The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-20
vEN1NG Observation-Disclosures FRIDAY April. 90 1866

legality of their acts but answer with more
than imperial arrogance = Sio ooto sic jUbeo; stef
It is difficult to realize that this state oftbipgs
exists; the masses OF the people do not realize
IT. But we have az abiding hope that they will
ere long, and when that dav arrives. the scentra
of the usurpers viii crumble In their grasp
We cannot understand how men, who are
neither tools nor knaves can sanction the usur.
patiOns OF Sumner and Stevens, or atl to see
that IN sustaining them, they are establishing
precedents that may and will, some day, be used
against themselves with fearful iorce Respect
Tor the law is essential 10 the stability of a free
government, and iorms It's only guarantee. I'm
less this sentiment be deeply rooted in the hearts
OF the people, paper constitutions will be found
worthless in securing their liberties. When
therefore, constitutional limitations upon power
are once disregarded, even in small particulars
the whole moral power Of the charter Is de.
stroyed, the sword becomes the ultimate arb,er
might makes right, aud liberty is lost. And ii
the RADICALS succeed In demoralzing the people,
what guarantee have they that some e1ually
unpuncipled but abler demagogues will not
wrest from them their IN gotten booty and
crush them in turn beneath the heel of as CALLING
q despotism?
There is scarcely an act of the radical, since
the termination of the civil war that was not
done in the very teeth of the law; that does not
breathe the spirit of usurping despotsm; that
was not prompted by the malignant hate which
men commonly bear to those they are conscious
OF depressing,
Take, for example, the case of Mr.. Stockton.
Unable to disguise the fact that his expulsion
was necessary to secure party triumph, and
therefore to be accomplished at all hazards
they do not hesitate to dsiranchise State. and
broadly declare that the clause Of the Coneti-
tuition which constitutes eacn House the Judge
OF the election, returns, and qualification of its
own members, gives absolute power over the
whole subject. They acknowledge no limitation
whatever, and have practically annuled that
clause OF the Constitution which prescrioes the
qualification OF members. II they had resolved
pnnp hall
be admitted 10 seats in Congress, the usurpation
would not have been greater.
So, too, in regard to the admission of Sena-
tors and Representatives from the Southern
States. And here theN not only apply the same
monstrous doctrine but have undertaken to
delegate their powers, both legitimate and
usuTped, to central directory. Where is there
authority in The Constitution for men Der of
the Lower House to pass judgment on the quail
fcations of a Senator? Yet this is lust what
Congress has autherized Mr.. Stevens and other
members OF the Lower House to d. in req ard to
the claims Of Southern Senators to their seats.
And what glaring Inconsistencies, what shame
less seli'stultltcations do they noo commit in
the pronuncamentos which accompany their
DEGREES!
The Southern States are States, and they are
not States; they are in the Union, and they are
out OF the Union; their inhabitants are citizens,
and they are not cIiZens; they are loyal and
dlslOyal they are misguided brethren, whose
return 10 the avuncular mansion is to be cele-
brated, under the guidance OF Glove and ius-
tice, ,"lby the slaughter of the fatted calls and
they are desperate mahgnants who, also under
the guidance of love and justice are to be
hanged, Drawn, and quartered. Was ever
before such tissue of absurditles gravely put
forth for the amusement of the groundlings (?
Is this exaggerated Let any one who thinks
SO look over the files of the Tribune or the
Press, or any other orthodox radical journal,
ana decide for himself: we are willing to be
Judged by the record.