Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-08-14
Railrnad Lnpislatinn.

1t it were not so sad to see the liberties
oc great nation fall so su denly and so
low, there ould he proprioty which
would be appreciated by all the people, in
designating our present national Legisla,
ture "IRc Comic Congress-" Though its
crimes against the Constitution and the
laws Of the Union are monstrous, and
such as were never before committed
against free people in the same space of
time,yet they are so grotcsque and so stu
penduusly inpudent, that one can hardly
suppress the disposition to laugh at them.
1t is a regult1' "pop-goes-th -the-weasel"
Congress. Its doirss are not AySluhOn
but Lgericrmaia. "Ircst0! Chugc" is the
word and all is changed. When Lincoln
went 70 Washington we had a Constitu-
ton, but he trampled it out and This
"pop-gocs Hc-wuSey' Congress says rs all
right We had Supreme Court, but
that has been set aside, and Congrest says
"PreSto," and all is endorsed. There were
such thinks as States, tut they are rub
bed out and Yankee generals made Gov.
ernors over their sovereign people. The
Constitution says the people shall not be
deprived of the right to possess arms, but
Z L
right, and Congress says "amea'" The
Constitution Chat was) promised TO pro-
tect the people from unreasonable search
but they have been subjected to such in
suits as having their very bedrooms en-
tered ty Lincoln's soldiers, their trunks
broken open, and even women have been
stripped of their clothing to see what ev-
licences OF treason against Mr.. Lincoln
might be found under their garmenls.--
Congress says "presto," aud il is prououn-
ced all right. To back up and carry for>
ward ali these usurpations, and fifteen or
twenty others like them, the President
asks Congress for 100000 soldiers, and
"pre8to," they give him 100000 IIoasks
for S+0Q, 100000, and 'prcsl2," they give
him Sj00,OOO,00O! And then 'preS0."
again and they pass Il bill to give the
President, sll the money and all the men
he wants. There is to be no limit TO his
draft upon the money and upon the lives
of the people, eX -ept his own will. And
all those abominatiOns are hurried thro'
Congress with railroad speed. all fair
debate is cut off. The engineers ring the
bell, blow the whistle. the conductors
mount the car and cry "All aboard" " aid
away flies the train. running over every.
! body on its track, and carrying every
| thing through by steam. Nothing is de-
bated nothing is investigated. Some Ab-
oltionst reads a bill, and 'prcSl0," it is
passed before the glibest tongue can say
Jack Robinson. On the word of Mr..
| Blair n MAJ never remarkable for his
ve-acity-;t is resolved that Mr.. Clark, Il
member from Missouri, shall not be al
lowed his seat--an investigation of the
merits of his case is asked for but no-no
Investigation is allowed "prcStO," he Is
out of his seat without either enquiry or
evidence being permitted. Some mem
her who remembers how things used TO be
done in Cong: ess before Mr. Lincoln came
TO Washington, asks for reference OF
bills and resolutions to proper commit
tees but no-the whistle blows, call
aboard" and away the train dashes. Mr.
Breckenridge delivers speech in the
Senate, remarkable for its candor, logic
respect for Constitutional law, and digni.
fed courtesy to the opposition, which Il
larswered in one sonteuce-"all we want
here Is the Kentucky remedy for traitors
- Lemp." No man attempts to answer
him-none dare attempt it, But the Re-
publican Senators answer all arguments
aad all appeals to save the Union, with a
hancsuan's cry for hemp! a bill 10 pun
ish conspiracy was reported read and pas
sed in fifteen minutes-a bill involving
the rights Of property aud of life, to mil,
lions, was passed without reference, with,
out debate, without comments upon its
structure, as is evident from the fact that
| if it has any meaning at all, it is plainly
unconstitutional. But then we have no
Constitution. The man who was elected
to administer the executive branch of the
government has seized all branches Of it
kicks to one side the Supreme Court,
usurps the powers Of Congress, and Con-
gress, suppliaut tool of Abolition disu-
nionism, goes down into abject submis
sion, or traitorously joins in the daring
scheme to annihilate the constitutional
foundations Of the government. A bill