Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-04-27
From the National tntelligencer.
POLITICAL OPPOSITION AND NOT REVO-
LUTON.

We had occasion some time ago 10 signalize the
fact as among the most painful indications of the
distemperod condition of the public mind, that
questions of disputed policy and of civil admins
tratiCn had come, in the estimation of so many,
to lie pregnant with issucs involving tho very
existence Of the Government. Heretofore all such
questions have been submitted TO the popular
arbitrament, with the unanimous understanding
that the voice of the people, constitutionally OK
pressed, was entitled to command acquiescence
where 1t did not change conviction. The subvcr-
aion OF the Government was a desperate expedi-
ent held ia allegiance as a remedy only for intolera-
be oppression. Now il is daily invoked in the
name of theoretical principles, and its exercise is
suspended on questions which should furnish only
legitimate topics of political debate and difference.
Tho organic forms of the Government arc thus
put at stake, when in fact it is only a matter OF
administration upon which the people are called
to sit in judgment.
Tho policy propounded, for instance, by the
President in respect to the r~ecapIure of the forts
seized from the Union in the Seeded States, is
one which may well afford room for doubt and
discussion on the part of the Peoples Representa-
tiVes, when, in compliance with The call of the re-
cent Proclamation, they shall be assembled in
extraordinary session. As the Executive has
discroetly RETAINED from ~pledging himself to any
defnitive purpose of this kind it is obvious that the
whole subject will remain open to discussion and
modification, according to the drift Of opinion and
the emergencies Of the future. And when to this
consideration is added the fact, that, according to
the terms of the law under which the Executive
has called forth the militia Of the States, no officer
or private can BIO compelled to serve more than
three months after his arrival at the place of rem
dezOus in any one year, it is equally obvious that
the President does not contemplate any thing like
a concerted campaign, for which such temporary
contingents would be wholly inadequate.
And, moreover, as we had occasion to remark
yesterday, the law afixes another Limitation to
the term of service, in the case Of such extraordin-
airy leVies, by adding that "the use Of militia to
be called forth may be continued, if necessary,
until the expiration Of thirty days after the COM
mencement cfhe then neat session Of Congress-"
And it should somewhat disarm the fears of all
except those who have a political interest in I'M
dolly exciting the "fears" Of the people, to mark
that the Administration has rrudently put it be-
You'd the power of the Executive to continue these
troops in the field after the first of August. In
calling Congress together, the Government will
have deferred to the Senators of the States and
the Representatives Of the People the responsible
ity Of the measures aud the policy which, after
the date of their assemblage, may be held requi-
site to preserve tho public peace.
And, in view of the political agencies which
may thus DO brought 20 the counse! aud direction
Of the Administration, we may estimate the wis
dom of those who propose to defeat the policy in
question by disUrganiz.ng the very forms and con-
%stituents of the Government, instead of appealing
to the enlightened judgment Of the people, and
seeking to impress a right direction on the current
of events.