Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-26
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


Some twenty or thirty gentlemen had each
his sovereign specific. We confess that we
could discover little virtue in either Of those
coming under our notice; all of them, as far as
we could perceive, proposing to sacrifice some
important principle, in these times when prin-
ciples are held so cheap.
The Iateliigencer's scheme Of repeating GER
tain laws of the Territorial Legislature of
Kansas, was urged for the most part by those
with whom We cOnversed on the subject who
held to the correctness of the course being pur-
sued by the Republican majority of one in the
House We 90 not 50 far see the propriety
Of its adoption. Though We have never be-
1isved in what is termed "squatter sover.
eighty" as constitutional right, in common
with nearly al other States rights men of the
South We have cheerfuIly acq uiesced in the
plan Of giving the people of the Territory of
Kansas the privilege of making any laws for
their own government they fancied, so long
they may not trench in so doing upon the con-
stitutional rights of others. We accep pied that
feature Of the Kansas Nebraska act as COM
promise, and have since seen no reason to re-
greet that our political friends acquiesccd grace.
fully in it.
We confess, however, to never-dying ieal-
ousy Of Congressional usurpations of the func.
tons Of the Judiciary and executive branches
OF the Government, which are being essayed
with success year by year, and are thus
silently oDiteratipg the cid land marks If the
Constitution, on the preserv alton Of which we
sincerely believe tie continuance of our pres
EFT Government depends, in the main.
However easy it might be for those who
with Us deny The abstract sovereignty Of the
people of an United States Territory under the
letter of the Constitution, to admit the right Of
Congress to legisiate for them, (the Kansas and
Nebraska act being out of the way,) it strikes
US that 1t will be rather strange to find per-
:oas who stand By the principle Of % squatter
sovereignty" per Sc voting for any thing
amounting TO legislation by Congress on the
domestic concerns of the people of Kansas
Inc plea OF the unconstitutionality OF acts Of
the Kansas Legislature is not available in this
case; because that question is one to be de-
cided under the principle of this Government,
only by tie Judiciary. We shall greatly re-
greet to see any action In the premises based on
the theory that Congress has legal authority to
decide the question Of the constitutionali.y of
any law, as being an usur patton hardly second
In its evil consequences as a precedent, to the
new idea that, under the pretense of Carrying
out the popular will, majority of one may
cOerce three fourths Of the Senate Of the Uni
ted States into unconstitutional and repug-
nant Iolitical legislation in connection with
general appropriation bill, by holding over
them the alternative Of otherwise submitting
TO have the wheels of the Government stopped
for want of supplies.
In everything 20 far proposed, except the
enactment Of the naked appropriation bill in
the usual way, we can perceive no essential
remedy. That is, nothing that fails to mbrace
surrender of vital principle to revolutionary
designs, which are as repugnant to us when
essayed under the smooth cover of Congress.
sional enactments, as though attempted to be
forced down cur throat at the bayonet's point
The Late James Eeacham We were with
out space, yesterday, in which to refer at any
length to the dispensatiOn of Providence
which has taken the Hon. Mr. Meachan, of
Vermont, from his family and the public SER
vice, wherein he was of 30 great utility. 1t
was our fortune to know him Intimately for
years past, ard we can aver that VIC never
knew purer or more conscientious man in
public life He was as gentle and simple
hearted as child, and never spoke i'll of any
one. Few men Of as extensive general at
tainments az he possessed have been in the
House OF Representatives of the United States
In TIE last ten years, and few, indeed, Of his
eompeers have so entirely esche wed self in all
that they have done in the discharge Of the
representatives. multifarious duties The
brief eulogy delivered yesterday by mr
EtheridSe upon the deceased touched our
heart, because we felt, as fe " here could feel
hon our pest association with him, the justice,
truth and force Of his eloquent dagusrreotype
CT the character Of the--living man.
Inc Very Last Proposi.ion.-The follow
ing Is copy Of & bill introduced into the
senate yesterday, which, the reader will per-
GIVE IL Ia exact keeping with the suggestion
of toe National hteliigene,r "a .bs I-a-
mode OF settling the difficulty between ~.
two Houses Of Congress relative 70 ~.
appropriation bill:
BILL abroRating certain laws enacted hv q,
legislative Assembly Of the Territory Of Kan
- nan
he az enacted, 9e That inasmuch as the
Constitution OF the United States and the or
gsnic act Of said Territory has secured to the
lnhabltants thereof certain inalienable rights,
Oi which they connot be deprived by any le-
fiauVe enactment, therefore no religious ties
ever De required as o qualification 10
Sy oe or public trust; 10 law shall be in
, % enforced in said Territory respecting
l' ment of religion, or prohibiting the
1870 oss anere%f; or abridging the freedom of
peorIs nes ~ me press; or of the right Of the
PeoPie peseeaoiy to assemble nd nsti,ion for
the redress of grievances the rlabt ~ t iOa
people 10 De secure in their persons. bousss
papers, and effects against nnrss nouIes
searches and seizures shall not be yiaIatsd. anS