Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-01
Conntar Revolution.

OOuutcI 0CtOAuAoA
Toe Constitution OF the Confederate States ordains
three Departments of Government-Executve Lsgisla-
tive and judiciary. They are coordinate In dignity
and authority and each 10 its sphere supreme as against
the Others The successful attempt Of one OF these De-
partments to subordinate the others would be revolution
The combination of two of them TO destroy the other
would be conspiracy The Constitution would be over
thrown and the liberties of the people subvered If such
a procedure were tolerated Is there no occasion to
think of this Let US sse.
In our isue Of yesterday, mentioned the passage
By an almost unanimous of the Senate, of bill re-
pt aing the exemption of those who have placed sub
sti utes in the service. This bill having been rushed
through the House. where 1t originated, With most I'M
dgnRed if not indecent precpancy, requires now but
the signature Of the President to become an ac. OF
the merits Of the bill have already spoken II may
now be regarded as law. We wish at this time only
to make some passing comments upon the tone mani
tested in Congressin the debates upon this MEASURE
Senator (Mr Or of s. o. among other objections to
the passage of the bill gravey qusstionsd itI legality
If the pending bill becomes Law" said Mr. O., "here
will be great difficulty in executing It, by reason OF the
de cisons Of the courts In several Of the States We
must acquesce in the decisions of the courts resort
to measures which he not prepared for. ASenaor
from Missouri (Nr. Clark representing constitu-
eucy wholly beyond the action and control OF
our laws, replied in urging its rassage that
"n regard to the action Of the courts steps may and
should be taken TO remOv, the subj Ct beyond their
JUL diction." Tae Senator from Miss. (Mr. Brown
goes u thef 1--WE should not defer our legislation to
con- ult the views Of every State Judge-to acerain
whether he will ov<rthrcW not by lis judicial de-
cision- We have high duties to perform Let US per-
form them without reference to State Judges. There
as remedy against the interlerei os of the courts in
the suspension of the writ Of habeas corpus" The
of Congress upon ths mea shows TO what extent
the provisions Of the Constitution are getting to be
disregl in the legislative branch, and how
olu iorary sentiment already prevails in that badly.
Tie strength Of the popular rsepset for our Govern
ent and the good sense of the quiet masses may for
the moment allow such declarations to pass, without
disturbance The little respect in which substitute men
are held may irAlence a temporary acqliescecce in
them. But the INTEL gent and ardent lover OF his
try witness such proceedings with Indifference,
mr. will he, with subm ssion.
There is as much patriotism aud intelligence out of
The HAk of Congress in it, snd the tendency Of the
10 q subvsrSlon of the liberties Of the country, and
military detpo ism, is already toWng the seeds of q
counter revolution. Our people claim it their right
as the duty of the general Government ensure 10
them, as tue basis of the compact by which they
have associated together, ttas the Confederacy is
but community of SJvereigl States. They look
to the Constitution as the Supreme Law Of the Oonied
acy. They regard it as among the blessings for which
they indebted to their ancestry, that they transmit
ted to us written Constitution. 1t received the plight
ed fG Of fathers. 1t is the hope of our pOs,ery
To argue questions outside above il il but TO assail
the cause of law, Of right and order. The wise
men who 80 recently remodeled our present gov
may have doubted its pc petuity when they saw
wreck after wreck floating the tide Of tIms of the
short lived Republics which hsd preceded them
Remodeed too, alter bitter experience from violations
of the old chart and at time when clouds and dark
nefs were lowering u.s. they gave l. u.s. and wo
took it, the anchor Of hope to cling to in tho coming
storm. We took It Cur reliance, supreme law
aud the Congress- or Executive who would now throw
aside would peure their oath to abide by it willingly in
letter and spirit to render it obedience support
and maintain It. aad neither in conscience or conduct to
ever transcend it.
Should the poison Of the doctrines to which we have
referred faint the of people for this fun
dsmental chart-should the nsdious councils of our
representatives corrupt the very stamina Of our Gov
ernmen ando.e restore it to health and hon.
orr Should people be broughtto despse the weakness
of their Government suspect its intentions Of host
ty to the general welfare the slightest rregulArty the
exercise of any unauthorized power, whether BY pnci
pal or subordinate officers will be sufficient to arouse
their aDgry elAmors, or almost 10 make them rise in
arm, against it. Tuere is spirit of resistance in the
hearts of our csuntymen Tney valao life not by its
but by the Independence and dignity Of
its coalition. At this moment we appeal euly to the
discretion of Congress before they the jealous
madness of our people.