Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-12-20
The 4 Constitution.


The Constitution.
II is impossible, says the Jauraal Of Com.
mercc, that too much should be ssid Of the
origin and Fundamental principles Of the
Constitution. The subject can never be-
come trite. As well might the incubation
Of physical rules for the heath OF the body,
or moral principles for the soul, be regarded
as no longer necessary. When all men be-
come pure in mind aud immortal In body.
they may decline 10 listen 10 the enforce.
mens OF ply steal snd neral hvs. When
nation like ours ceases 10 need constitutions
al law, then. and only then, Il 10 time 10
sospcnd the incubation Of the words and
sense Of that ;aw.
There 10 too much reason just now to be
licve that many people think we are sdvanc-
ing beyond the need Of constitutions. =
Doubtless there are some whe think he
country ought to be governed and would be
we'll governed BY the absolute win Of the
people represented in Congress. They see
no difficulty in electing Congress from time
to time, Who shall enact any statutes that
to them seem proper, and they imagine that
the corrective evil, il any were needed IN
such system. would be found in the rscur
renee Of the elections and the displacement
OF the Lawmakers. II is not worth while 10
argue with the favorite idea of some msn.
II. ....tJ -. s,rce;s.A IN bc.e that fhcv
arc advocates Of Radical Democracy. It
may be that VIC shalt come 10 such state Of
things; but if we do, il will be the last step
before sudden return TO aristocracy, mon
archy, and absolutism.
The grand requirement II the present
time is 10 inculcatc respect for the suprcm-
acy and inviolability Of the Constitutisn.-
Ore Of the worst dangers before US is that
We shall fall into the habit Of amending it,
a habit which wonld soon result in ovcrturn.
ing and destroying il. The principles on
which it was founded are - good to-day Is
they were in tho old times. The strength
of the Government. consists in the united
action Of State and national powers. Each
10 important 10 the other. lf we assert now
the doctrine that tho National Union has the
right to compel any one State to yield any
one Of its reserved powers against It's will
We commence system which will result in
the Annihiation of States aud the ilnal over.
throw Of the present system Of Republican
Government. las tho past history Of the
nation shown that the Constitution vas Ct
ted 70 make us great and prosperous peo-
pie, 70 establish justice and confer happi.
ness, or has it not! Are the men Of this
day wiser than tho fathcsse We fear not.
Difference Among the Rep~blv.
cna Doctors.
The Congressional Republican doctors
diHsr upon the policy Of Cong, ess. Some
think, and so say, that Congress is pledged
to the admission Of Repre- .cntativcs from
the excluded States upon their ratification
Of the amendment, while others contend
that no promise Of that kind was given. Ol
course, representation is conceded to them
they can not TO denied their vote in thu
electoral college. The high priest Of Repub
licanis,n. ThAd. Stevens, Offered tac follow
ing resolution in the House the other day
which shows the reason and object Of III,
exclusion Of the southern Sta.es from rep
rcsentation
WHEREAS, II would be improper fol
the communities thus deprived of civil, gov
crnnent, and whose political relations t
the United States are SO disturbed, to par
ticipatc in tho election Tor President an,
Vice President of tho United States there
fore,
Re IL enacted BY the Senate and House o
Reyrcsen fdtivs assembled, That until IN
Law making power Of the United State
shall have declared in Congress q States
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina
Georgia. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, AT
kansas and Texas, and restored them I,
their political relations 10 The Union, thel
shall not be deemed entitled to representa-
ton in the electoral college for the choice o
President Of the United States, and n,
electoral vote shall be received or counte Z,
from them except as may hereafter be s.
declared restored TO its political relation
and entitled to representation in Congress.
Wha, object have the Southern States i
ratitsing the amendment, if they are to
denied the privileges Of the other State
after so d,ltg' What purpose in impos
ing condition, IL a compliance with it wi
not confer the benefits held out rs . consid
Grafton for ccepting ? In the Senatc.th
other day, this very question came up IL
discussion, between Mcssrs. Sumner an
Wade. We copy the following brief &C
count of II:
"Thosc Senators stood facing each othe
for several minutes, Mr. Wade cortendin
that Congress was honorably bound to con
slider the constitutional amendment IL adopt
cd by tie Southern States - conclusive q
their right to representation, Mr.. Sumne
AZ earnestly denying that there was an,
such agreement or understanding. Nj
Wade said he should stand By his bargain
when MIR. Sumner waving his hand q Nj
Wade, said. "rhcn. air, ws part eompaay.'
The Cincinnati Commercial csncnss Wit
the views expressed BY Senator Wade. an
advises the ''loyal" people Il the Units
States to "s,ick to the amendment" - q
terms upon which the complete restoratiC
Of the people Of the Southern Htatas - NJ
rights and privileges in the Union can be hi
That paper takes issue with one Mr. Blain
Of Maine, who effected resolution in Il
House to the effect that tho late slec,io,
had mot decided thas Congressioaal reps
osntation should b eeeesded ~ ~
States - an immediate Consequence
adopting the amsnamsal tt Cbesssvsi
remarks upon the position Of Mr.. Blaine.
i've cannot say whst representation
wcro Gade BY NJ. Blaine p his epAeli>ueu
but 70 u not know that IN the Wet d
Republican candidates for reelection to Il
For,icth Congress distinctly affirmed III
the amendment would 10 6nalisy, and III
its adoption would be followed By openil
thu doors Of Congress "a. the Southern del
cations. or such Of them a. could pass I!
concise test Of the prescribed cath. And
was one u the stronysst cseaidssatious VI
tho people, that whale the amendmcpe see,
cd wisely designed to secure IN the en-
they desired, il would, II ra6oed, put
end to the vcxatons attending the work
reconstruction, and such dangers - sesm
threaten from the inconpsssion q shs wot