The Shasta courier., 1867-02-02
SHASTA COURIER.
One Good Result From Great Quarrel.

There are encouraging indications that one
great good, at least, will result from the
quarrel between President johnson and the
Thirty ninth Congress We mean a restric-
tion of the appointing power to its constitu-
tional limits. No rejecting mind can con
template the rapidly increasing patronage Of
the Executive without a suspicion that, even
before the close of this century, it will be
dangerous to the Constitution and Liberties of
the country. A bold, bad, able, ambitious
man in the Presidential Office, say thirty
years from now, VIXEN the Offices will be two
or three times as numerous as now. and the
expenses Of the Government not less than
three hundred millions per year, with un-
limited power to remove good men and ap
point his syc0phants and creatures, with
standing army of no more than o0,0OO, to
do his bidding, would find even four years
long enough time 10 repeat the r0te OF Au-
gustus and usurp imperial powers. We have
one security against this which the Roman
Senate lacked, and that is in the separate
Governments of the States, and the power
which is by their constitutions vested in
their several Governors and Legislatures over
the militia Of the country. But it is not
difficult to forsee conditions under which this
check upon the central ruler would be insdf
fcent. No surer does ambition prompt
usurpation, than usurpation is followed by
lavish expenditure. bribery and corruption
splendid establishments, and large armies to
defend them. These corruptions would in
evitably extend to State capitals. overcome
the honor and patriotism of Governors and
legislators, create divisions among the States
themselves, and SO place all at the mercy of
one man.
he most honorable and spirited of men
lose part of their virtue in the face Of the
fact that their fortunes may be marred
made at the will or caprice of another. The
best IF rulers can hardly resist the tempta
tons of mbitian when he is conscious OF
this power over a hundred thousand office
holders, generally men Of more than average
address and infuence.l and. through them
over other hundreds of thousands of his
countrymen. What, then. ought not to be
feared from a ruler naturally ambitious and
prone to evil? We should trust no man
further than the Constitution trusts, and
hold the highest officer in the Government as
strictly subordinate to the law as the poorest
sagrant in the streets. Whenever we fail in
this. the safety Of the Nation is in peril
The Greeks and Romans were no less fond of
liberty than the Americans. They had. too,
certain sort of respect for law-strong
enough in their interrupted youth, but
yielding at last to hero worship aud the c1r-
rnpting influences of wealth. History leaves
no cause for the belief that Napoleon was
worse than avera e moral man. He was en-
outraged to usurpatlon by the want of public
faith in the written laws and those who ad
ministered them. When free people come
to this pass. they are not far from slavery to
one tyrant what is worse to Thirty -
Tyranny is ubiquitous. under all conceal
ments, and only waits on its opportunity
For the rest, armies. cuurtiers, mercenaries.
dynasties, are sure to follow speedily uron
the heels of the first misstep Eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty" Con
stitutions must be supreme or contemplate.
The Presidents of the United Stat $. for
more than thirty wears past, have been oh
sequiously tolerated in official conduct above
the Constitution. This, springing from the
acrimony of party spirit, had at length
fastened itself upon the Office as a preroga
tive, and when any one in the Senate or
House presumed to question the right of "A
President to make removals or appoint to
Office without the advice and consent of the
Senate. provided for in the Constitution they
were sure to receive the lpsrs and sc0rn of
power and its minions We were about to
be yictimized by a false precedent, which the
foremost men of Congress knew to be very
dangerous. but which danger the nation was
not permitted to see, because the interested
politicians of no party would allow it, The
"spoils" of Office were beginning to tell
fearfully upon the IN rails and patriotism of
the people. upon the character of the Presi
Dental Office. of Congress, and Of State pol
Itics. In some places the spolsmen had be-
come omnipntent in elections in all places
their influence was felt. Behind the humble,
yet decent. Republican provision made by
law for the estate of a President. were con.
eealed powers such as few monarchS dare
now exercise. The slightest hint from " his
Excelencyn was sufficient to set the whole
Federal political machinery in motion To
carry elections this way or that. in any State:
and = his ExceIency's'' frown could cause
many thousands Of men. honorable inlelec
tua. influential. to tremble. Senator's and
Representatives were his fatterers. his obse-
quious imitators and defenders The Gov
ernOrs of States were his humble servants
tie could make or mar their fortunes through
the local Federal instruments he commanded
ard controlled. Matters were working with
greasy smoothness toward the old ruts of
despotlsm, so dreadful tn. and carefully
guarded against. by Mr.. Jefferson. when all
at once Mr.. johnson. in n moment unfortu
nate for the prerogative. unmasked the bat
teries concealed behind the White House
throne, showing the people and Congress the
metal they We're charged with. aud what
could be aoae with them towar making the
will ct "a President the Supreme power in the
land, At the incoming of new President,
any time within the last thirty year. whole,
sale removals fir m office might have been
maze without occasioning more than partisan
solicltnde and criticism, and certainly with
out the general apprehension of danger to
the country. Usurpation is generally insid
ious, lulling public suspicion in thousand
ways. This time it failed, and elected the
most serious inquiry in Congress and all over
the country. The result is that the Senate
will insist strictly on its Constitutional
rights, and the Presidents of the future.
there Is reason to believe, will be shorn of
power that was beginning to make patriots
tremble for the future of the nation.-Aua.
An editor in Illinois recently saw notant