Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-12-18
From the Warrington chroulclo.l
EXECUTIVE UsURPATION.


Mr.. Locke once said there existed no
truth which might not lead to error; no
remedy which might not become poison;
and he might have added, no engine of CIV
ihzatlon Which might not be converted Into
an agent OF barbarism. Thus, the powers
conferred upon the Federal Government for
1onehcient purposes by wise and patriotic
founders have been wrested from their pro.
per use and made to service in the cause of
slavery. treason, and rebellion, The an.
cient Romans discovered that there was as
much to achieve in the artful Interpretation
OF the laws as in the making of them, and
our Republic has not wanted willing instru-
ments TO pervert the letter and spirit of the
Constitution for the base purposes Of slavery.
we had eighty years of pro-slavery rule, In
winch every department of the Government,
created in the blessed name of freedom, has
successfully bowed the knee and done hom-
age to the Baal OF slavery. One by one the
Dulwarks OF freedom went down before the
persistent attacks Of her opponent, until tho
Dred Scott decision leit her no home to cal
her own. The time came at last when free
dom had to fight for n foothold or abandon
the Government in despair. She has fought
and won. Will she maintain her groundt
that 10 the question, and one to be deter
mined by the present Congress- On Its
many generations. The cause of the people
has been betrayed anew by faithless Exccu-
tive. lie has conspired with defeated trail
lore to restore them TO their old ascendency.
10 accomplish this he has turned the engines
OF Official patronage and power against us.
he has usurped legislative authority; turned
faithful friends of the Government out of
place to make room for TRAITORS who should
more properly have been condemned to the
81 1t.
odlous as promised, he has endeavored TO
subject the whole country TO the dominion
OF traitors, and to cast Odium upon loyalty.
tie has exercised dictatorlal power over the
states lately In rebellion, and placed in
charge OF the Governments set up by him
self therein, without authority of law, those
who were most conspicuous for their services
TO- the late Confederacy, and has demor-
allied the border States by persistent ap-
peals to the prejudice of caste and the dis
tribution of patronage amongst the enemies
OF freedom itisa fact which should awaken
Tue deepest solicitude and the promptest
enorts to counteract him, that Andrew John.
son mas copied the acts of every ambitious
ruler who has overthrown the liberties of re-
puolics He hassput the offices of the ma
Ton up Tor barter, as was done by the delna-
gogues of Rome, and like them has attempted
oy base appeals to the passion of the multi
tude TO secure support He has grossly
abused the rardoning power, and by his
ciemsncy toward counterieiters, post Office
thieves and Treasury robbers offered pre-.
miums 10 dishonesty and to counterfeiting
the currency of the country We venture
10 say that If a list of pardOns shall be called
ior by Congress it will be found that Andrew
johnson bas, in defiance of law and subYer-
sion oil Justice, pardoned more convicted
counterieiters than all his predecessors put
together. By assuming the right to inter
pref the Constitution for himself, and estab-
lish state Governments over one-half of the
country without the assent of Congress, he
mas practically taken to himself entire con.
trol oi the whole Southern section, where
Ills Will is law and the officers are his
creatures 1t was alleged against the Con-
sular Constitution which enabled NApoleon
10 establish despotism, that by investing
MN with the right of ordering the prOsecu.
ton OF executive officers OF the Government
II clothed him with a power as odious and
1espotlcal as that of the old regime. Andrew
Johnson does not await the result of prose
culion. He draws the sword of official pro.
scrlpton, and woe to any true friend OF the
victorious nation who stands in his way.
When the list of the prescribed called for by
the resolution of Mr.. Myers shall be pro
duced the country will stand appalled, at the
evidence OF the Presidents baseness. We
expect to see this thing sltted to the bottom.
we claim that no haste can be too great In
securing to the people that which belongs TO
them. They have had an ardent and fear
iul struggle, and have had all they fought
for put at hazard by the trcachery of one
man. They wish to secure themselves for
the future against him, and they look TO Con
gress to do it. The people want no tempor
iizing-will listen to no compromises. They
have empowered their loyal Representatives
to take charge and do all that is necessary to
save the Republic TO freedom, and we have
no doubt it will be done