The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-13
organic act of the new Government, for

oo"'0nCiOn On on0 III u"y VI O0pCciuUoI,
1887, and submitted, as required by its
terms, to the thirteen original States, and
ratified by constitutional majority. The
conventions of number Of these States,
having, at the time of their adopting the
Constitution, expressed desire, "in order
to prevent misconstruction and abuse Of
its powers, that further declarative and re-
strictive clauses should be added" pro-
posed the first ten amendments, which were
submitted to the first Congress of the Uni
ted States, September 25th, 1889, and
were finally ratified by the constitutional
number of States on the 18th December,
1871. The eleventh amendment, relating
to the judiciary, became part of the Con-
stitution in 1898; and the twelfth and last
amendment, relating to the election of
President and Vice President, which was
required by the doubt as to who should fill
these respective offices, arising in the cleo
ton of JEFFERSON and BURR, was ratified
by the States in 1904. So that, as to any
material change in the Constitution, it has
stood for more than seventy years unalter-
ed; demonstrating the wisdom of it's
trainers; preserving unimpaired our liber-
ties in the successful prosecution of two
wars; and advancing us as nation be-
yond any former example in the history of
the world. With all these blessings that
have come to our people from benefcent
laws framed under that sacred instrument,
we now find class of men recommending
to the President, and those acting under
him, to Ego over, and under, and through
the Constitution to accomplish their
designs.
We cannot understand that train of
reasoning which can justify any honest
man in recommending the President to
violate the oath of Office he has sworn
faithfully to execute, wherein he promises
before God and the country that he twill,
to the best of his ability, preserve, pro-
tect, and defend, the Constitution of the
United States" This is the oath required
to be taken by the President, upon enter
ing the duties of his Office; differing from
that Of every other functionary of the Gov
eminent; and by which, in the expressive
language OF General JACKSON, :" the found
ers of our Republic have attested their
sense of its Importance, and have given to
it a peculiar sanctity and force" The
President, then, being the executive Off
Ger of the Government, and as such sworn
to "preserve, protect and defend the Con-
stitution, p" in following the teachings of his
radical advisers, manifests to the world the
strange inconsistency of claiming to en-
force the Constitution while disregarding
its provisions-ofbe being in the Government,
and above it.
1t is not to be believed, that the franz
ers Of the Constitution gave, Or designed
to give, to any one man, or set of men,
such unlimited power. They were not SO
poor architects, that they left their great
work with this glaring insecurity and in
consistency-marring its beauty not only,
but sapping its foundations-that, while
they made it impossible to change any of
its provisions, unless upon a vote of two
thirds of both Houses of Congress, and
concurrence of the Legislatures of three
fourths of the several States, they, at the
same time, left it discretionary with the
Executive to say when its provisions should
be suspended, and when enforced.
1t needs no further argument or illus
tration to demonstrate that there is but
one safe course for US to pursue as Gov
eminent, either in peace or in war. That
course is embodied in the admonition of
the dying DOUGLAS to his sons-"OBEY
THE LAWS, AND SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES" These words,
which sum up the whole duty of the citi-
zen, whether governor or governed, should
be inscribed in letters Of gold upon the
walls of the National Capitol, and of the
Presidential Mansion, and in al places
where laws are made, or laws are admins
tered.
If our laws are oppressive, the remedy
is with the people at the ballot box. They
can correct them.
If our Constitution works injustice to
any section of our country, that instru-
ment points out the mode by which it may
be lawfully changed.
An abandonment of these remedial
principles, by people whose laws and
Constitution em,nate from themselves, is,
in ITSELF notification, secession, anarchy.
And be who teaches violation of law, and
disregard of the Constitution, which
time has stamped as no longer a doubtful
experiment in our Government, may be
written down as an enemy of that Gov
eminent, and foe to the highest form of
Civil Liberty.
-JIS SAME THING &c Gosh a'nitV it's