The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-09-26
Notes on the situatiOn.-NO. IL
by HON. D. II. HILL, OF GEORGIA.

The late short session of the frag-
mentary Congressional conclave has
an Importance which the people do not
now seem to comprehend, The future
historian will pronounce it one OF the
most marked events in the decadence
Of American governments under writ
ten Constitutions II is difficult to re
alize the unique distinctness, and rap
i'd, bold, straightforwardness OF its di-
abolical treachery to the Constitution.
1t carried the banner of destructive pro-
gress, with a quick, bounding, fearless
stride, far beyond the timid boundaries
reached by any previous Congress Or
conclave. Satan was not. more fear
less in his flight through chaos, nor
more grandly wicked in the hellish mis-
sion which hurried him on.
The exclusion of the delegates from
a State always conceded to be in the
Union-who abandoned, yea, fought
her sister Southern States, in order to
remain in and preserve the Union-was
new step forward-a measurcless
stride forward.
Then the formal taking into consid
Grafton the question, whether the Gov
ernment of three States, always in the
Union, were republican in form, was
another new and mcasureless step OF
descending progress. Governments
under which these States had always
lived, and two of which States were OF
the original trainers of the Constitution.
What a consuming blaze ofindigna,ion
either Of these acts would have produ
ced in the virtuous days ofthe Repub-
lie! How the glorious Webster would
have shaken the continent with his
grand periods ofrebuke, and how burn
ing Goals ofspeaking fire would have
come rushing and witherng from the
lips of the immortal Clay! But who is
startled now? We must be dead, else
this very indifference would alarm. Oh,
Kentucky, Kentucky the troubled spir-
it of him who made your name, through
all the world, the very synonym for
manhood, beseeches, youto remove his
ashes from your bosom Or this stain
from your honor!
cage thou art ashamed!
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble
blood"
But, startling as are these two acts,
] they are Of much less importance than
others committed by this remarkable
conclave. / shall not refer now to any
thing done toward what are called thu
Rebel States. This word, rebel, has
been the flippant and long accepted ex
cuse for'many ruthless violations ofthe
Constitution, when those violations af.
fected the Rebel States. But my earn
est desire is to call the attention of the
Northern people to the great, alarming
fact, that this conclave at Washington
while directing the attention of the peo
pie to the Rebel States, is destroying
the Constitution for all tic States that,
under cover Of oaths to support the
Constitution, and while diverting the
Northern people with pretences of pun
ishing the rebellion, and exacting guar.
antees against future rebellion, this
conclave is itself only hideous, or
ganized, bold and dangerous rebellion
against the Constitution, against th'
Union, and against liberty!
In addition to the two crimes abov,
specified against these States always il
the Union, the conclave passed anothe
Supplementary Military Bill, explain
ing their meaning in the former Militia
ry Bills, and directing how all shall b.
executed,
Now the Constitution expressly vest
all executive power in the President.
But this conclave, in this Supplemental
Bill, ignores the President as the Exc
cutive power, and expressly vests tn
executive power for these measures il
the General ofMe army! Thus the ex
ccutive department OF the Federal Gov
ernment is destroyed as to these bills
and if Congress can destroy. this pow
er in one case it can destroy it in all.
Again: the Constitution expressl.
vests all judicial powers in certai
Courts. But this bill expressly pro
fvides that the military officers in execu
ting these bills shall not be bound b.
the opinion of any civil officer of til
United States Mark the words, no
civil officer ofthe States, but of the Uni
ted States. Thus, as to these bills, til
judicial department of the Federal Gov
ernment is destroyed, and, of course,
Congress can destroy that department
as to one bill it can as to all. So, on
of three departments Of the Govern
ment has destroyed the other two dc
partments as TO these bills, and, by th
same process can destroy them as t.
all measures and thus one department
of the Government, by its own ac
! makes itself the whole Government.
Now, then, suppose you ofthc Mort
are willing to forget the promises yo
I made to receive back these ten States
they would lay down their arms; SUI
, pose you are willing to permit Congres
; to abolish the Constitution as to thes
ten States, and to subject the white rae
to the rule of the black race: suppos
you are willing to make Of these te
States . tributary OF Hell: are you as
, willing to see that same Congress d.
stroy two departments Of your ow
RoIos.1 NoocSr~nuk9 un- 4. q Al.