The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-03-01

mlSSlOn,'' 10 De appOlntcu Dy iOnpreSS
or by any other branch of the National
Are we willing to subject
even the humblest and most obscure of
our constituents to be tried ON a grave
charge of treason against the Govern
ment, before "commission," whose
are not required to possess any
of the qualifications of learning or abil-
ity considered so indispensable in u
judge, but who sit as the representa-
tives, of political party? Our expert
ence in relation to commissions for the
trial of crimes is not very satisfactory.
Yet thisis the only mode that suggests it.
self to my mind. And If this is to be
the mode, then we must have COM
mission in each county, at least. An ir-
responsible court, to be governed by no
rules, to be controlled by no law. A court
without the power to convict, yet pos
sessed of full power to crafty the most
hellish and malignant passions. A court
that can with impunity send forth the
accused with the stigma of guilt
indelibly stamped upon his character
and not compelled to furnish him the
means of standardization. Think of
these things, gentlemen. To-day you
Radicals are the dominant party. You
imagine your hold of power cannot be
shaken. But all history proves that noe
thing is so evanescent as popular favor.
To-day you may, by cunningly devised
schemes, seduce the people into main
tanning you in power. Tomorrow that
same people, enlightened as to your de-
signs, may hurl you from your proud
position and make you suppliants at the
hands of those you have so wronged and
prosecuted. Then it would be the infer
nal machinery of these amendments, if
adopted and set in motion by you, might
return to plague the inventors. Then
would come the time when bottled
Butler might be called to account for
! giving aid and comfort to the enemy
for having, while military governor OF
New Orleans, traded supplies to the re-
bel army in exchange for cotton. Then
an n. p. Banks, misnamed General,
might be punished for having acted as
commissary general to the rebel army
while on his cotton stealing expedition
up Red River, in Texas. Or Greeley
might be tried for aiding and comfort
ing the rebels in offering to treat with
them during the rebellion, at Niagara
Falls, or for being willing to go bail fol
the prince of traitors, jeff. Davis
"Curses," then, "like chickens, might
come home to roost." 1t is to save YOU
from somesuch fnteas this we ask you tC
pause in your mad career. You have beer
shown the evil that would arise from the
third section. Look these matters fair
ly in the face, and then, if you dare, gt
home to your constituents and tell then
that you voted for this amendment
that you voted to place their rights, theil
liberties, their good name, in the hand:
and ut the disposal of an irresponsible
committee or commission to be appoint
ed by Congress. Tell them, further
that you so far forgot or lost sight o
your self-respcct, your manhood, you
duty and dignity is citizen Of the Stat
of Pennsylvania aS to vote for til,
amendment which empowers the Con
gress of the United States to establish
an inquisitorial committee to prescribe
the qualifications of those on whom
State, county and township offices cal
be conferred, and to examine the caudi
dates and applicants touching their fit
ness for these offices, within your owl
State. Go home and tell them that yOl
have not only degraded the ballot-bo,
by permitting the negro to participate
in your elections, but you have degrad
ed your State by placing it in subser
viency to the national government il
its most vital local interests.
|, But | come to the fourth section
which declares that the validity of tn
public debt of the United States, author
; lied by law, shall not be questioned.
1t Is difficult to conceive why thi
clause is inserted in an amendment t
the Constitution. The validity of tn
debt authorized by law, take it is un
questionable under the Constitution an
the laws rs they now are, and to say i
an amendment to the Constitution, tina
, it shall not be questioned, is to say tina
, which has no meaning. TO question, i
the sense used here, means of course, t
/ deny. 1t is assumed by the languag
+ of this section that the debts are vail
debts, for it says, "the public debt al
thorized by law" The Constitution, &
it is, then recognizes the validity {
+ these debts, and who can question it
t The only party that coald question {
) deny their validity, then, must be tn
/ Government. The Government whic
, contracted, and which, when it col
/ tncted, gave its bonds or certificate
f of Indebtedness with the express or in
, piled promise to pay. How then ca
: this same Government, without Il tot;
t disregard of all constitutional obligi
: tions, deny or question its validity?
= Let me Illustrate. Suppose | borro'
/ one thousand dollars Of you, Mr.. Speal
r er, and give you my bond, sOlemnl
: executed, signed, sealed, and delivered
: specifying the time and place of pay
< ment. And after you, in good faith, ha
) received it, knowing my ability to pa.
Q you should turn around and say: mo
o | have your bond for one thousand do
| lars; i suppose you intend to pay 1t.
5 And | should answer, "Oh, yes, wi
A | ,.,patinn its x.nIilit.. - \NnnI
. YOU not feel doubly secure by thus ha'
) ing my promise in addition to my bond
$ But Notwithstanding this amendment
Y suppose at some future day the Cover
{ ment should question the validity {
f this debt and refuse tOpay it-repudia
@ ii altogether, as the State of Mississippi
t once did hers? What then? Whe
IA would be the redress for the bondhol,
IS crs? True, such an act on the part
/ our Government would be in Violate
d of this amendment. But if no sue
g amendment were adopted, such den
II al of the validity of the debt or repud
j. alton WOnld be in violation of the Co
+ stitutiOn and the laws as they no
i stand. And the latter would be no mo
easily violated than the former. III
d question need only to be asked: If o
d Government should refuse to pay Il
IS public debt-should deny its validity
II what then? Where would be the rem
IS dy? To what power would the bon
l. holders appeal for redress? If the de
/. were owing to II foreign power or pc
It sons, perhaps the refusal to pay mig
l. justify in the eyes of nations) an A
2, peal to arms; but where the bonds,
e government securities, are held by o
Is own citizens, they would be without
e. dress. For them to take up arms to {
s. force payment would be treason. III
| clause in the amendment, then, y