The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-08-08

!
Missouri Was there necessity for raising the
largest army ever assembled on the American con-
tinent, and for collecting the largest feet ever col
lected in an American harbor Congress may
deem it was necessary in contemplation of pro-
tracted struggle for the preservation of the Con
stitution and the Union. What mean to say is,
that there was none of that overruling necessity
for present preservation which may apply to usur-
patton of the Constitution. In the case OF the man
in Mary land who confined so long in Fort Nc
+ enty, was there any necessity Of confining' him
instead Of turning him ,ver TO the civil authori-
ties ? The chief charge was that the eek before
he had been concerned in reasonable acts. Was
not the judicial authority there to take charge of
him, and if convicted, to punish him If there
necessity in the present state of affairs, and
/ Congress in session here then what long ueces-
sity have before us and impending over u.s.
Let Congress approve and ratify these acts, and
there may Occur necessity which will justify the
President in superseding the law in every State in
this Union, and there will not be vestige of civil
authority left to rise against this usurpaton of
military power. But deny this doctrine of ne
cessty | deny that the President of the United
States may violate the Constitution upon the
] ground of necessity. The ctrIne il utterly ub
verSive of the Const tuition 1t Substitutes the will
of one man for a written Constitution, The Gov
crnment of the United States, which draws its
life from the Constitution, does not rest upon an
implied consent. 1t rests upon an express and
and Written consent and the Government may ex-
ercise such powers and such only as are given in
this written form of government. The people Of
these States conferred this ayent of theirs just
such powers as they deemed necessary. All others
were retained. The Constitution was made for all
contingences-for peace and for war and they
conferred all the power they deemed necessary.
and more can not be assumed If the power be
not sufficient, still none others were granted, and
none others be exerci- cd. Will this he de
MED Is the idea to be advanced that all Cons-
tutional questions are to be made subordinate
tirely to the opinions and idea. that may prevail at
the hour with reference to political unity 1t has
been held hereto ore, and thought it was xiomat
ic, and received BY the world that the terms of
the Constitution of the United States were the
measures of power on the one side, and of obedi-
ence on the other. ct us take care how we es-
tabish principle that, under any presu med stress
of circumstances, powers not granted may be as
sumed. Take care and DO not furnish argument
to the world and history that it shall not respect
that authority which longer respects its own
limitations. These are fey of the reasons that
win control my vote against this resolution.
hope t will be voted upon, and if it should receive
majority, as fear il will, it will be an invitation 10
n the President of the United States in the absence
of all legislation. to do the like acts whenever in
his opinion, it may be necessary. What will be
the effect OF it IN Kentucky, and Missouri, and
elsewhere In bis discretion he will feel himself
warranted IN subodnating the civil 20 the military
pow er, and to imprison citizens without the war
rant of law, and to suspend the writ of habeas cor
pus, and establish ma rial law, to make searches
and suppress the press, and to 30 all those acts
which rest on the will and authority Of il;tary
commander In my judgment, if we pass this, we
are upon the eve of putting, so far as we can in
the hands Of the President of the United States the
power of dictator. With such beginning ms
this what are to expect in the future When
, We men imprisoned within hail of the Capitol
without warrant. and Congress in session, and the
protest Of indignant terms agant it, we NAV well
be filed with gloomy forebodiDgs for the future
What may We expect except line of conduct in
keeping with what has been done 2 Is this a con
test to preserve 'he Union If so, then 1t should
he wagcd in 4 Constitutional manner. Is the doc
trine to obtain that provinces to he entirely
I subordinate to the idea of political unity Shall
n. H..
or we prepared to say that the Constitution i.
gone. but the Union survives What so of a
4 Union would it be 7 Letths principle be announ
ccd. ard lc, this contest with tins spirit
wnking mt approving the violation of this sacr@d
p instrument, and The people will soon begin to in
. qure what will become of our liberties "a the enc
of the experiment The pregnant question foi
us decide il. whether the Constitution is to b,
4 respected in this struggle. or whether we are cal
j led upon TO follow the flag over the ruins of The
constitution believe without questioning th,
!, motives of anv. the whole tendency of the pres
4 cnt proceedings is to establish a governmcn
# without limitations, and radically to change oui
r frame and character of government. was told
the other day by distinguished American thai
II
n present condition of things here, said, "wc thought
| !our federal government rested on consent ant
, how DO YOU propose to maintain il by force ?
d, Often the answer would be- alt was intended o.
rest consent. but it has failed 1t is lot strong
enough, and We intend to make il strong cnou h
n and To change the Character of the government
: and we will give it all the strength deem es-
scntial without regard to the provisions of the con
q sttution, which was made eighty years ago
ana has been found not fit for the present Condition
. cf affairs" | think it is wei that the attention o
4 the country should be called to the tendency o
things. know there are thoughtful. conservative
I men. Thousands Of men who love the Constitution
scattered through the adhcrng States who woul,
Il lever consent to make this conteS. with any pur
y pose to interfere with the personal rights of poti
@ cal communities. lie then referred to n suggcs
$ ton in Northern paper that change In the char
actcr of the government contemplated, an,
Al lv 4,