Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-01-22

reatfirm the great principles of American
Iibcrty-State and national. Il 4 y
j. +. robson.
January 8, 1865.
!
Thc Missouri Emancipation
scheme.
The judiciary Committee Of the Senate
have reported back the Missouri eman-
cipation bill, recommending amendments
making the appropriation 500, ,000, 900
instead of 81 1000, 900. This is certainly
a novel procedure upon the part of Ju
dietary Committee, to whom, in legsla
tive bodies, bills are referred, not for the
purpose Of inquiry into the exyediency or
policy Of the subject matter contained in
them, but to obtain the opinions Of the
committee upon tbs validity Of the propo-
sed enactment. That this is the peculiar
province of Judiciary Committee is ev-
ident from its title, from precedent, and
the fact that the bests jurists in the legis-
lative assemblies are selected for its mem.
bers. AS appears from the tclegraphic
report, there has been no discussion by
the Senate judiciary Committee Of the
constitutionality OF the proposed appro.
priation They have reported upon the
expodicncy instead of the validity of the
schem. q
The country would have been glad to
learn from the committee, if these mil
lions are to be voted by Congress, where
the authority is derived for such dispo
sition Of the public money. The question
is not so plain one that its discussion
would have been superAuous. We do
not believe the Federal Government pos.
sesses an iota Of authority to make any
such appropriation. We do not believe
it can tax the citizens Of Illinois to pay
for the purchase of private property Of
citizens of Missouri when that property
is not directly or indirectly to be appro-
priated to any use whatever by the gon
cral government, but is, by the terms of
purchase, divested of all attributes of
possession, or ownership, either to the
government or citizens.
1t is an anomalous proceeding, for
which there is no cxamylc, and which can
only be justified upon the assumption
made by Missouri (the party interested
that tho general welfare of the country
demands the donation or purchase pro
posed in the bill. The power, if it exists
to make such donation, is delivep from
the constitution. AS the trainers of that
instrument did not deem the existence Of
slavery incompatible with the public safe
ty, but did deem its PROTECTION essentsal,
not only to the formation but preservation
OF the Union, as appears from the provis-
ions contained in the constitutions we are
unable to imagine how Congress can ap-
propriate money under the constitution to
destroy that which was made a special
object of protection in in the constitution.
If we admit that slavery has caused the
present rebellion that its existence en-.
dangers the national life, aud the thou
sand and one absuldiics respecting the
necessities urged by abolitionism for its
cXtinguishmont, these du not change in
the remotest degree the power of the Fed
eral Government concerning it as they are
dafned in the constitution. There is n |
legal method of reaching it by a change
in that instrumen, but the attempt to
destroy it in defiance of its provisions, by
Congress or the Executive, is usurpation,
and the wanton violation Of their official
oaths.
The man~uvering in the project of Q
mancipation Missouri has been fraudulent
from the inception Of the scheme. 1t
was opposed to the wishes of a majority
of the electors in that State and the last
election there was conducted on the part
Of the cmancipationists by force, fraud
and judicial terrorism. Less than one
half the vote Of the State was pollel, and
SO open and general were the corruption
and illegality of the canvass that in cv-
cry Congressional district the successful
candidates have been notified that their
seats will be contested, We have expo.
sed repeated instances Of the facts OF
this truth there is no question. And yet
the Judiciary Committee of the Senate
transgress all usage in recommending
in their report ten millions of dollars more
than was asked by Mr. Nocll, Repre-
sentative from that State, and the author
of tho bill referred to the committee, to
consumate this wicked and unconstution
al design.
Such fragrant disregard of tho will OF
the people, of law, ustice and the consti-
tuition has never before been so shame
lcssly exhibited in the American Con-
& ess, and is another chapter in the history
of pollution that Abolitionism is making
for ITSELF Chicago Times.
An Abolition War.