The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-01-14

MEssRs. EDIroRs:-
Sometime ago I intimated that I would
discuss the political heresy now SO alarm.
ingly prevalent, which asserts that our Ma.
tional Constitution is good enough for
times Of peoce, but useless in lime Of war.
At a, time Of healthy state Of public
opinion. when mems minds were not blast
ed by the deadly sirocco Of partisan nalig.
nifty, this would be deemed work Of 81.
pererosation, but when the leaders Of a
great party advise, when a venal press
clamors and blind multituds eagerly fol-
low in crusade against the Constitution
and those prccedcnts Of the courts which Mr..
Lincoln sreeringly denominatcs tho "dog.
mas Of the past" it is profitable OCCASION
allyto dig down through the superintendent
scoria which the political volcano has vom.
tilted forth, to discover, if possible, the
time .honored lind marks of the past
Little did the trainers of the Constitution,
the Madison's, the Franklin's and the Ham.
ilton's Of that day dream, that the noble
structure that they had reared in wisdom,
was to vanish at the first breathings Of
popular discomfort. They Asttered them.
selves that they had established . form Of
government that would prove impervious
to the attacks of enemies from without, or
to the insidious and more dangerous as.
saults from foes within. They had just
escaped from the rule Of government
whose hand laid heavily upon them, hence
they checked the hand Of power and placed
in tho hand Of the subject the writ Of habeas
corpus, with which he might ward off the
attack Of the oppressor. They made Con-
gross the sole depository Of the law.making
power. The President the made simply
the executive hand to perform what the
law making power had willcd. The judi
ciary they made temple of refuge where
the citizen might seek redress when the
law making power willcd what was wrong,
or when the executive hand failed to move
obedient to the will Of its master. The line
Of demarcation was accurately traced be.
tween the several departments Of tho gov
ernment The Congress could not act, it
could simply conceive and will. The exec
utive hand could simply execute in obedi-
ence to the will Of Congress, and the judi
ciary could only counsel, aGvise and shield.
While each department kept within its ap-
propriate limits, there was harmony in the
action and unity in the design Of the Gov
eminent, but now when the executive, ir,
league with congress, binds with letters the
action Of the courts, and bars the doors to
the temple Of justice, inflicts pains and
penalties on those who there seek redress
when congress not content with cnacting
laws, seeks itself to enforce them; when
the executive invades the halls of legisla-
ton, trampleS on statutes and constitu-
tons, and with the sword traces, like Draco,
in letters Of blood his arbitrary cdicts, the
noble government we have so long admired
seems to totter to its foundation, and
threatens to crash and destroy the people
who erected it for their protection.
In the legitimate exercise Of the appro
pirate functions Of the several coordinate
branches Of the government, we established
and vindicated our claim to place among
the nations Of the earth. In contests with
the mightiest nation Of the old world, the
government acquitted itself with credit,
and at home and abroad, it has shed lustre
on our arms and given dignity to our insti-
tons. In all Of our dealings with the rest
Of the world it has been the boast Of our
government that it has gorerned itself, act
ing on the principle, applicable to nations
as well as individuals, that ''he who rulcth
himself is better than he ~ho taketh city"
But now, while the wild tempest Of civil
war sweeps over the land, when naught is
heard but the angry roar and surge of con
tending human passions, the chief magis-
tratc of the republic, towards whom all eyes
were turned, whose vow was registered in
heaven to support the Constitution" an
nounces to disappointed world that "the
dogmas Of the peaceful past, are unsuited
to the stormy present." and wickedly sedu
ces the government to cast Of all self res.
traint, while faction Selling the opportunity,
rides upon the storm it has itself evoked.
The tyrant's plea of military necessity, is
made the cloak Of every glaring usurpation
Of power, and while usurpation slabs at the
Constitution, the excited and tickle mob
cry cut with. fiendish glee, away with it !;
cruelty it."
1t was announced not long since, by one
who aspred to seat in Congress, that the
President had right to suspend the Con.
stitution while suppressing the rebellion,
and this has become the key note to the
lickspittles Of despotic power. Will this
assertion bear investigation? The Consti.
tuition says, CART. g. "This Constitution
and the laws of the United States, which
shall be made in pursuance thereof, shall
be the supreme law Of the land"
The Constitution is suprcme-all else is
Inferior The President is the creature of
the Constitution. Destroy, or what is the
same, suspend the Constitution, and the
and the President cannot exist. The crea-
ture cannot destroy the Creator. Conced.
ing TO the President the right to suspend or
disobey any one part Of the Constitution,
is conceding his right to suspend or dsobey
any and all other parts; is conceding his
right to suspend that clause which creates
the Congress and the Supreme Court, or