But Not The Less Is The Position Of The President Very Dominant In
The Eyes Of Us Englishmen By Reason Of The Authority With Which He
Is Endowed.
It is not that the scope of his power is great, but
that he is so nearly irresponsible in
The exercise of that power.
We know that he can be impeached by the Representatives and expelled
from his office by the verdict of the Senate; but this in fact does
not amount to much. Responsibility of this nature is doubtless very
necessary, and prevents ebullitions of tyranny such as those in
which a sultan or an emperor may indulge; but it is not that
responsibility which especially recommends itself to the minds of
free men. So much of responsibility they take as a matter of
course, as they do the air which they breathe. It would be nothing
to us to know that Lord Palmerston could be impeached for robbing
the treasury, or Lord Russell punished for selling us to Austria.
It is well that such laws should exist, but we do not in the least
suspect those noble lords of such treachery. We are anxious to
know, not in what way they may be impeached and beheaded for great
crimes, but by what method they may be kept constantly straight in
small matters. That they are true and honest is a matter of course.
But they must be obedient also, discreet, capable, and, above all
things, of one mind with the public. Let them be that; or if not
they, then with as little delay as may be, some others in their
place. That with us is the meaning of ministerial responsibility.
To that responsibility all the cabinet is subject. But in the
government of the United States there is no such responsibility.
The President is placed at the head of the executive for four years,
and while he there remains no man can question him. It is not that
the scope of his power is great. Our own Prime Minister is
doubtless more powerful - has a wider authority. But it is that
within the scope of his power the President is free from all check.
There are no reins, constitutional or unconstitutional, by which he
can be restrained. He can absolutely repudiate a majority of both
Houses, and refuse the passage of any act of Congress even though
supported by those majorities. He can retain the services of
ministers distasteful to the whole country. He can place his own
myrmidons at the head of the army and navy, or can himself take the
command immediately on his own shoulders. All this he can do, and
there is no one that can question him.
It is hardly necessary that I should point out the fundamental
difference between our king or queen, and the President of the
United States. Our sovereign, we all know, is not responsible.
Such is the nature of our constitution. But there is not on that
account any analogy between the irresponsibility of the Queen and
that of the President.
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