The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-07-20
Embarrassing the Soysramsns .


The reason assigned by the war press oil
the country for the failure, or rather the re-
fusai, Of Congress TO consider the Mexican
question, is q very characteristic oEe. Con
gress was unwilling 10 embarrass the Gov.
eminent" This is a brand new phrase
with which the war has enriched the poliii
cal vocabulary. It's novelty arises from the
fact that The idea which il CONVEYS was
wholly novel among us, until public free
dom was lost in the slough OF Lincolnism.
Congress was once regarded as part OF the
Government, and as not only. entitled, but
bound TO ''embarassr The Executive W hen
ever, in its conscientious judgment, he was
wandering from right principle or policy
All such "embarrassmentsu as The people
themselves or their representatives might
lnterpose were considered as but part OF
the Limitations which public liberty and 50
curity required TO be. placed upon Executive
power. These, and these only, create the
distinction between amonarch and The Pres
ident of repablic, and il was because our
chief magistrate was in,endedto be but
President and not a King-a servant and
not master-ihat he was made subject TO
such "em5arrassments, ~ and was forced 10
pot up with them, whether pleasant or un-
pleasant.
Now, however, we have chang ed al that
The President is the Government, and TO
prevent him from doing as he pleases is
10 To ~ ~.
purity is to be seditious. To express a leg.
islative disapprobation Of his policy, for
eign or domestic, is To 'embarrass" him,
which is equivalent 20 aiding and abetting
the enemy. Chief Justice Taney issued a
habeas corpus TO inquire into The cause OF
commitmentmade by Mr. Seward's or,
ders, and he was denounced, forthwith,
from Dan to Bsrsheba, as embarrassing
the Government" aud therefore a sympa-
thizer with Ike rebellion. And now, for
sooth, both Houses OF Congress deli beraiely
apostatize from :heir convictions and most
solemn du;y. upon great and paramount:
question of national dignity and conduct,
lest by expressing their sentiments they
may possibly hinder Mr. Lincoln and MIR.
Seward from successfully communicating
an Intrigue, which The unanimous Legsla-
lure believes 20 be dishonest and knows 10
be disgracefnl. A leading and sacred prin-
ciple OF American poiicy-the consecraiior
Of the American continent 10 republican
libery-is basely abandoned by the repre-
senta,ives of The people, lest its promaga.
ZION By them should shame tie lricksiers
who have destroyed it /!
What shall we have next1 The Judici-
ary and the Leg sislaiure "embarrass" Mr.
Lincoln, and are silenced; will not the bal
Iot-box take its turo and be siIenced also ?
Everything has given way, thus far, 10 Ex-
eculive omnipotence the frail barrier OF
popular suffrage can hardly be expected TO
confiiie it now. Upon that question the
next great issue is soon 10 be tried, and il is
useless 20 disguise',hs fact that the trial is
full OF threatening and doubt. II The peo-
pie are prepared 10 enter on no sierner
struggle for the right to vote than for the
other rights which have been snalched from
them, Mr.. Lincoln's eubarrassmenis are
over and bis will IS law. II free suffrage
is to be yielded up, without resistance, as
free speech and personal liberty, and free-
dom of The press, have been surrendered
already, it is not worth while TO fool our
selves any longer with the forms OF a re-
publicanism from which The soul has de-
paired.