The national Republican., 1867-01-19
BEHIND AND BRFORR.

At the present hour those who hold in
their hands, by virtue Of their position in
the national Legislature, the power to do
much good to our common country, or to
entail upon 1t serious evils, should look for
ward and backward and all around them in |
order to be able to decide their final action
upon many Of the great questions Of the day.
Some OF them abhor retrospection. They
cry out with violent petulance when re-
minded Of the so-called "fathers" Of our po-
litical institutions, saying, 1--WE want none Of
the old fogyism of the past to deaden the
energies OF the strong spirits OF this new era.
We want no historical dust thrown into the
eyes Of those who are shaping anew the
States which were dsorganized by the rebel.
ionl"
That is very cold, high-sounding, impress
sive, and so forth, but our Legislators should
remember that the fathers" as we fondly
call them, who framed this Government
were as earnest as skilful, as intelligent, as
learned, as Jealous for oil possible reforma-
tons Of old political ideas as any who are
now in Congress that they discussed in all
their bearings all questions affecting the the
ory and plan Of Government under which we
have lived more than fourscore years; and
that they could discover no other way ex.
capt that Of self-government in the States,
and q community Of interests in Federal
Government, which should be regulated with
checks and balances that would prevent it
from acting despotically, and which should
serve also to give it sufficient strength to
act vigorously re common veal.
Now:Iif the Government is ever recon-
structed it must be upon the same plan.
Any other plan would involve reconstruc-
ton Of the Northern States and an inter
ference with their rights. The Northern
States do not propose to yield any of their
rights OF selfgovernment, but some Of the
radical party do propose to enact conditions
for States unrepresented in Congress which
they do not impose upon their own States.
They say we have the power, and we will
enact such laws as will secure equal and
exact justice to all men, (they have not yet
proposed to do so by the women,) and render
II impossible for those States to commit any
oppression, or to organize another rebellion.
This is absurd 1t is impossible to frame
guarantees for Massachusetts, or any other
State, that will prevent her people from re-
belling, or from enaeting laws that will in
some way bear oppressiyely upon her citizens.
The great danger that presents itself to all
minds not heated with partisan passion or
binsssd By corrupt influences, Is that in their
zeal for their plan OF reconstruction the domi-
nhnt party In Congress will establish prece-
dents that must certainly bring disaster not
only upon the country but upon their own
political party. II the States now in abey-
ance are ever restored TO their relations with
the Government they will take their share Of
the political power Of the nation, and they
may sometime in the future, as they did in
the past, form party which will affiliate
with sufficient number Of their sympathizers
In the Northern States TO form majority
that will exercise controlling power in
Congress. Now we happen to know that the
shrewdest demagogues in the South are look.
ing with the utmost satisfaction upon every
stretch of power exercised or attempted to
be exercised by Congress. Nothing pleases
them better than the assaults upon the Ex-
ecutive and the Supreme Court.
The doctrine that Congress may override
all other branches of the Government be-
cause it has lately come from the people
suits them WELL for they look forward to the
time when they and their Northern friends
will sway the power Of Congress They ex,
ult in the prospect Of an omnipotent Con
. gress, and any and all action by the present
Congress establishing precedents that would
bring such result are looked upon with the