Year: 1864




We have read without surprise, but not
without indignation, the proclamation oi
the President of the 9Th of July, 1864.


The supporters Of the administration are
responsible to the country for its conduct /;
and it is their right and duty to check the
encroachments of the Executive on the
authority Of Congress, and to require it to
contine itself to its proper sphere.


1t is impossible to pass in silence this
proclamation without neglccting that duty;
and, having taken as much responsibility
as any others in supporting the admins
tration, we are not disposed to fail in the
other duty of asserting the rights Of Con.
gress.


The President did not sign the bill "to
guarantee to certain States whose govern
ment have been usurped a republican form
Of government passed by the supporters
Of this administration in both houses OF
Congress after mature delberation.


The bill did not therefore become lap;
and is therefore nothing.


The proclamation is neither an approval
nor veto of the bill; it is therefore d.
cament unknown to the laws and constitu.
ton of the U. S.


So far as it contains All apology for no,
signing the bill, it is political manifesto
against the friends Of the government.
So far as it proposes to execute the bill
which is not = law, it is a grave Executive
usurpation. uag


1t is fitting that the facts necessary te
enable the friends of the administration te
appreciate the apology and the usurpation
be spread before them.


The proclamation says:


"And whereas the said bill was presented
to the President of the U. S. for his ap
proval less than one hour before the sine di,
adjournment Of said session, and was no
signed by him"


If that be accurate, still the bill was pre-
sented with other bills which were signed
Within that hour, the time for the sin.
die adjournment was three times postponed
by the votes of both Houses; and the leas
intimation of desire for more time by th'
President to consider this bill would hav,
secured further postponement.


Yet the committee sent 10 ascertain
the President had any further communica
ton for the House Of Representatives re
ported that he had none; and the friend
of the bill, who had anxiously waited OF
him to ascertain its fate, had already btel
informed that the President had resolve,
not to sign it.


The time of presentation, therefore, hat
nothing to do with his failure to approve it


The bill had been discussed and consid
cred for more than month in the Hous
of Representatives, which it it passed OF
the 4th Of May; it was reported to the Sen
ate on the 9th Of May without materia
amendment, and passed the Senate abso
lutely as it came from the House on tn
I'd Of July.


Ignorance of its contents is out of tn
question. a.
| Indeed, at his request draft of bill
substantially the same IN all material points
and identical in points objected to by tn
Proclamation, had been laid before him 70
his consideration in the winter of 1862 an
1868.


There is, therefore, no reason TO suppos
the provisions Of the bill took the Presidel
by surprise.


! On the contrary, we lave reason to bs
licve them to have been so well known tha
this method of preventing the bill from b.
coming law without the constitutional re
sponsibility of a veto had been resolved o
long before the bill passed the Senate.
| We are informed by gentleman entitle
to entire confidence, that before the 22d {
June in New Orleans it was stated by
member Of Gen. Banks staff, in the pr..
ence Of other gentlemen in official position
that Senator Doolittle had written lette
to the department that the House recor
struction bill would be STAYED of in tn
Senate to period too late in the session I