Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-08-24
Our Institutions on Trial.

The most convenient government for
nation al war, is despotic monarchy ; the
most Notwithstanding to general
opinon--a democratic republic. A despot-
ic monarch having no advisers to defer to,
no responsibility to fear, and no laws to
obey, can act with promptness and energy,
and a secresy which is rarely compatible
with the checks and trammels of limited
governments. He can meet desperate E.
mergencies with desperate remedies and
while popular governments are study
ing how to conciliate existing laws with un-
forsecn crises, can despSe or trample any
thing and every thing which may stand in
the way of his purpose. No congressional
debates delay him--no caviling committees
annoy no newspapers battle by premature
betrayals of his plans no rulss compel 10
disregard genius in the choice Of his officers
no laws hamper in the selection of the most
efficient methods to attain his ends. If he
has the money, the men, and the will, to
prosecute the war, it is no task at ALL
1t is q very different matter in demo-
cratic republic such as ours In the irst
place. the constitutional document not
framed in view Of such wars as tho present
one, for instance, and full of checks ON the
authority of the exeeutive-tieS the hands
of the president, and forbids his doing ma
ny things which war may render absolutely
necessary for him to do. The laws of the
U. S.-framed for the general good in tine
OF peace--lay further restrictions upon him;
leaving no power TO stop unlawful trade, for
instance, aud none to interfere with construc-
tive treason. Under the law he can neither
enlist men to fight, nor pay them for fight
ing, without the previous decree Of congress.
When he has got the men and the money,
congress still retains the power Of directing
how the money and the men shall be en-
ployed, and of appointing committees to see
that their directions are carried out. Even
the executive authority of the president is
constitutiondly shared with q body Of
advisers who are entitled to knowledge
of bis secrets. Over and above all, the sa-
preme court enjoys and exercises the right
OF pronouncing the presidents acts invalid,
null and void, Then come the people and
the press Though the people cannot con-
Stitutionally act upon the government eX-
cept through the ballot-box, yet still pop
ular pressure" is power known to and fear
cd by all governments where it cannot be
repressed by the arm Of authority it is al
most irresistible. This pressure is mostly
exercised through the press. The power of
free and able press is such that wise
men have doubted whether il were possible
to carry on long war in its presence,
Wars-eventbe most glorions-.make so ma
ny malcontents among those whose liVeli-
hood is taken away by them, and diseon.
tent at home is so fatal to the adminis-
tration Of a government engaged in a great
war, that even the English statesmen In
our day have doubted whether the freedom
Of the press should be absolute in war as In
peace-whether newspapers, working foe
private ends, or in the interest Of unpatri-
otic malcontents, should be suffered 10
weaken the hands of government during
times Of war, by malevolent opposition.
We are now testing these various incon.
veniences Of the form Of government under
which we live. Our institutions are on
their trial. We know that they work well
in peace we know that they do not pre-
vent our carrying on foreign war II re-
mains to be seen whether they are compat'
ible with great civil war.
Thus far, the nation has good ground for
self.gratulation. We have president who,
| like Jackson, has not feared to take
} the responsibility OF acting as the eneFgen-
cy required We have congress, patriot
ic enough to ratify his acts, and give him
men aud money In abundance, 20 increase
his power wherever increase Is needed. Asd
the people, thus for have been nobly trge 70
themselves. No one has heard q sipgle
faint hearted cry no one thinks OF coEepro.
promise no one objects TO pay faFy aud
squarely for the work that Is 70 be done.