The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-08-19

The President aud the Constitution.
The recent decision in the United States
Court at Washington, in case of confscatiOn
Of the property Of rebel, furnishes a striking
commentary on the charge Of violation OF the
constitution on the part of the President so
constantly reiterated by the cOpperheads- If
the statement of lying demagogues and thinly
disguised secessionists is to be credited the acts
Of the Administration, from It's commencement
70 the present time, have been one unbroken
series Of violations Of the constitution. One
thing will be particularly noticed. These char
ges are general and sweeping. 1t was "uncon-
sttuIional" 70 call out the national lorces-it
was unconstitutional" to confscate rebel prop
erly-tbe Emancipation Proclamation was d" IN
constitutional"-th draft is " unconstitutional,
and 80 on, al infnituma
The history OF the con6scation law is familiar
to our readers. After much elaboration by
Congress, bill was presented for the signature
Of the President, which contained, as be thought,
some provisions not in accordance with the con-
stituIion. At FIRST he prepared message veto
ing the bill on account OF these Objectionable
features, but as they were subsequently, struck
out by Congress, be signed it. The Presidents
chief objection seems now to have arisen from
an erroneous Interpretation Of that provision Of
the constitution which declares that no "attsin-
der Of treason shall work corruption OF blood, or
forfeiture except during the life OF the person
attainted" The decision referred to above Is
tsblishes the principle that the constitution does
not prevent the forfeiture, absolute and forever,
of the real aud personal estate Of rebels, and
that the only bar to such proceeding is the
Law Of Congress which forfeits real estate only
during the life Of the traitor.
1t lie now generally conceded that il was the
purpose OF the trainers Of the constitution solely
10 guard agains, forfeiture" after the deGlh
Of the person atIainted.
This CT post faetO proceeding, which was sane
toned by the British law, was deemed maniiestly
unjust ia that 1t imposed the penalty, not on the
criminal, but on the innocent heirs. TIE very
terms Of the constitution would indicate that at
tainder tor treason shall work forfeiture during
the lie Of the person atIainted. In this case no
injustice Is done to his heirs, for he has none
Memo st here's riventi
This coust' ucton Of the Constitution obvious
ly fu6s the purpose of its trainers, while al
the same time it accords with the painest die
tates OF justice.
Ii cannot be disputed that the President, in
bis action in this Case, was controlled entirely
by a conscientious regard for the supposed limi-
tatons OF the constitution. Placed under a sol
emn oath to 81 port that sacred instrument, he
would not swerve one hairs breadth from its
restrictions he understood them, even to in
hct justly merited punishment on the heads
Of rebels in arms for its overthrow. Like all
men be is liable to err. But how does his very
error cram the lies uttered by his traducers down
their dirty throats The eopperheads lnd no
fault with the President for interpreting the con
stituton in favor Of the rebels Had the case
been reversed there would have been no end to
their bawliug. They have al their life been
guilty OF perverting the constitution In the inter
ests Of traitors. They have offered, repeatedly
and unasked, to make any change in the con
stitution" which their Southern brethren"
might desire, at the same time protesting ven
GRAFTON the most profound for the constitution
as it is" How this fact tears the mask from
these hyprocr':es aud demsgogues, and leaves
them posed to public view in all their lOath-
some GefOrmityi Were they possessed of any
sense Of shame or decency they would hide their
guilty heads and cease their lying accusations.
But no. Lying is their trade, and they per-
form the work Of their fsthes-the devil-with
an unblushng etfronsery that leaves his satanic
majesty only to wonder and admire. When any
measure is proposed which threatens harm to
their brethren"-the rebels-no matter how
just, how necessary, how plainly within the pros
visions OF the cOnstitution-these serpents in
human form show their fangs, thrust out their
tongues and hiss" unconstitutional" When
the Government would vindcate its rghtful su.
sority these miscreants seek to hem il round
with hedge Of thorns and place a monster in
its path, labeled constitution" as unlike the
being it represents as esr6srws was to the angel
that stood with flaming sword at the gate Of
Paradise.
Ii viii be the duty of the next Congress to re.
wise the conHscalion law, and mete out a lust
punishment to those who have sought with un-
Psralleled atrocity and madness to overthrow the
Government. We hope that duty will be faith.
fully performed.