The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-03-12

The following j. a synopsis of an interest
ing debate which occurred in the United
States Senate ON Saturday last. upon tho
conscription bill.
Mr.. Wilson, Of Massachusetts,, called up
he bill 10 enroll and call out The national
forces;
Mr. Bayard proceeded to state his ob-
jcctions to the bin, As al act not within me
power confded by the Constitution TO
Congress. And if it W, Te it not only WAS in.
expedient, but dangerous 20 the liberties Of
the people. 1t was bill to allow ths
President to enroll into the regular army
every able bodied man in the country. 1t
MAS bill TO increase the regular army a:
the discretion OF the President II entire.
ly destroyed and obitera,ed the n1iii;ls
of the States. and thus destroyed that
check which the Constitution wisely pro
vided against the power Of a ccoirslizsd
government. Only despotic Cove nments
require to be cenlr lzed. But flee Gov.
ernment must always depend upon deceu-
rallied power. Such an ac. was never
passed in this codntry, even IN our uimost
need, and England, With her many wars
and often scarcity of mon, never re~orted
to this dsspo,ic mes 'urs. II was a mode
o. raising armies only used by desppts.
but never by Republican Governments.
This principle, if adopted. would produ-e
large standing armies, which almost ineyi-
tably led to despo,ism. In Government
Of delegated power. and which rested up.
on the consent Of the governed. such
measure was inexpedient and unnecessaty.
Congress has not the power under tho
Constitution thus to DESTROY the miIili. Of
the States, which the Constitution provided
for as the reserve force Of the I'm oa. X
this measure was carried out there would
be no check on centralized power. He
would not say that The President would
make bad use { this power. But it
was the principle he objected 10. Il
was always dangerous to centraliz, such
immense power in any one man. Under
an ambitious man might net tie fate Of
France be that of this country! Our fore
fathers saw the dangers. and wisely placed
the checks upon too great contamination
Of power 1t hal been said that the lie Of
the nation was at stake He believed
that the liberties of a free Fscple were OF
more importance than anything el.s.
And if he MAS 10 choose bstwee an iu
perial Government, stretching over ths
whole country, including Mexico ani Gam
ada, and two or three separate Republic,
he would have TO hesitation in choosing
the latter. fle had been opposed 90 The
war from the beginning. aud ia favor Of
peace, and he wsi in favor Of peace now,
even if We had to submit 10 sepaIaiion-
The war, il carried on under the present
policy of emancipation and coufscat; ~.
could only be successful IN The - rc sub
jugation of the south; and tn II shst would
become Of the liberties of the people' Ns
MAS not willing TO sacrifice The liberties II
The people for the mere extension of tern
tory. We existed as a RepHblic. aud a. i.
free and happy people, when We hsd no.
two-fiiths Of our present territory. und -
the present policy he believed ;hai j. ~as
midsummer madness to attempt TO restore
the Union by the sword lie moved ,o
postpone the bill Indefinitely.
Love, law and bad weather are things
we had better keep cut Of il We can. They
affect injuriously the mind. pocket aud
health