The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-03

There are two important measures now pend
ing before Congress, aud third may be ex
pected, which if adopted will practically re
volutionize the governmental the United States
We expect too, the final passage and Executive
approval of these three measures before The
expiration of the present session. They are:-
First-The financial scheme of Mr.. Secretary
Chase, which substantially contemplates the
absorption of the local banks of the several
States as banks Of circulation into the paper
money issues of the federal government.
Second The militia and enlistment bill of Mr.
Senator Wilson, which provides for comforting
upon the President absolute authority over the
militia Of the several States.
Third-A bill granting to the President. at
his discretion, the power Of suspending the writ
of habeas corpus.
| In these measures it will be readily per-
ceived that the powers over the several States
| possessed by the President of the United States
| will be practically the powsrsof the Autocrat
of all the Russias, or the powers Of an absolute
| despotism. But the plea upon which these
| measures are urged-the plea of the emancipa-
ton proclamation, the dangerous but over
whelming plea Of military necessity"-will car
ry them through. Old fashioned conservatives
may say that this is the tyrants plea of necessi-
ty, for which there is no necessity; they may say
that these things create federal dictator, and
overthrow all the checks and balances of the con-
rights of the States and of the people; but all
such circumstances will fail, in view of the ex-
trenes to which the constitutional powers Of
Congress may be strained.
Power is always stealing from the many to
the few. This is an old axiom, the truth Of
which has been proved in the experience
Of every nation and tribe on the face of the
globe, Of modern or ancient times. We need
not, however, go further to the eastward than
Rome for great revolutionary movement
which will apply to our present position;
and here we have suggestive exam
pie in the concessions of power grant
ed by the Roman Senate to julius
Caesar. The democratic party around him,
alarmed at the rapid strides Of the State to a
dictatorship, attempted to head it off by the
assassination of Caesar; but the results operated
only to make confusion worse confounded."
A dictatorial triumvirate followed, and next
another bloody civil war, and next the COM
establishment attempted by his uncle. So Ma
poleon the First, on the ruins of the first French
republic, set up his imperial sway; and, though
pulled down by the hostile coalitions Of Europe,
his dynasty has been revived and fourishes
under his nephew, Napoleon the Third, and upon
the ruins Of the second republic. So Cromwell.
appointed the Protector Of England, found it
necessary to play the part Of rigid dictator.
So Washington, in his day, might have put on
| the mantle Of an absolute despot; but he pre-
! ferred the nobler distinction Of the "Father Of
his Country"
In his farewell address, as with the eye Of a
prophet, he foresaw the troubles which have
come upon us, and warned us against them; but
all in vain. We are now in the throcs of disso
luton and reconstruction, and whether the
end will be "the Union as it was,' or pair Of
military despots, or half dozen petty
mock republics of the South American
| school, no man can at present deter
mine. The people Of the rebellious Southern
States have already achieved the blessings
such as they are, of the most absolute military
despotism. They are, to great extent, the
willing victims Of the most ferocious reign Of
terror of modern times, not excepting that OF
DR.. Francia over Paraguay. But, as the despotic
government Of an oligarchy is their real object,
the leaders Of the rebellion understand each
other and work together tremendously. On our
side the measures of the government, which
cramp the rights of the States, so long exer-
cised in peace, and the liberties of the people
| 80 long enjoyed, are measures which are
stoutly resisted by the " fierce democracic.'
Thus we have divided North against q united
South, while our government is steadily drifting
towards military consolidation of power, legis
lative, executive and judicial.
Nor do we see any inviting door of escape
open to US. If the Congressional measures we
have indicated shall become laws of the land
before the close of the present Congress, we
can hardly expect their repeal during the next
Congress-; and with the election Of the Congress
next succeeding we shall have another Presi
Dental election. In that election the democrats
| and conservatives opposed to the arbitrary acts
and extreme measures of the present admins
tration may overthrow it and come into the
control OF the government. But in this
event we suspect that they will rather use
the extraordinary powers which they will
| inherit than cast them of. We have seer
enough of the democratic party to know that
upon a question Of power or plumber, it will
| squabble to the ninth part of . hair. In look
ing, therefore, beyond the present administers
ton to the next we are inclined to believe that
unless we put down this rebellion meantime
the overshadowing supremacy Of the federal
government, which We are soon to realize, will
not be diminished, but will go on until it shall
have eliminated in a consolidated despotism, Oh
in number Of petty military republics, inces
sanity lighting each other.