The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-22

1
lished Yesterday, contains searching analyst
Of the pi Svisions OF the Force biz now befor
Congress, well calculated to alarm TIE oommu
nifty He shows clearly that 1t is not oaly IN
| constitutional ana In conflict with those sec
| tions Of the fundamental law which limit tn
purposes for which tho nllitia arc to be used
| AID limit the power of the President rs com
mander-in-chief Of the ARMY md navy, and o
the militia when the latter IL c<Aled out to sup
press Insured ton, but it invests the Presiden
with distatorial powers and gives him at thu
same tirne an unlimited control Of an unlimited
army, to kc used at his discretion In the inva
sion of any sovereign State in the Union. 1,
is an attempt 70 subvert the constitution by an
act of Congress, and to create the incoming
President a military dictator.
The constitution gives the President power
to call out and to use the militia for the sup
preston of insurrection in any State on the
call Of the Legislators of that State, or on the
call Ct the Governor if the Legislature should
not be- in session, and the reason of the provision
is assigaed-namely, that the constitution gusr-
antees 10 every State republican form of gev-
eminent, and the federal power is bound to inter-
pose, WHEN legally called upon by the authori-
ties Of the State, to prevent its overthrow by
physical violence. There is only one other
case where the President has any constitutional
authority tcuse the militia, and that is in re-
polling invasion in the event of foreign war;
But this new Force bill, in the face Of the arti-
Gle Of the constitution which limits the powers
of the President by declaring that what is not
expressly granted is reserved to the States and
to the people respectively, authorizes the chief
magistrate to CAN out the whole power Of the
army and navy, together with the militia, and
volunteers in any numbers, to invade State
ami subjugate it, under the pretexs Of "enforc-
ing the laws of the Union" not merely without
the invitation of the Legislature Ex-Governor
of such State, but in express opposition to their
authority. The new bill gives him authority
not merely to, enforce the laws in aid Of
the courts and the civil power in a
State, but to employ the whole military
powe-rto enforce any order he or Lis agents
may choose to Issue, however arbitrary and
despotfc. A postmaster, for example, could
embro.pthe whole country in civil war in pur-
suance of this bill. And furthermore,to cap
the climax of the tyranny, all the military force
of the laad is to be put under the articles Of
war, and should any member Of the militia
make any harsh comment on the measures of
Congress or the proceedings of the President
(speak disrespectfully Of them'), he is Liable to
the tender mercies OF court martial. What
more, we should like 10 know, is necessary to
the completion of military despotism? And
ployed to crush the people Of the Southern
States, how long will It be viii its iron heel ia
planted on the neeks Of the freemeE of the
North?
Nothing can better illustrate the folly and
the desperate wickedness Of the republican
members of Congress, than this bill. Il. pro-
ceeds entirely upon the principle. that the
Congress has right to wage war against
them. Immediately after Mr.. Bocock's speech,
Mr.. Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, in the course Of
the debate on the Navy bill, declared that il
was the design of his party, by means Of that
BILL to invade the Southern States and, retake
the forts. The Force bill therefore, Il plainly
intended for the'raising of an army Of invasion
And if the opinions Of the organ Of q party be
any evidence of its designs, we have abundant
testimony in the columns Of the New Pork ITi-
byne as to the atrocious purpose for which the
invading army Is to be put in motion.
One of the editors and proprietors ofthat jour
nal, writing from Washington, asks (ia Wednes-
days Significantly asks" Cannot
everybody SEQ how easy it will be- &c hostilities
between the sections arise, to make lie dest,uc-
ton Of slcrerg the issue of the war We are in
conflict on the question. III we come to blows
il will be still about slavery. And what then
is inevitable? Why simply this, and nothing
more and nothing less-a fight 70 see whether
slavery shall 60 up or go dcwn. The issue
crush the eggs of the reptile thet has Matched
the brood Of traitors and revoluGonists."
Here then is boldly avowcd the design Of
the bill, which is the first overt act Of fiendish
diabolical conspiracy to send al army into the
Southern States in order to reise servile il,
surrection and to extcrninate me white men Of
the South-in fact, to make il another st. Do
miDgo, with all its hloody horrors. This has
always been the confessed parpose of Garrison,
Phillips and the ether leading abolitionisis.
The organ Of the radical republicans now pro-
claims that such is the design Of its party.
Nor is this a mere broaeaa fal,nen. Thousands
upon thousands Of fanatics can 30 found
at the North to volunteer their services
TO the new President to carry out the
provisions OF the bill. Thus, instead of pro-
tecting States against domestic violence"
which, according to the constitution, is main
design of that instrument, the declared object
Of the Force bill is 10 create domestic violence
in the Southern States, destroy their institu-
tons and the property guaranteed to them by
the constitution, and lay waste the whole land
with fire and sword. And, therefore, IL is that
jefferson Davis is raising an army to defend
Tho Couth opJ will probohly ba In connma ~