The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-02-07
THE IMPENDING COUP D'ETAT AT
WASHINGTON,


mond, a member of the present Con-
gress, and thoroughly acquainted with
the designs of the Radicals, publishes q
lengthy article in its editorial columns.
We give the following extracts, suffic-
lent to show how overshadoWing a peril
is now hanging its dark shadow over
this country. Politically, we have no
confidence in Henry J. Raymond; he
would turn somersaults with Radical
ism jim one hand, Conservatism in the
other, and an unmatched chameleon egg
in his mouth, until the fight was over,
and then adapt his principles to Whoev-
er will pay best. But his warnings in
this case should not go UNDECIDED He
mingles, and acts with the Radicals.
sits in their caucuses, and is thoroughly
acquainted with their revolutionary de-
signs. The programme marked ont by
the Radical leaders, is little too bold
and dangerous for Raymond to follow
at once. He is a tricky politician, but
not a reckless one. He snufls danger
in this conspiracy of the .Iacobins. and
the tragic end of Robespiere and Dan
ton is not by any means a pleasant con-
temptation. Hence his warnings, in
the hope that he may be able to arrest
or check it. But the conspiracy has
been fully planned and the attempt will
be made to carry it out, even though it
result as, we believe it will, in the COM
plete overthrow and destruction of the
traitors engaged in it. Here are the
extracts frol. the TImeseditorial. Read
and ponder.
s'FeW of us are blind enough not tosee
that there is now impending a coup d'etdt
at Washington. 1t hangs above our
heads at this very moment, and if we
do not lay aside all party hopes and fears,
or in fact all other political considera-
tons, it will fall upon us as we are gaz-
ing upon it with stupid and inactive APP
prehension. The power by which the
existence of constitutional government
is imperiled in this country has control
of one branch only of our government.
1t holds that power as the representa-
tive of only a majority of only a part
of the nation. A large minority of the
atpreseH control the legislative branch
of our government are opposed to their
action, and yet must submit, and ought
to submit to that action, so long as it is
constitutional. Now it is the one. card
inal principle of constitutional govern
ment that within the provisions of the
Constitution the rights of mnorities as
well as those of majorites shall be- safe.
1t is chiefly for the protection of minor
tiles that constitutional government is
established-thatp party, which, for the
time being, has control of the executive
and legislative branches of government
may not use its power exclusively in it's
own interests, and in tyrannical disre-
gard of the rights of the minority.
Therefore it is that a constitution de-
clares what the executive and what the
legislative power may do, and declares
also that they Shall not do certain other
shings, oa that they shall do only that
for which they receive authority through
the Constitution.
The purpose Of the majority in the
present imperfect Congress, as we all see,
is to remove the President, anu not on
ly the President but the Supreme Court
out of its way. We see this, and we
look on in apathy, and go about money
making, stupidity trusting that no harm
will come of it, and yet what is doing is
that constitutional government is de-
stroyed before our eyes. A bill was
brought on Monday by Mr.. Williams,
of Pennsylvania, which, absolutely, is
entitled bill to "define the powers of
the Supreme Court'-of the Supreme
Court whose powers are defined by the
Constitution, and the chief object of
aclose creation aros to define the po1rers Of
Congress. A more bare-faced attempt
at usurpation was never seen; a more
tata! blow 10 constitutional government
Was never dealt. Yet what may we not
expect when Mr.. Wilson reports "a bill
which declares valid and conclusive
eertai,! prociainations and consequent
acts which the Supreme Court can only
declare valid: and when Mr.. Boutwell,
does not heitate to declare, with strong
emphasis" that the Supreme Court eX-
isis but By the breath of Congress-the
supreme Court, created BY the creator
of Congress, to interpret its laws and be
ii check upon its action. Congress has
no more right to define the powers of
the Supreme Court than to define it's
own powers or those of the President.
The people have already done all this