The Oxford intelligencer., 1861-03-27

ttrllon Of tne Aute4 plates 20 that ~ cf1@4&c-
teF Of the altefatieps may beireadily perceived
withoht pcr1sing the entire Constitution. We
nov PFsPsss 70 STATE, a. 5Ficfy ss may Be, what
We conceive to have been the reasons for the
several changes that have been introduced.
The preamble BY the explicit declaration that
"the people of the Confederate States-each
State acting in its sovereign and independent
character-in order. 10 fam permanent FsdeF-
eral Govefnmenf, do ondAiu, etc, excludes the
iieai that the sGsvennsenti d one ofsa National
character, and places forever beyond dispute the
proposition that the States are sovereign and in
dependent. 6 s.s-r.1r
The exclusion of nnnaturslized foreigners
from the polls Is so obviously just that il COM
mends itself 10 all who desire that a practical
distinction shall recognized between foreigners
who take, and those who refuse to take, the oath
Of allegiance to our Government .~iagi vis'ot'
The power; conferred upon The State Legis-
latures of impeaching local Federal officers,
win enable the people Of State to secure the
displacement Of such officers who render them.
selves obnoxious by Official misconduct as in the
case of Judge Watrous, of Texas.
The provision for allowing to the Heads Of
Departments seat in Congress- with the privi-
lege Of discussing, but not Of voting upon, the
measures relating to their several Departments,
win be of the greatest value to the public SER
vice, and especially SO when the Administration
may happen to be in the minority in Congress.
That modification Of the veto power which
authorizes the President to veto such appropri-
atoms as he may dsapproye and to approve
other appropriations contained in the same bill,
will prevent the evil practice Of hitching on
appropriations, which could not stand upon their
own merits, to bills that could not be defeated
without stopping the wheels Of Government
The taxing power is brought within its proper
limits by combining Il to revenue purposes, and
excluding the general welfare" clause, under
which the Congress Of the United States has re-
peatedly claimed tho right to determine, at dis
erection, what measures would be prolnotve Of
the general welfare" and TO levy duties for
such objects. Theabuse Of the taxing power is
further guarded against by the prohibition Of
bounties and tariffs Of protection. tr
No wasteful system of internal improvements
can be carried on by the General Government,
and the cost Of all such internal improvements
as are required by the necessities of commerce
win be refunded by duties upon the navigation
which receives the benefit Of the improvements.
There has been no bankrupt law In existence
for nearly twenty years past, and our people have
not contracted in reference to such law. II
would, therefore, be unjust to creditors to enact
q bankrupt law TO release their debtors from
The obligation to pay existing debts; but no
creditor can complain Of the operation of bank,
rupt law which was in force when he contracted
with his debtor.
The revenues of the Post.0fficc Department
Of the United States, for the year 1860 fell short
of its actual expenditures by the sum of 81, 656,-
705 40. This deficiency, of course, was sup
piled by a tax upon the people at large. Those
who wrote few or no letters, and received few or
no papers, were heavily taxed in order that those
who wrote many letters, and received many pa
pers might enjoy the luxury of cheap postage
After two years, the Post-0Rlcc Department is
to be selfsustaining In other words, the cost
of its maintenance will fall upon those whs enjoy
its benefits
The prohibition Of the African slave trade is
conclusive answer to those Union-howlers in
the Border slave States who have been assert
ing that we designed to reopen that trade; and,
moreover it will greatly facilitate our recogni-
ton as an independent government by the rul-
ing Powers Of Europe.
The authority 10 prohibit the introduction of
slaves from the United States is conferred upon
Congress as a means Of influencing the non-se-
ceded slave States to side with US, rather than
with the North. .a Fri.
1t win be easy, hereafter, to ascertain where
the responsibility for governmental expenditures
really belongs. The Administration win be an
swcrable for the appropriations it asks for, and
Congress for all beyond. ....r M
No indefinite appropriations can be made, but
the exact sum appropriated must be specified in
in every case. No claim for extra compensation
can be allowed to any contractor or officer after
the contract is made or service rendered. This
will cut off q fruitful source Of corruption.
No Omnibus bills" containing legislation
upon incongruous subjects, can be passed, but
every public measure must stand or fall upon
its own intrinsic merits or dement's. -
The rights Of the States are SO extended as to
permit them to lay tonnage duty upon sea-go-
ing vessels for the Improvement Of rivers and
'harbors, and to enter into compacts with each
other for the improvement Of the navigation of
rivers dividingor flowing through two or more
States. This is a simple necessity.
The extension Of the Presidential term of
Office to six years win diminish the frequency of
those undesirable commotions which attend the |
canvass, and give more stability to the measures
and policy Of the government; while the ineli- |
ghlity of the President for reelection viii I
remove from him temptation which has prov |
ed too strong for the virtueof some of the Pres
idents Of the United States
The qualifications fer the office Of President
are only such as prudence would dictate for
the exclusion from that high position Of men
who are not acquainted with our people, nor
identified with them in feeling.
Itisright and proper that the President should
have the power to change his Cabinet officers,
a r - -