Year: 1869

THE PRESIDENT is simply the person desig-
mated to see that the laws of the country be
faithfully executed. As incidental to this he
necessarily has at his disposal the armed and
naval forces of the republic, and is to appoint
and remove those officials through whose in
strumentaity alone he can execute the law
1t was also found convenient to have the
original draft of treaties assented to by him
before they could be submitted to the approx
al of the Senate. In the exercise OF each
and all of these functions he is aided by the
advice of able and competent men, who give
especial attention to the affairs of the partIc-
ular department confided to them, or are sub
ject to the control Of the Senate, or of Con-
greSs. Evidently it is not necessary, then,
however desirable) that he be the ablest man
in the country; certainly not that he should
be its most original or profcundest thinker.
There are obvious reasons, indeed, why it is
even undesirable that he should be such an
one; because an original thinker will always
entertain speculative ideas and theories which
have never been tested and which are not in
harmony with the feelings of the people, and
be will be set upon having them tried in a
country not ready for their reception. Ordi-
narily the duties of the executive do not re-
quire so much thought as those of the legis-
lator. Clearly it is easier, in the common
course of peaceful administration, to exc.
cute faithfully than to plan wisely, though we
do not mean to imply that the highest wis
dom is not desirable in both departments
But the best qualification for the executive
officer is nice perception of the least often
sive manner of fulfilling his duties, and a
knowledge of men that will enable him ju
diciously to select his instruments for pro.
per execution of the laws.


We do not want President 80 possessed
with the idea of his personal and official ca
pacity and responsibility as continually to SCI
up his will and his individual opinion in oppo
stion to nine-tenths of the Legislature. We
have tried that experiment once, atleast, too re.
Gently to desire its immediate repetition. No
do we want our chief magistrate to be hedget
round with the insignia of powor, and to kee,
himself aloof from C the rest of mankind.o /
is not IN the spirit of our people to worshir
him, as the Tartars do the Grand Lama; mol
would we keep him from vulgar touch unde
a glass case, surrounded by guard, like th,
Kohinoor diamond at the Great Exposition
1t is repugnant to our principles to isolate hin
in any way. There is no occasion to confine
him to any particular spot of ground; and
when Congress is not in session his dutis can
be as well performed at Saratoga or Long
Branch as in Washington and with much
less discomfort.


We have elected practical, common sense
man. who showed that he possessed the high
est order of executive ability in his admins
tration of the army, and the rarest sagacity
(almost unfailng) in his choice of subordi-
mates. He has displayed the same traits in
his present position. His general oversight
of the course Of events as they affect this ma
ton can as well be preserved elsewhere as al
the national capital; and the knowledge thai
he will obtain Of the feelings and wishes o
different portions of the country by his visit
to them will be of infinite advantage to him
to say nothing of the tendency it has to pre-
serve the requisite degree of health ant
strength for the performance of his arduou
duties during the sitting of Congress.