Abstract

The Executive Legislating

A great many people seem to have totally forgotten the precise nature of U.S. President Andrew Johnson's relations to the U.S. Congress and the country. And it is because they have forgotten it that the present conflict between the legislature and the Executive possesses much political importance. American political machine received a severe jolt on the day when former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was allowed to exercise the very highest power of government, the power of suspending the habeas corpus. The Congress ought not to have lost a moment after its meeting in asserting its sole exclusive authority to meddle for any purpose whatever with the safeguards placed by the common law and the Constitution round individual liberty.