The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-02-11

dition as to promise ourselves even with re-
ipudiation Of all debts, both at home and
abroad, exemption from duties and high tax
alton What have we to hope for, both as
regards slavery or the prospects Of the South
ern Confederacy?
The National Administration and
Constitution.
From the North American Review, for January.
We believe it is the general Judgment of
the country on the acts of the present Ad-
ministration, that they have been, in the
main, judlcious and well. timed. The only
doubt about some of them seems to be as to
their constitutionality. 1t has been some
times objected to our form of Government,
that it was faulty in having a written con-
stitution which could not adapt itself to the
needs Of the times as they arose But we
think it is rather theoretic than practical
objection, for in point of fact there has been
hardly leading measure of any Admins
tratEOn that has not been attacked as I'm con-
Institutional, and which was not carried outney.
ertheless. Purchase Of Louisiana Embargo,
Removal OF the Deposits, Annexation of Tex
as, not to speak of others less important--on
the constitutionality Of all these, powerful
parties have appealed to the country, and in
variably the decision has been against them.
The will of the people for the time being has
always carried it In the present instance,
we purposely refrain from any allusion to
the moral aspects Of the question. We pre-
fer to leave the issue to experience and com
| mon sense
| We would not be understood as speaking
lightly Of the respect due to constitutional
FORMS all the more essential under a Govern
ment like ours and in times like these. But
where undue respect for the form will lose us
the substance, and where the substance,as in
this case, is nothing less than the country
! Itself, to be over scrupulous would be unwise.
Who are most tender in their solicitude that
we keep sacred the letter of the law, in order
that its spirit may not keep us alive? MIR.
Jefferson Davis and those who, in the free
States, would have been his associates, but
must content themselves with being his po
| litical gueyTji5er03. If Davis had succeeded,
would he have had any scruples of constitu-
tional delicacy? And if he has not succeed
dis it not mainly owing to measures which
his disappointed partisan denounce as uncon-
stitutional ?
We cannot bring ourselves to think that
Mr.. Lincoln has done anything that would
ties Or ia any way Overstepped the just lin
it's Of his constitutional discretion If his course
has been unusual, it was because the danger
was equally 50. 1t cannot be SO truly said
! that he has strained his prerogative, as that
the imperious necessity has exercised its
owl. Surely the trainers ct the constitution
never dreamed that TREY were making a
straight waistcoat, in which the nation was
to laft IN
do their will. In times like these men sci
dom settle precisely the principles on which
| they ShGU act, but rather adjust those on
which they hare acted to the lines Of prece-
dent as well as they can after the event.
/ Tins Is what the English parliament did IN
the Act Of Settlement Congress, after all,
will only be called on for the official draft Of
an enactment, the terms of which have been
already decided by agencies beyond their
control Even while they are debating, the
current is sweeping them on toward new re-
lations Of policy. At worst, new precedent
is pretty sure Of pardon, if it successfully
meets a new occasion. 1t is harmless pleas
antry to call Mr.. Lincoln abraham the
First - we remember when a similar title
was applied to President Jackson 4; and it will
not be easy, we suspect to persuade PEG
pie who have more liberty than they know
what to do with, that they are the victims
Of despotic tyranny.
MIR. Lincoln probably thought it more con-
venient, to say the least, to have country
left without a constitution, than a constitu-
ton without a country. We have no doubt
we shall save both for if we take care Of the
one the other will take care of itself. Sensi-
BILE men, and it is the sensible men in any
country who,at last shape its policy, will be
apt to doubt whether it is true conservatism,
after the fire is got under, to insist on keeping
up the flaw in the chimney by which 1t made
its way into the house. Radicalism may be
very dangerous thing, and 80 is calomel,
but not when it is the only means OF saving
the life Of the patient. Names are OF great
influence in ordinary times, but when they
are backed by the MS 9ReTtj1 Of lifelong pref
udice, but they have little power in compar-
ison with a sense of interest and though
in peaceful times, it may be highly respect
able to be conservative merely for the sake
of being so, though without very clear no.
| tions ofanything in particular to be conserV-
| ed, what we want now is Che prompt decisr
ion that will not hesitate between the bale
Of silk and the ship when a leak is to be stop
ped. If we succeed in saving the great land
marks of freedom, there will be no difficulty
in settling our constitutional boundaries
again. We have no sympathy to spare Tor
the pretended anxieties of men who, only
two years gone, were willing that Jefferson
Davis should break all the ten command
ments together, and would DOW impeach
MIR. Lincoln for scratch on the surface OF
the tables where they are engraved
. s-
A quaint chap remarks that the human
races is divided into two casses-those who
90 ahead and do something, and those who
sit still and inquire, ''Why wasn't it done
the other way"
Somebody has given utterance to the fol-
lowing scrap Of philosophy which, If 1t be
not good, is at least cool "TFie poor mans
purse may beempty, but he has as much gold
in the sunset, and silver in the moon,as any
body"
ooh, [ ain so glad you like birds. What
kind do you most admire y said young
wife to her husband
'Ahen Well, I think good turkey
with plenty Of dressing" said the husband
lis about as nice as any"
An Irish lad, with jtaItc eyes, was asked
what particular charm there was about ms
nose that attracted his attention so much
'.Weli," said he, "when L left my mothe
She tould me to be good boy and keep m,
nose clane, an faith au I've bin lucking at
ther it ever since
A countryman once brought a piece Q
board to an artist, with the request that he
would paint upon it St. Christopher as larg
as life. .'But, " returned the artist. ''tha
board is much too small for that purpose.
The countryman looked perplexed at thi
unexpected discovery. ""Thats bad JOB
said he; but look'ee sir, ye can let his Tee
hang down over the edge Of the board"
At prayer meeting in the village e
! S,,rnLtnrrn- q country lad was noticed b