF peace
at the close of the late war with Spain
were appointed by President Mckinley in
August. 1898. and sailed for France in
September during the recess Of the Senate
and, of course. without consulting IT,
In the nature OF the case 1t is obvious
that crises and emergencies will sometimes
arise In which the President must take the
initiative and appoint special commission
ers or ENJOYS extraordinary to conduct
negotiations with foreign governments. The