Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-10-17
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE R1GIDLy RIGHTEOUS OF ABsTRAcTIoNs,

and party ends only, every body knows we
have not now for the first time, in days when sol
diers march into foreign territory, erect it into
mot a region held by the sword, butt legal Gov
eminent of their own, and assume over by pro-
camation an autocratc authority to make and I'M
make all laws, civil and military-to dispose OF the
very allegiance Of the people-and in fine, to in
vest themselves with rights which momentary and
forced possession no more confer, III derogahon
of the native law of that people, than the Constitu
ton of this country can suffer, or any of the rules
of International law sanction them we have not
now, repeat, for the first time to say that there
are stickers for constitutional nicees pursts and
precsians the most noisy, who find not the shadow
of an objection to all ths-new, amazing, violent,
and far-stretchng it Is. The political Pharisees,
who have been long straining every gnat, gulp
down these canes without effort. Each puz-
cling abstractionst, to whom no ordinary power
clear, finds in these extraordinary acts nothing
hut what is quite plain.
But these people that SO ultra orthodox in all
their ideas of the strict limitation of powers in this
Government where are they Where be now they
whose tongues so clamored when that dreadful
usurper JOHN Quincy ADAMS, ventured TO send a
minister OF peace to the Congress of Panama talk
ed OF encouraging university and (horrlble TO
think Off national observatory Where those
whose keen scent could detect the cold trail OF al
constructive doubt, and, according to Mr.. JEFFER
SONS figure, "snuff usurpaton in the tainted
breeze! - d" Where are they" does any reader ask!
Are the oracles of State Rights suddenly struck
dumb, as those of Paganism were at the coming of
the Prince of Peace Are the prophets of Strict
Construction, they whose lervid lips had been
touched as with live coal from off the altar of
constitutional scrupulosity, all at once mute Good
reader, do not imagine it possible You do them
a shocking injustice they are making their Gus
tomary clamor. y on shall see yourself. The tale,
however, is most truly told by very near ally of
theirs the correspondent here of the New York
Journal Of Commerce. in the following remarka-
BILE words
"WAsHISGToS, OcToBER 8, 1916.
"The proclamation of General Kearney has created some
amusement but very little feeling 1t is remarkable how very
Indifferent the country has become any little technical Vr
gnia distractions. constitutional argument against the
right of the President appoint civil Governors the
quered Provinces and promise 10 their people speedy ad
mission to the full rights of citizenship would be considered
stale and unineresng the third reading Of bill to pay
private claimant
The Constitution has nothing TO do uih The Mericqn
AGAR The greatest sckers for strict construction do not dare
to open their lips against which, however voatve
of the whole spirit Of that instrument, yet popular
Abstraconism very well long falls in with the
popular current when that against it, ceases
be heard Of
al should like know and will take special care to no
ce how many of the Virginia and Carolina abractonsts
will take exception to this proceeding should
all Mexico into the Union under Executive nstruc
tons Constitutional laws well all other laws
lent in the midst of arms and popular camor
The history of the settlement and progress of the United
States presents entire series of innovations all establish
ed and received rules of government and religion Our whole
history is miracle. Half of its wonders yet TO be
wrought out.
All this is an admirable summary of truths. . Ii
is remarkable how very indifferent the country has
become to any little technical Virginia abstraction"
Nay it is remarkable how Indifferent the abstrac-
tionsts themselves have become to much more than
little technical Virginia distractions But doubt
less, as he says, "THE CONSTITUTION HAS NO.
THING TO DO WITH THE MEXICAN WAR" for " the
greatest Stickiers for strict construction do not
dare to open their lips against measures which,
ho,0eUer uiolatiUe Of the whoIe spirit Of that in
artnnent, are yet popular
But there is, in the GOODNESS with which all the
above truths are told something very significant
The contempt with which this their friend and CO.
duNeTlS to tIe sincerity Ol principles
and the public appreciation Of their character is
instructive.
Again: 4" Abstractonism is very well as long as
il falls in with the popular current. But when
that current against it, il to be or
heard" No, not entirely: il then outgoes las will
presently be seem all dull and logike latudnari-
ansm in the swiftness with which it sails down the
tide of successful experiment
Once more, remark promise, which sounds very
like something between prophecy and wager.
I'll take hundred to one" he in effect says,
that none Of my absractionst friends in Virginia
and South Carolina will make the slightest ado
about all this" And he has won il for, instead
of blaming they charmed with it-so perfectly
does il meet all their refined conceptions Of consti.
tutional strctness.
As for our neighbor Of the ndomtable doctrines
here, the Union, the wonder OF his extinct inhexi-
hlLlty has grown somewhat familiar. For though,
Ike the good Parson in Goldsmith
"Cnsklfu he to fawn and sue to power
BY doctrines fashioned TO the varying hour =
hough no man be- upon long report, This OWN OF
s'erner or less penetrable stuff and though he
"ouid not as he has often said) flatter Neptune
lor MS trident, nor Jove for all his thunder" yet
ms present position is delicate, not to say extreme
~ embarrassing Who knows under what duties
oil conformity to his Presidential patron he NAV moi
have placed himselCp ~. !. a =,