The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-12-18

tributed by the states, person comprehend
ing all these things, we say, and scknowi.
sdging the infinite beauty and business, Will
| see with profound sstonishment ana alarm
the present character of our government
Instead ofwitnessing the operation Of squa-
preme within . certain limit and yet always
exercising only coordinate powers, he dis
covers a monstrosity, in which one member
'.of the body politic has become swollen to
enormous proportions, and In which the 9th
er members have become shrunken and pow
efiess. In short, in place Of q government of
coordinate powers. there is but the mere
shadow OF q government, apart from the
rump congress.
/ Nothing can be less liable to misunder-
standing than the fact that the powers not
expressly delegated to the general govern
ment cannot be exercised by it. The consti-
tutienal powers delegated tooongrsss are few
in number. 10 is provided that this body
shall have power to lay and collect taxes to
borrow money; regulate commerce, n,nural-
ization. post othcee, patents, etc.. to declare
war, raise and suppors armies and nayies to
provide national militia to legislate for
public domain to declare the punishment of
treason; TO propose amendments to the con-
stitution and to judge of the election and
qualification of its own members. This, I'M
der the constitution, is all that congress shall
have power to do; and when il steps ever 80
little beyond this defined boundary, the act
is usurpatior.
If we take the legislation of any single
day, we shall find that congress does not even
preserve the pretense of limiting itself to its
constitutional functions. On Thursday, for
| instance, there were bills introduced to take
possession of telegraph lines to regulate the
solsmnization of marriage in Utah; provid-
ing committee to investigate riot occurr-
ing within the municipal boundaries of New
Orleans and a measure looking to the estsb-
lishment of martial law in the southern
| statss-in states which, whatever may be the
doubtfulness which surrounds the origin of
| their present governments, have been recog-
nized rs states by the very power which now
| proposes to place them under martial law.
| . These particulars make up the burden of a
| single days proceedings; and they constitute
| but drop in the bucket. Each preceding
day of this and the last session was quite 81
| fruitful in the production of measures Of
which not a single one belonged legitimately
to this swollen usurpation which Is called q
| congress. .-r -
| Standing now upon ground wholly IN
known to the constitution, this congress il
fast approaching position in which, exercis
| iAS dI1 buc LuuOsiVur pC1VukihS " Co-oHO3AntS
branches, it will become a monstrous, ire
sponsible tyranny. By its legislation with
reference to the constitutional prerogatives o.
| the chief executive, it will, in little time
| reduce the Office of president until it will be
| come o mere sham like the royalty at ths
head of Great Britain. It adds to the enor
nifty of this congressional usurpation to re
feet that the present congress represents only
q minority of the people for if we add the
| democratic and conservative vote of the NORTH
to the excluded vote OF the south, We should
have clear majority opposed to this con
/ gress.
I 1t is a question of the utmost moment as *
| how this thing will end. When single de
partmens of the government. representing on
ly minority of the people. can usurp and
exercise with impunisy powers belonging tt
coordinate departments and when in add
tion to this, il overrides the rights Of slater
| and acknowledges 10 control save it's OWL
viii, there Is reason to fear, not that our re
publican form of government is endangered
but that il is already at an end. 1t is no
the name, but the act which constitutes
| tyranny and one msy be none the less de
structive that tits known as q congress, in
stead Of an au:ocrscy or al oiigarehy.
The present moment imperatiyely demand
the attention OF pstriotr. The usurpation 0
/ powers belonging to the nation Dy bod.
known as . congress is as harmful as a usur
patton of the same powers by body callin:
| itself confederacy.