Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-12-07

SFeSS Ill tue lalc manifestations OIL pubic O,ln-
ION upon the subj Ct We lfyt. in a country
where the popull will always e1tf,ic,s ohcd.z
ence 10 i'Selt sooner later. 1t is vain tthiiik
of Op osing il with anything short OF legal ;.u-
thOliiy, backed by an Ovetwht lining force Ii
caunnI have escaped your attention that from
the day II which Congress fairly and formally
prt seuted the proposition to govern the South
ern States by military force, with a view TO the
ultimate estabiishnntBt Of. negro supremacy,
every expression of general sentiment has been
more or less adverse 10 r. The affections of
this generation cannot be detached from the in
sttutions of their ancestors. 'TlIe determination
to preserve the inheritance of free government
in their own hands and transmit it undivided
and unmparcd TO their own postcrity is too
strong to be successfully nppo,e ed. Every weak
cr passion will disappear before the love of lib
erty and law, for which the American people
are distinguished above all others In Tie world
How far the duty OF. the President TO
preserve protect,and defend the conStitu-
ton requires him to go in opposing an
Unconstitutional act of Congress, is very
serious ard important question, and one
OIL which have d lbtrated much, an |
felt extremely anxious to reach proper
conclusion. Where IN act has Been pass
ed according to the forms of the c0nsti-
tuition by the supreme legislative authori-
ty Of the country, executive rcsiStahce to
it, especially in times of high party ex-
citement, would be likely to produce a
violent collision bet tween the respective
adhercrts of the two branches Of the
government. This would be simply civil
war, and must be rtSortttl TO only us a
last remedy for the worst Of evils. What
ever might tend to provoke it Should be
most carefully avoided. \ faithful and
conscientious iaagistrate will concede
very mach to HOTTEST error, and something
even TO pervcrSe malice, before he will
endanger public peace. Aud be will net
adolt .forcIble meaSurtS, or such as might
lead to force, rs loifg as chances Which
a"e feasible rtmain open TO him or his
constituents.
Ii is true that eases may occur III which
tie Executive would he compelled to
stand on its rights and maintain them re-
gardless Of Consequences If Congress
should prss an act which is not only in
palpable conflict with the Constitution,
but will certainly, if carried out. produce
immediate and irrcparable infmy 10 the
organic structure of the government, and
If there be neither judicial remedy for the
wrongs it intiicts, nor power in the pco-
pie to protect themselves without the of
ticial aid of their elected defenders If.
for instance, the legislative depar; mcnt
should pnss an act, even though with all
the forms of law, to abolish a coordinate
department Of the government, in such a
case the President must take the high re-
spomsibilities- of his office and save the
life of the nation at all hazards. The So
called reconstruction acts, though rs
plainly unconstitutional as any that can
be imagined, were not believed to be
within the class last mentioned. Tie
pt ople are not wholly disarmed of the
power of selfdefense in all the Northern
States; they still hold in their hands the
sacred right of the ballot, and it WAS safe
to believe that in due time they would
come to the rescue of their own institu-
tionS. 1t gives me pleasure to add that
appeal TO our common constituents was
not taken iii vain, and hat my confidence
i'll tlcir wisdom and virtue seems rot to
have been misplaced.
1t is well and publicly known that
enormous frauds have been pcrpctratcd
on the Treasury and that colossal for
tunes lave been made at public expense.
This species of corruption has increased
and is increasing, aEd if not diminished
will soon iring us into total ruin and dis
grace. Public creditors and tax PAYERS
arc alike interested in an hol.est admins
tration of the finances, and neither class
will long endure the large handed rob
berries Of the reccht past. For this dis
rreditable state Of things there are sew
pral canses. Some Of the taxes are 20
laid as to present an irresistible tempta-
ton to evade payment. The great SUMS
which officers may realize by connivarce
nj fraud crcatea pressure which is more
han the virtue OF many can withstand,
and there can .be TO doubt tlist tie open
disregard tor constitutional Obligations,
,vU '@d by some Of the highest and most
ntluentla. men in the country, has great
y weakened the moral sense Of those
who serve in subordinate places.
The expenses of the Cnnyd States, IN
'luding interest on the public debt, are
more than six times as much as they |
we're seven years ago. To collect and |
lisburse this vast amount requires care
ul supervision as well rs systematic vigi-
ence. The system, never perfected, was
much disorganized by the tenure of office
Jill, which has almost destroyed official
accountability. The President may be
thoroughly convinced that an officer is
dishonest or unfaithful to the
but under the law which |
lavc named his utmost cndcavor is to
COMPLAIN to the Senate and as the priyil-
ge of Supplying his place with better
nan. Ifthe Senate be regarded as per-
onally or politically hostile to the Pre-
ident it is natural and not altogether un-
easonable for the officer to expect that.
will take his part as far as poss bic, re-
tore him to his place and give him a
riumph over his Executive superior off
er Other chances of impuri;y arising
rom accidental defects of evidence made /
f investigating it and the secrecy of
earring, it is not wonderful that official
lalfeasance should become bold in pro
ortIon rs the delinquents learn to think
lernselres safe. l am entirely persuad-
/ that under such a rule the President
lnHot perform the great duty assigned
, him OF seeing the laws faithfully exc
Ited, and thar il disables him most es- {
aciollv from oufnr,inc tLot ,.icri1 %, | 1