Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-01-27
The National Administration and the Con.

We believe 1t is the general judgment of
the country on the acts of the present Ad-
ministratien, that they have been, in the
main, judicious and well-timed. The only
doubt about some of them seems to be as to
their constitutionality. It has been some
times objected to our form of government,
that II was faulty in having written consti-
tuition which could not adapt itself to the
needs of the times they arose But we
think it is rather theoretic than practical
objection, for in point of fact there has been
hardly a leading measure of any Administra-
ton that has not been attacked as unconsti-
tutlonai, and which was not carried out new
ertheleSs. Purchase of Louisiana Embargo,
Removal of the Deposits Annexation of
Texas, not TO speak of others less important
on the constltutionality of all these, power
tul parties have appealed to the country. and
invariably the decision has been against them
The will of the people for the time being
has always Carried it, In the present in
stance, We purposely refrain from any allu-
sion TO the moral aspects of the question.
We prefer to leave the issue TO experience
and common sense.
We would not be understood as speaking
lightly of the respect due to constitutional
forms, all the more essential under Govern
ment like ours and in times like these But
where undue respect for the form will lose us
this case, is nothing less than the country it
self, to be over-scrupulous would be unwise.
W no are most tender in their solicitude that
we keep sacred the letter of the law in order
that ITS spirit may not keep us alives Mr.
jefferson Davis and those who, in the free
States, would have been his associates. but
must content themselves with being his polti-
cal gterrjHeros If Davis had succeeded,
would he have had any scruples of constitu-
doll, > "A - -
ed, Is 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
furnish a precedent dangerous to iber-
ties, or in any way overstepped the Just lin
its of his constitutional discretion If his
course has been unusual, it was because the
danger equally so. 1t cannot be SO truly
said that he has strained his prerogatiye, as
that the imperious necessity has exercised its
own. Surely the trainers of the Constitution
never dreamed that they were making
straight waistcoat, in which the nation was 10
lie helpless while traitors were left free to
do their viii. In times like these men sell
dom settle precisely the principles on which
they shall act, but rather adjust those on
which they hare acted 10 the lines of prece-
dent as well as they after the event
This 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 new occasion, 1t is harmless pleas
antry TO call Mr.. Lincoln Abraham the
First we remember when 4 similar title was
applied 10 President jackson; and it will not
be easy, we suspect, to persuade people
who have more liberty than they know what
to do with, that they are the victims of des-
potc tyranny.
Mr. Lincoln probably thought it more con
vcnient, TO say the least, To have a country
left without constitution, than a constitution
without 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 it made
its way into the house. Radicalism may be
very dangerous thing, and so is calOmel,
but not when il is the only means of saving
the life of the patient. Names are of great
influence IN ordinary times when they are
backed 10y the rs aSerii,C of long prejudice
but they have little power in comparison
with sense of interest: and though in
peaceful times, ii may be highly respectable
10 be conservative merely for the sake of be
ing so, though without very clear notions of
anything in particular to be conserved, what
we want now is the prompt decision that will
not hesitate between the bale of silk and the
ship when a leak is to be stopped If we
succeed IN saving the great landmarks of
freedom, there will be no. difficulty in settling
our constitutional boundaries again. We
have 10 sympathy to spare for the pretended
anxeties Of men VINO, only two years gone,
were willing that Jefferson Davis should break
all the ten commandments together, and
would now impeach Mr. Lincoln for a scratch
on the surface OF the tables where they are
engraved.