The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-13

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ooLN, has closed it's last session; and, if
no other good has been effected, it has at
least proven to the country the folly of
Radicalisnl. cr'.e.4f t-'l~ r,.t ,e-n
| Had the President regarded the express
sion of the people at the Fall elections, or
even listened to the counsels of his own
Judgment instead of Doctors of Divinity,
who so frequently left their sacred calling
to teach him that "The Constitution
is dry parchment, and that the Presi-
dent, his Cabinet, and Executive Officers
are the Government, its closing labors
need not have been devoted to the pas
sage Of CONSUMPTION act, to call into
the field another half million of men to
suppress this rebellion. .t-
Had the President persevered in reject
ing the political dogmas of the Reverends
BEEcHER, BELLOWS, and CHEEvER, who
succeeded in impressing him with their
ideas, that "This is no longer war in de-
fence of the Union, the Constitution, and
the enforcement of the Laws, but war to
get rid of Slavery and Shareholders, wheth-
er it be Constitutional or not" he might,
instead of seeing the Army of the Potomac
demoralzed and inactive, witnessed it,
under those gallant Generals whom fanati-
cal leaders have driven from the field,
quartered in Richmond, and the national
flag floating over the secession capitol;
and saved the friends of the Union from
the humiliating record, that not single
important victory, save that of Murfrees-
boro, has been achieved by our army since
the issuing of his emancipation proclama-
ton.
Such dangerous teachings and encroach-
ments upon the Constitution, which are
justified by many even after such unfavor-
able results, have led US to examine, and
place in contrast, the teachings and history
of that instrument, and the views of him
who was justly styled its "great expound-
err No man has left US clearer ideas of
the constitutional powers of the Govern
ment than DANIEL WEBSTER, in his reply
to Col. HAYNE, in 1880, and to the nullifca-
ton resolutions of JOHN G. CALHOUN, in
1883. These replies, enforced with a pow
er Of argument and eloquence never equal
led in the Federal Senate, cover the entire
doctrine Of constitutional power giving
that instrument its proper place in cur
National Government-nota as law league
or compact, that can be altered Or suspend
ed, either in peace or war, by State, Con-
gressional, or Executive authority, but as
the fundamental law of our Government,
which can be changed only in the manner
therein pointed out. His devotion to that
sacred instrument, is best expressed in his
own noble words:
I cannot yield even to Kind feelings the cause
of the constitution, the true glory Of the coun-
try, and the great trust we hold in our hands
for succeeding ages If the constitution can
not be maintained without meeting these scenes
of commotiOn and contest however unwel
come, they must come. We cannot, we must
not, we dare not, omit to do that which in our
judgments the safety of the Union requires.
Not regardless of consequences, we must yet
meet consequences; seeing the hazards which
surround the discharge of public duty, it must
yet be discharged. For myself, sir, shun no
responsibility justly devolving on me, here, or
elsewhere, in attempting to maintain the cause.
/ am tied to it by indissoluble bonds of atfec-
ton and duty, and shall cheerfully partake in
its fortunes and its fate. am ready to perform
my own appropriate part, whenever and wher-
ever the occasion may call on me- and to take
my chance among those upon whom blows
may fall first and fall thickest 1 shall exert
every faculty possess in aiding to prevent the
constitution from being nulIted, destroyed or
impaired; and even should see it fall, will
still, with a voice feeble perhaps, but earnest
as ever issued from human lips, and with fidel-
ity and zeal, which nothing shall extinguish,
call on the PEOPLE to come to its rescue.
How striking is the contrast presented
between these closing words of the great
WEBSTER, and those we have above quoted
from the nominal Men of God, who have
made it part Of their missionary work to
visit Washington, and instruct the Pres-
dent in the prosecution of this war;
There seems to be such growing dispo-
sition in the public mind to disregard the
Constitution, which it's trainers and ex-
Founders once considered the chief corner
stone of our liberties, that we feel called
upon to press the inquiry upon our readers,
and ask them if they are willing to admit,
as the true theory of our Government, that
"the Constitution is a dry parchment, ("
subject to the change Of the President, his
Cabinet, and Executive officers? Was it
intended, by its great and wise trainers,
to confer unlimited power upon the Presi-
dent, such as he has exercised, placing him
above the Constitution? Did the Conven-
tion-after the experience pointed out by
the defects and weakness of the old Articles
of Confederation, under which they had
prosecuted a seven years war,-make a
fundamental law, for the perpetual gov
eminent of family Of States of diversi-
fed pursuits and interests, which should be
dependent upon the will and caprice of the