The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-05-31
From the Journal of Commerce.
HAVE WE A CONSTITUTION?

HAVE WE A CONSTITUTION! +!
The patriotic uprising OF the people in defence
If The Constitution, and the flag which symbol
yes it, very naturally turns ones thoughts TO
he sacred instrument for which the whole
Moth tat least) now manfests so much interest;
Ind ii mistake not the meaning OF the very
Constitution which we all so much value, it is
II present IN great danger OF being sacrificed in
he house OF its friends. What are its most i'm
sortant provisions and safeguards? We read
n the 9Th article as follows
g The Congress shall have power = to
leclaFe war to raise and support ar
mics to provide and maintain navy
= \ \ TO provide for calling forth the militia,
. execute the laws OF the Union, suppress IN
urrecton, and repel inYasions."
Ali this, be it remembered ''tbe Congress"
eau do,-and no other power under the Con-
,tintion is authorized to do it. The president
aas no more authority " to raise and sup
poit armies" s"--'f 10 provide and malptain ma
syp-or to call forth the militia IN any other
way except as the Congress has previously by
aw provided than has the Chief Justice OF
he Supreme Court OF the United States, the
Yredent Of the Senate or the Speaker of the
ioIae of Representatives, or the Mayor of the
llt' OF New York. But what have we seen
Vitlin the last thirty days! | say nothing of
he orlgl lnal call by the President tor the militia
81 he different States, to Suppress insurEec-
ton" which is predicated on the Acts of 1895,
- Act Which IN its very terms limits the
seT'ice 10 &c the expiration of thirty days after
the comm encement OF the then next session OF
Congress-" But what ! particularly refer to
heEs is the proclamation of the President, for
military force not to serve pursuant TO the Act
OF 1879 till the 80 of August next, which will
be thirty days after the next meeting OF Con-
gfSs, but for ''three years." unless sooner dis
chaged. More than that, he also by prociama-
tiol adds several regiments OF regulars to the
exBting army of the United States. In other
wqds, ihe President has undertaken, without
theshadow OF constitutional authority, Z" TO raise
anc support armies, when the language of
ihe Constitution confines that power to Congress
The Representatives of the people, ,and the States.
More than this, he is providing by purchase an
immense navy, beyond anything that Congress
sver thought OF when the Constitution which
ie rs sworn % preserve, protect and defend,
.oahdes the power " to provide and maintain
MY.
or the ReW army and neW navy, called forth
IN The executive proclamation, are beyond any
hing ever before known under the government;
very dollar OF which Is taken from the treasu-
J without any previous appropriation by law.
What then becomes of that other fundamental
provision OF the Constitution which declares,
hat
s. No money shall be drawn from the treasu-
y, but IN consequence OF appropriations made
y law Z"
repeat the question, ''have Constitution g"
It may be said that the necessity Of the case re-
IulTeS US TO ignore our constitutional obligations
4 so, then let US, for the sake of consistency,
ease talking about "deiending" or uphold
ng" the Constitution, or taking it as the basis
II our military and naval operations. But this
)iea OF g necessity" is that OF the one-mau DOW
'r, and ever has been, the world over. Is 1t
Isked, what should have been done under the
novel circumstances which had been precipita-
ed upon the country l answer, the same
hat was done during The Administration of
Ieneral Jackson. That distinguished chIeftain
With all his proclvities to 'ake the responsible
ty," was ever careful to take it within the Inn
Is of the Constitution. When South Carolina
,ress." what is we'll known as 'sthe force BILL"
stringent enactment, limited in IFS terms 10
hort period, and which enabled him to use the
military and naval forces provided for him by
ne constitutional authority-the Congress--to
'ut down the incIpient rebellion. A similar
ill was before the last Congress and should
ave been passed. That it was not, is owing
o the friends OF President Lincoln and bis Sec
etary OF State. They were both IN Washing
on at the ime,-their friends had majorities in
9th Houses, (after the withdrawal of the South
rn MEMBERS and single word or HINT from
he .hen President elect, or his premier, then
lttng in the Senate, would have put the bill
Trough, as easily as the force bill was put
trough in the days of Jackson. Their remiss-
ess in this respect is no apology for subse
uent resort to the one-man power. The Pres
tent might, with much more propriety. have
allied the new Congress together at the earliest |
ossible period, instead of postponing it 10 the
Ih OF July, that he might ask at their hands |
be new army, the new navy, and the consitu-
onal appropriations made by law" ior their |
maintenance and support.
PATRICK HENRY.
0~ would-be fashionable young lady who |
ad sacrificed everything temperance, once
BID some of her newy-nade acquantenances
lat the familiar old man laboring in the yard |
'as the wood sawyer. Having gone thus far,
he was base enough to carry out the he, and |
hen he came 10 for moment, and stood upon !
De threshold OF the door, with childish smile |
'aTming up the wrinkle OF his face into sunni |
ess IN anticipation OF the dear name of father, |
ne schooled herself to say, coldIy, pointing to
he yard
"We can't pay you I'LL the whole is DONE"
The old father gazed for momen! in aston
'hment, comprehended the whole dupIicity,
nd turned away broken hearted Truly the