The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-08-17

Executive Usurpation. .-....-.a. s.
A large portion Of this issue of our paper
is devoted to the publication Of one of the
| ablest, most remarkable and most timely
documents which the history of the United
States has yet developed. We allude to the
Protest of U. S. Senator BENJAMIN f.
WADE, of Ohio, and Hon. Henry WINTER
DAVIS, of Maryland, against Executive
Usurpation. We need not ask our readers
to examine it carefully because we arc well
convinced, that, even in these times of sub
mission to Presidential assumption, on the
yuinous plea of military necessity, there is
yet sell-respect enough in our country
to induce their anxious inquiry as to where
we are drifting. If this war is being con.
Quoted, as we believe, in such manner as
to preclude all possibility of restoration
Of the Union as our fathers made it, the
consequence is sad one for the contempa-
ton Of the patriot; but if, in addition to
the separation Of the States our poor coun-
try is to become the grave, as it was the
birth. place, Of Constitutional Liberty, then
indeed the picture before US should rouse
US to the action, almost of despair. In
this matter it will not do to say any one
should be exempt from apprehension
Each human being whose boast it has been
that LAW, in this broad land, defended him
from the encroachments of Power, is de-
sirous to know whether the boast was
vain one or whether it was based upon
misapprehension Of what are really the
civil rights of the citizen. Let not man
fail to examine this document. If you
have been of the opinion that the Executive
has, on more than one occasion, transcribed
that authority of law which he, as a,eu as
the humllest, dare not infringe, then the
perusal of this Protest will arm you with
arguments "strong as proofs of Holy Writ"
If you have been needless of the usurpa.
tons so palpable to the eyes of others, or
if you have felt like excusing or palliating
them for the time being as indispensable to
the harmony of the North and the sup
preston of the rebellion, then will this
Protest awaken you from the dream which
has well-nigh wrought your ruin.
We would not write bitterly, because the
occasion calls not for epithets: it is too
serious for discussion in the ordinary STYLE
of party language. THE subject demands
the gravest reflection, and we are sue it
will command it from all who are intelligent
enough to comprehend the nature of our
institutions and are manly enough to APP
preciate the blessings of individual free
dom. The poor old man, who, in an hour
Of evil, was elevated by the suffrages Of
confiding people to the Chief Magistracy
of this Republic, has been hattered by
courtiers and tortured by his own incom.
potency into the most extravagant and most
unconstitutional acts known to the history
of the country. Congress has been SO weak
or SO venal as to confer upon him at various
times authority outside the constitution, and
vleing in supremacy with that which has
heretofore brought even crowned heads to
the block. From an honest start-we are
willing to believe-in the duties of his
office, he has rapidly assembled to the high
est grade of usurpation, until now, as is
shown by Messrs. WADE and DAVIS, he
ae-moaels Congressional bills TO suit his
pleasure and virtuazlu bids tAe Leoiszntire
department Of tile Government de1aance!-
The Judiciary was previously disposed of
IN the numerously recorded instances of
arbitrary arrests, incarceration without
trial and ignominous prison delivery with
out remedy to the sufferer. If the Execu.
tive may thus override the Legislative and
Judicial departments of this Government
OF the People, what security has the citizen
but in the clemency of the President p
Following up the only two ideas which
seem to actuate him, viz: the abolition of
slavery and his own reelection, he lays his
hands on Congressional Law, mutiates
it at will, and filings it back to our Repre-.
sentatives in shape never contemplated
by them. Can such things take place and
Americans remain too dull to perceive or
too base to remedy them? Senator Wade
is sometimes called "the Father of the Re-
publican party" so thoroughly is he identi-
fled with that organization. II. Winter
Davis is also Republican of the strongest
if not the most radical type. These gentle
men are SO distinguished as politicians and
so able as lawyers, that their names are
known to every one who reads. 1t is they
who write and sign this Protest, but they
are not alone in giving it circulation
Other and equally important members of
their own party are associated with them
in this expose; they act but as committee
in its preparation and signature. The
perusal Of it is acting powerfully on the
masses. Journals in the interest of the
Administration, with few exceptions, de-
cline to publish it. Let but the people read
its terse, clear sentences, condensed to the
closest space ana illustrated by the sound
est applications of law and the most truth
full reference to fact, and we think the old
man who has been influenced to overlap
the boundaries prescribed for his official
action, will be retired from the service of a
country which under his management is
approaching both in Blood and in Treasure
the condition of National exhaustion. Let
Democratic papers give this Protest to the