"DISREGARDING" THE LAW
One of the most
preposterous reports that has been lately sent from Washington is the assertion that the
President proposes to disregard the Tenure of Office Bill, and treat it as a nullity until
the Supreme Court decides whether it is constitutional. "Heres richness"
again; and the Copperhead Doctors shake their heads approvingly over the report, and
exclaim, "Nothing could be more absurd than to dispute the right of the President to
bring laws which he believes unconstitutional to a judicial test."The President, as President, has nothing
whatever to do with the constitutionality of laws after he has opposed them by his veto.
His sole duty in regard to them after they are passed over his veto is to see that they
are faithfully executed. Then, if any body feels himself to be aggrieved, he will bring an
action in the Supreme Court. But if the President, having exhausted his veto, proposes to
treat all laws which he does not approve as unconstitutional, and refuse to see to their
execution until they are legitimated by the Supreme Court, nothing can be plainer than
that every law passed by Congress must be sent into the Supreme Court room and approved
before the President will take care that it is faithfully executed. Nothing could be more
absurd than such a view of the duty of the Executive except all the rest of the
Presidents theories.
Of course, as the
Copperhead Doctors truly remark, this appeal to determine the constitutionality of a law
"is a right possessed by every citizen." But to say that nobody is bound to obey
a law until some Court has decided it to be constitutional, is simply to declare chaos
come again. The Tenure of Office Bill is a lawand not a very wise one; and the
President has just as much right to disregard it as he has to nullify every other law upon
the statute-book. He is a citizen of the United States like the rest of us; and if he
disobeys the law he will inevitably suffer the penalty.
Articles Related to Overt
Obstruction of Congress:
Congress
February 2, 1867, page 67
February 16, 1867, page 99
March 16, 1867, page 163
How Long?
June 29, 1867, page 402
Reconstruction and Obstruction
July 6, 1867, page 418
The Summer Session
July 6, 1867, page 418
The Fortieth Congress
July 17, 1867, page 467
Thanks to the District Commanders
July 27, 1867, page 467
Impeachment Postponed
July 27, 1867, page 467
A Desperate Man
August 13, 1867, page 546
The Secretary of War
August 24, 1867, page 530
Samson Agonistes at Washington (cartoon)
August 24, 1867, page 544
The Stanton Imbroglio (illustrated satire)
August 24, 1867, page 542
Secretary Grant
August 31, 1867, page 546
Southern Reconstruction
August 31, 1867, page 547
The Political Situation
September 7, 1867, page 562
General Thomas
September 7, 1867, page 563
Southern Reconstruction
September 7, 1867, page 563
The General and the President
September 14, 1867, page 578
General Sickles Also
September 14, 1867, page 579
Southern Reconstruction
September 21, 1867, page 595
The Presidents Intentions
September 28, 1867, page 610
Impeachment
October 5, 1867, page 626
The Main Question
October 5, 1867, pages 626-627
Suspension during Impeachment
October 19, 1867, page 658
"Disregarding" The Law
November 2, 1867, page 691
Impeachment
December 14, 1867, page 786
General Grants Testimony
December 14, 1867, page 786
The Presidents Message
December 14, 1867, page 787
General Grants Letter
January 1, 1868, page 2
Secretary Stantons Restoration
January 25, 1868, page 51
Reconstruction Measures
January 25, 1868, page 51
The President, Mr. Stanton and General Grant
February 1, 1868, page 66
Romeo (Seward) to Mercutio (Johnson) (cartoon)
February 1, 1868, page 76
The War Office
February 1, 1868, page 77
Secretarys Room in the War Department (illus)
February 1, 1868, page 77
The New Reconstruction Bill
February 8, 1868, page 83
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