Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-08-09
THE KNOXVILLE WHIG
Knoxville, Tennessee, August 9, 1865.
IrreguIarIty OF the State Government.

Many and loud are the complaints made by the
rebels sad those in sympathy with them, that the
Government Of the State is irregular, and that the
machinery was not put in motion just as the Con-
stitution provides for When the friends of law and
order resolved in January last to take steps in that
direction, they found the condition of political af-
fairs anomalous unhinged and out Of joint. Astate
Of things prevailed never contemplated and there
fore never provided against by the trainers of the
Constitution. We had, IS a matter of course, TO
hsve starting psi'zt and to begin in manner some
what Irregular, SO as TO get into regular line of
policy.
The Raleigh Standard has sn article upon the sub
ject Of the condition of affairs in the country from
which we take the following, as in point:
But in civil or internal wars, the case is different
Il would be absurdty for any constitution TO pro-
vide for the contingency Of its own destruction
Consequently it makes no provision with reference
70 It's overthrow. It is equally silent in regard
70 the status relations Of any two parties in the
State after bloody strife in which they may have
been engaged for years. one party struggling to be
released from its obligations, the other 10 enforce
them. Whenever an emergency Of this sort arises
not contemplated, not provided for-the only way
in which the statesman can deal with IT, is by rea-
soning from analogy, and applying to it the law Of
lence 10 the government and the feelings of the peo
pie. Such is our condition at the present time One
thing is certain the history of all governments and
people proves, that whenever there arises contin-
gency not provided for which threatens the exist
ence Of the constitution ITSELF the express letterof
the instrument is, for the time being, disregarded
put in sbeysnce it were in order to save If from
dissolution. Just as physician would, by some
powerful opste, render his patient insensibls for
time, in order to his life The dictatorship as
known 10 the Romans, was q temporary suspension
Of their constitution in order that in time of public
danger no injury should befsll the republic In
England the same thing has taken place more than
once. According 10 the English constitution, Par
Lament alone can alter the succession 10 the crown
Parliament consists Of Kings Lords and Commons.
And yet when James II. fed the realms in $685.
the Lords and Commons resolved themselves into g
Convention" and altered the line Of succession,
and curtailed many Of the preregatives which be-
fore that belonged TO the monarch. This course was
advocated and sustained on the of absolute ne
cessty When George III. lost his reason in 1910,
there act Of Parliament IN existence provid-
ing for such crisis. The King being imbecile, Of
course be could not give the royal assent TO act
Of the Lords and Commons for the appointment Of
3 Regent. The difficulty was gotten over by the
Lords and Commons passing resolutions TO confer
the regency on his son, and empowering the Lord
Chancellor TO aI the great seal TO the appointment
Of commission for the regular opening of Parlia-
ment.