Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-05-07
NO. l07.
MISCELLANEOUS READING..
-.a,n EORCEMENT OF THE LAWS

+
= We have no where seen the enormides of,the
| Lincoln government 80 efectua!ly shown up
| as in the following article extracted from the:
Richmond Wing, which we commend 10 the
careful attention of our readers We believe,
says the Wing, Mr. Lincoln, in the briet space
of two months, has trampled under foot every
important provision of the Constitution. "A
brief summary will put the reader IN posses.
sion Of the facts: IS
The power TO declare war is, by the Constr
tuition, expressly confined TO Congress; and II
must be war against a foreign nation--not one
OF the States OF the Confederacy. The right to
make war on State was emphaticalfy refused
TO Congress by the Convention which framed
the Constitution.
Lincoln has usurped this dictatorial war pow
err and is now waging war against eight OF the
sovereign States, by his own authority.
TO raise and support armies is the specIai
prerogratlve of Congress.
lincoln is assembling an army of $4,000 men.
not only without the authority of Congress,
but after Congress had deliberately refused TO
give him such authority.
Congress has the power to call forth the mill
tia to suppress instructions and rep.i lnya'
sions Lincoln has usurped this power IN his
own hands
mo preference shall be given By any regu.
lation of commerce or revenue to the ports OF
one State over those ofanother," says the Con-
stitution
Lincoln abrogates this provision and declares
the ports Of nine. States to be blockaded.
Congress alone can suspend thewrlt OF habeas
corpus;-martial law reigns in the Capital OF
the Republic. .
.'No soldiers shall, in time OF peace, be quar-
~. he N
owner; nor in time of war, but n manner to
be prescribed by law" is the clause in the Con-
stituton By what law has Lincoln taken mil.
itary possession of Washington
1.-The right OF the people to be secure In their
persons, houses, papers and effects against un-
reasonable searches and seizure shall not be
yiolated,'' are the words of the Constitution
The military despoiisn at Washington is the
practical commentary on this provision
The President is charged with the protection
and preservation of The public property LIN
coin has fulfilled this obligation by destroying,
and burning the public property at Harpers
Ferry and Gosport Navy Yard.
Lin coin affects to regard all acts of Secession
by am of the States as null and avoid de new
ertheless treats the Seeded States as foreign
powers, by subiecting them to blockade, &C
cording 20 the la" oi nations
North Carolina, which has not yet formally
resumed its delegated powers, is also put under
the ban and declared in state Of blockade.
The President is required TO conform his ac.
ton to treaties-now, by treaties with England,
France and other nations, these Powers have the
right of entry TO all our ports. Lincoln repu..
dates these treaties, and denies the exercise OF
the tights stipulated under them. This is TO
provoee war; power resting exclusively "ltn
| Congress.
We humbly conceive that the assumption and
exercise OF these powers by one man annihilate
the Constitution, prostrates the public Liberties,
and establish an odious spotsm.-Lynch Fir'
| giuian.