"When Andrew Johnson took upon himself the duties of his high office he swore to obey the Constitution and take care that the laws be faithfully executed. That, indeed, is and has always been the chief duty of the President of the United States. The duties of legislation and adjudicating [making a judgment on] the laws of his country fall in no way to his lot. To obey the commands of sovereign power of the nation, and to see that others should obey them, was his whole duty—a duty which he could not escape, and any attempt to do so would be in direct violation of his official oath..."
—Thaddeus Stevens, Closing Remarks in the Impeachment Trial of Andrew Johnson, 1868
In this quote, Thaddeus Stevens is emphasizing the chief duty of the President of the United States, which is to obey the Constitution and ensure that the laws are faithfully executed. Stevens argues that the President's responsibility lies primarily in enforcing laws, rather than creating or interpreting them. According to Stevens, it is the President's duty to obey and ensure that others follow the commands of the sovereign power of the nation. He asserts that any attempt by the President to evade this duty would directly violate his official oath. Stevens made these remarks during the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson in 1868, highlighting the importance of upholding the obligations of the President's office.
