The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1867-12-11

To preserve their inheritance OF 4 Iree
government in their own bands, and
transmit it undivided and uisimpaired
to their own pos!erity, IS loo stsong to
! be successfully opposed. Every weaker
Tassion will disappear before the love
of liberty and law, for which the
American people are distinguished
above all others in the world.
How far the duty of the President,
"to preserve, protect, and defend the
Constitation," requires him 10 go in
opposing an unconstitutional act Of
Congress, isa very serious and impor-
tant question, on which have dclibc-
rated much, and felt extremely anxious
to reach proper conclusions. Where
an act has been passed according to
the forms of the Constitution fy the
supreme legislative authority, and is
regularly enrolled among the public
statutes of the country, Executive rc-
sistance to it, especially in times of
high party excitement, would be like
ly to produce violent collision between
the respective adhcrcuts of the two
branches of the Government. This
would be simply civil war; and civil
war must be rcsot,d to only, as tho
last remedy for the worst Of evils.
Whatever might tend to provoke it
should be most carefully avoided. A
faithful and conscientious Magistrate
will concede very muchto honest error,
and something even to pervcrsc NAL
ice, before he will endanger the public
peace and he will not adopt forciblc
measures, or such as might lead to
force, as long as those which are peace
able remain open to him or to his cen
stituents. 1t is true that cases may
occur in which the Executive would
he compelled to stand on his rights, and
m iintain them, regardless of all consc-
quenccs. IfCongress should pass an
act which is not only in palpablc con-
flict with the Constitution, but will
certainly, if cirriel out, producc i'm
mediate and irr;;Iaraoic injury to the
organic structure Of the Government,
and if there be neither judicial remedy
for the wrongs it inacts, nor power
in the people to protect themselves
without the oiiicia! aid of their elected
defender; if, ior instance, the Legisla-
tive Department should pass an act
even through all the forms of law to
abolish coordinate depart
ment of the Govcrnment--in such
case the President must take the high
responsibilities Of his Office, and save
the life of the nation at all hazards.
The so called reconstruction acts,
though as plainly unconstitutional as
any that can be imagined, were not
believed to be within the class last
mentioned. The people were not
wholly disarmed of the power of self
defence. In all the Northern States
they still held 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 institutions.
1t gives me pleasure to add tat the
appeal to our common constituents
was not taken in vain, aud that my
confidence in their wisdom and virtue
seems not to have been mis-splaccd.
1t is well and publicly known that
enormous frauds have been perpctratcd
on the Treasury, and that colossal
fortunes have been made at the public
expense. This species of corruption
has increased, is increasing, and If not
diminished will soon bring us into total
ruin and disgrace. The public cretli-
tors and the tax payers are alike
Interested in an honest administration
sf the finances, and neither class will
endure the largo-handcd robbcrics of
The recent past. For this discredisablc
state ci things there are several ca,iscs.
Come Of the taxes are so laid as to
present an irresistible temptation to
evade payment. The great sums
which officers may win by connivaucc
At fraud create pressure which, is
more than the virtue of many can
and there can be no doubt
that the open disregard Of the
constitutional obligations avowed by
the highcstand most influential
men in the country has greatly
weakened the moral sense of those
who serve in subordinate places.
The expenses of the United States,
including interest on the public debt
ire more than six times as much as
they were seven years ago. To col
ect ana disburs. this vast amount re-
lu.res careful supervision as well as
systematic vigilance. The system,
iaver perfected, was much disorgan-
zcd by the "Tenure of Office. Bill"
which has almost destroyed official ac-
,ountabi'lty. The President may be
thoroughly convinced That an officer is
incapable, dishonest, or unfiithful to
hc Constitution, put under the law
which have name,l, the utmost he canf
10 is to complain to the Senate, and
SIX the privilege of supplying his
,lacc with better man. II the
'enate be regarded as personally or
politically hostile to tho President. it
; natural, and not altogether
!, unreasonable, for the officer to Expect
hat It will take his part as far as
os'pie, restore him to his place, and
ave him a Triumph overhis Executive
1Pcrior. The officer has other chances
impu .nity arising from accidental
eject, Of evidence, tho mode Of
nve stigating it, and the secrecy Of the
caring. 1t is not wonderful that
,kficial maife,sa rfs, ah,,,ld .ihnn.,l