Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-15
'AbLY MAINTAINS
PRESIDENT RIGHT
No Constitutional Reason Against
Wilson's Trip to Paris,
Says Montague.
STRONG SPEECH IN HOUSE
Third District Representative
Demolishes Arguments of
Executives Critics.
STRONG SPEECH IN HOUSE
Especial TO The Times-Dispatch. !

Governor Andrew j. Montague. Of Vir-
ginia. now member of the House,
delivered in that body this afternoon
defense OF President Wilson's course
In his conduct OF the peace ncgotia-
lions lions and In his proposais for the
Sleanest judicial statements. as we'll
as one of the most able and convinc-
ing. heard in Congress on the subject.
President for leaving Washington to
attend tho peace conference. Mr.. Mon
iaEue said that whatever the expedi-
ency or incxpediency of tho Presidents
mission. there could be no question
about his right 30 20
II he had the power 10 name dele
had the power TO &c, for himself. Mr..
Montague pointed out. AS TO the eX-
pediency Of his visit 20 France. Mr..
province OF the Prcsidcni alone 10 dc
tcrnine whether hc can beS; serve
America and civilization by staying al
igencies. the responsibilities and the
opportunities are best known to him:
and that ne should have the united
support Of tho country at this time.
noa that he has acted within the dis
cretion granted him.
VISIT EARNESTLY URGED
ny PRINCIPAL ALLIES
Mr.. Montague showed that his visit
had been earnestly urged by both Eng
land and France, and called attention
to the fact that all OF the allied coun-
tries wiil be represented at the con
ference by their Premiers, and that
den; other than to perform the same
functions as these Premicrs. II the
counsels Of America were TO have the
same weigh, and dignity in the con,
have through their Premiers.
Congressman Montague spoke as
"%r. Chairman: The Presidents de-
parture from Washington to participate
directly or indirectly In the peace c9n
ference soon TO assemble at Versailles
criticism as to the authority and the
wisdom OF his mission, and Of his
But. fortunately, this House has no,
semina,:ng these eritieisms ,;n and u u,,is It is
% unnecessary W i ManimadssTsiona. 4.g}
nA Ghhlsyaf ng Sc fga @ ss9'ea:
ineSpedie ncy.soe 9hoE presideht.p extra
ordinary errand. no criticisms thereof Is
inting to his constitutional authority,
10 absent himself from the seat OF
government for SO long time and !
un,imeIy. for every act or the Prest-
dent must be sustained by the Con-
stitution and laws made in pursuance
CONTROVERTS VIEW THAT
TRIP is TNCO%STITUTloNA
some eminent lawyers have denied
the Presidents constitutional right thus
to absent himself. This contention is
r-futcd by the organic
authorization empowering hitn To make
treaties, subject TO the Consent OF two
thirds Of the Senate by usage inc
others the framing OF treaties in his
behalf. which he has in turn presented
70 the Senate for Goncurrenets- tnSt Bu.
10 negotiate treaties i6 conferred upon
the President by the express language
of the CONSTITUTION itself o
'ManifeStly he cannot delegate
power which he does no; possess. and
if he were not SO expressly empowered
of his delegation proprio vigore pre-
supposes the existence OF such power
in the President.
power either directly to negotiate a
treaty himself or indirectly TO nego-
tiate il through his agents. To argnv
by delegation is TO give to an agen;
more authority than is given TO the
princ cipal himself.
mower to negotiate treaties. and he may
delegate portion or all OF this power.
or he himself may exercise The whSIs
follows that in exercising this power
he. may do all things necessarily in
cident to- it's exercise
WOULD DE A PLAIN
ITO empower the President TO nego-
tiate a treaty and to forbid his pres
ence at the time and place Of It's
analogy is found in his constitutional
author ization to act as the commander
in chief Of the, army and navy Il; is
power by agents or he may assume ii
himself. If he assumes 1t. he may
unquestionably ACCOMPANY and COM
ma mr. hag
lawfully be. and the Supreme Court has
recently held that these forces may
a'iy %so submit uBnt tha, at tHe HE itresdent @ may
in person negotiate treaty, and as
an inexorable incident of this right he
may visit such places AT home or
he necessary to conduct such negotia-
tions. The power is clearly granted to
within his executive discretion. for
which he is answerable to the people
of America in the manner required by
its institutions
QUESTION THUS BECOMES
MERELY ONE OF EXPEDIENCy
80 much. Mr.. Chairman. for the
Presidents constitutional authority
and right to absent himself from the
country to participate in these negoti-.
his errand? There have been and are
sincere differences of opinion as TO
the wisdom of his going abroad. But
ne mas gone, he Is III france, ana
he is there to exert more effectively
than could he done by any other agency
OF our government the great weight
Of this nation to the negotiation OF
a proper treaty, and in my unbiased
Judgment all differences Of opinion
should now be composed or their cx-
preston withheld, and the Presiden:
Of the nation should have, as 7 be-
lieve by an overwhelming ma jority he
does have. the united and affirmative
support of It's people.
the contention that IL is the peculiar
province OF the President alone to de-
termine at this vital juncture In the
affairs of the world whether he can
best serve America and civilization by
staying at home or going abroad
THE eXigencies. the Responsibilities
'.1d the opportunities arc best known
TO him. Then. too. his presence at the
deliberations in Versailles has been
most earnestly insisted upon by at
least England and France. and their
satisfaction at his presence In Europe
has been expressed in the past few
days by demonstrations OF unprece.
dented magnitude and enthusiasm. SO
In tho presence OF the assembled ma
tons. he now finds his own errand
CONTINUED on Ninth Page.}