The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-03-12
Suspending the Constitution-ThcD Dan
ger OF the Republic.

ger OF the Republic.
Every radical member of Congress has new
plan Of government for the United States in
his pocket, or has offered one to the House.
Judging from the proceedings in Congress
alone, from the view taken of the country by
the radical party, we might suppose it was in
the condition that France was in when new
constitution was suggested every day, and q
new one adopted once fortnight When the
National Assembly trampled the ancient mon
archy under foot aud sat to frame constitu-
ton, France was not more completely sdrift
with respect to organic law than we seem to be
now. All the pitiful theorists, all the malir-
nant fanatics, all the corrupt schemers have
substitutes to ofer for the constitution framed
by the fathers Of the republic and still vcner-
ated by the people. Nearly fifty so-called
amendments have been proposed. If only half
Of these were adopted, the true constitution
would be buried under the superimposed rub
bish, its powers for good would be negatived
by greater powers for evil, and the distinctive
character Of the government would DO lost
What is the significance Of all these proposed
amendments! Is the constitution really sus-
pended or set aside? That is the position Of
the radical faction. and they act on it. And as
this faction rules, 1t is practical fact that the
constitution is set aside so far as the action of
Congress goes. This is the issue between Con-
gress and the President The President, like
another Cato, adheres to the rcpublic-stands
by the government that has carried the country
safely through SO many years; and the fac
tons, finding the full operation OF the consitu-
ton interrupted by the war, eager to hold on
to the power given by that interruption, as
sumo that the constitution is set aside, and en-
deavor to force upon the country systems more
suitable to their factious purposes.
No point in our history has been more dan
gerous than this; and we may see the real ex-
tent Of this danger by comparing our position
with analogous ones in the history Of other
nations. Rome, England and France, mex
haustible examples Of political evils, show us
how, in cases like the present, freedom falls
victim to the violence of faction. Rome, under
the republican system, had passed through
period of unparalleled growth and grandeur.
Her government was then tested tremendously
by the Punic, Macedonian and Spanish wars.
1t was shaken in those struggles. They dis
turbed that nice equilibrium Of powers which
is the glory and the safety of free government
There was great increase in the power of the
Senate. That was the first change in the con-
stitution, and II opened the door to all others,
because the factions in the legislature, corrupt,
arrogant, thirsty for power, would not permit
the Senate TO retracc that dangerous step when
II was possible. That change-that departure
from the old system-had been forced by the
occasions of war; but 1t was dangerous--an
evil-and ought not TO have outlived the cir
cumstances in which il arose. But the Senate
would not give way. 1t was determined to
hold on to preponderance Of power that en-
abled II TO keep down those elements in the
State likely 10 thwart its will. All sense Of the
rights Of others, all moderation In council, all
patriotic purposes, were gone. Faction, short
sighted insolent, mean, ruled the State, and
freedom had already persisted. No tyranny
was ever more oppressive than this Of the
legislature transcending its power. From this
tyranny to that of Marius was short step, and
il even seemed to the people like an alienation
Of misery. Again, TO Sylla and to Pompey
was only change Of factions, and IL seemed
only another change Of the same character
when Caesar established the empire on the ruins
of Roman freedom Thus, when the FIRST step
is taken, oil the rest are easy.
We see the same sequence Of events in the
great rebellion in England, when the grand
struggle off people for freedom, perverted by
faction, resulted only in the establishment OF
a new tyranny. There also the necessities Of
the people compelled them to set aside the
constitution. by the execution Of Charles the
constitution was dissolved, and the Parlament