The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-12-22

No phrase was more used during the war than
the one we have placed at the head ofthis article
1t was the constant watchword of the copper
heads, and was used by them to oppose and de-
feat the anti-slavery amendment. But since that
great principle Of freedom was Incorporated in
the Constitution, the cry has been renewed in
the interest," Of President johnson, to defeat the
proposed Congressional amendment. If that,
however, should be successfully Incorporated
with the Constitution we Presume that the cop
perheadswould still go on crying out the Con-
stitution as is y to oppose any apprehended COM
ing amendments. The political creed OF these
men seems to have nothing to do with the pres
ent or future, and to recognize no necessities be-
yond those which existed in the infancy of the
nation. According to their notions, the present
generation has no claim to self government. 1t
may obey constitutions, but must not alter them.
AS the difficulties thrown in the way of prop
erly amending the Constitution to meet the exl-
genees developed by the civil war are very serious
perhaps we may as we'll show our opponents what
can be done legally and rghtfully under " the
Constitution as it isl pursuant to its plainest
and obvious language and when we have
done so, some of them may chance to recognize
the utter stupidity that has led them to clamor
for the enforcement of " the Constitution as 1t
ISL We are the more moved to do this by rea-
son of the perpetual talk of Andrew Johnson
about standing by the Constitution, when no
man since the close Of the war has done more to
violate it.
1.-The Constitution vests in Congress alone
the legislative powers of the nation.
2-The Constitution confers upon Congress
alone the power to decide as to the quaiifcatlor
of its oynmembers.
.s.ZThe Constitution commands the Presiden
to enforce all laws enacted by competent author
ity, vet johnson has ignored the, Civil Rights
Bill.
4.-The Constitution says that the right of the
neople to bear arms shall never be impaired
vet. loyalists of the South have been dlsarmeo
/ and placed at the mercy Of the rebels
5-The Constitution makes all Presidential
appointments subject to ratification or rejection
by the Senate; yet Johnson sets this at defiance
and appoints men to tsfor which the senat'
has rejected them.
6.-The Constitution requires all State gov
ernments to be republican whereas the govern
| ments of South Carolina, Mississippi and LOU
siana are not republican in any sense OF tn
word
THE Constitution endows Congress witt
power to strip the President of all the official pa
tronage now within his control, and to vest II u
the courts of law or the heads Of departments
s.-The Constitution makes majority OF ei
i Their House of Congress quorum to transact gu
4 siness and does not require all the States to b
represented therein.
9.-The Constitution provides that no stat
shall be deprived of representation in the SeDHt
! without its consent, but when. State SHAH hav
4 Withdrawn its Senators, declared war agalns
the national government and fought aganstfh
4 republic for four years, the Constitution con
4 tains no provision for its return to the Senate i
the same form, except under the section confer
y ring upon Congress the sole powerto admit ne'
States.
This is /" the Constitution as it is How q
our Democratic friendslikeit?