The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-12-12
Established 1925.


cnce TO itself sooner or later. Icis
vain 70 think Of opposing il with
anything short OF legal authority.
backed by an overwhelming force
1t cannot have escaped your at.
tention that, from the day on which
Congress fairly and formally pres.
ented the proposition TO govern the
Southern States by military force,
with q view TO the ultimate estab
lishmensof negro supremacy, every
express on Of public sentiment, has
becn more or less adverse 10 it.
The affection Of this generation
cannot be detached from the in.
situations OF their aDcestsrs.s Their
determination TO preserve this
inheritance of free government in
their own hands, and transmit It
undivided and uhimpaircd, 10 their
own posterity, is too strong. to be
successfully opposed. Every weak
er passion will disappear before tire
love OF liberty and law, for which
the American people are distinguish
ed above all others in the world.
The Prs"ident's Dat y oonsIdsred.
How far the duty of the Presi
dent TO preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution requires him to
70 in opposing an unconstitutional
act of Congress, is very serious
and important question. on which |
have sdelibeFated much, and felt
extremely anxious 10 reach u prop.
er conclusion. sg ~
When an act has been passed,
according to the forms of the Con.
stitution, by the supreme legisla.
i've authority ofthe couatry, Ex-
ecutlve resistance 10 it, especially
IN times Of high parry excitement,
would be likely to produce a VIC
lent collision between. the respec-
tive adherents Of the two branches
OF the Government. This would
Dc simple civil war, aod civil war
must be resorted to only as n last
remedy Tor the worst evils. What.
ever might tend to provoke it
should be most carefully avoided.
A faithful and conscientious
magistrate will concede very much
to honest error, and something
even to perverse malice, before he
will endanger the public peace and
be will not adopt forcible measures,
or such as might lead TO force, as
long as chances which are peacca
bic remain open to him or to his
constituents.
1t is true that cases may occur
n.which the Executive would be
compelled 10 stand on its rights
and maintain them regardless Of
consequences.
lfCongress should press an act
which is not only in palpable con
fict with the Constitution, but with
a certainty, if carried out, to pro.
d4ace immediate irreparable injury
10 the organic structure Of govern
ment, and II there be neither Judi
cial remedy for the wrongs it in.
tiicts nor power in The people to
protect themselves without the
official aid OF their elected defend
ers il, for instance, the legislative
department should pass an act,
even though observing all the
forms Of law, to abolish co-ordi-
nate department of the Govern
ment,-ln such a 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 uuconstitu-
tional as any that can be imagined,
we're not believed 10 be within the
class last mentioned. The people
were not wholly disarmed of the
power OF self-deiense. 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
20 the rescue uf their own .institu
lions.
1t gives me. pleasure to add tha'
the appeal to our common constitu
ents was not taken in vain, and Lha
my confidence IN their wisdom anC
virtue seems not 10 have been mis-
placed.
Frauds on the Government.
Itis will and publicly known
that enormous frauds have beer
perpetrated on the Treasury, anC
that colossal fortunes have beer
made ct public expense. Thi
species Of corruption has increased
is increasing, and If not diminished
will soon bring US into total ruiz
and disgrace. Public creditors anC
tax payers are'alike interested IL
an honest administration of thu
finances, and neither class will lonl
endure tho large-handed robberiel
of the recent past.
For this discreditable state o
things there are several causes
Some of the taxes are so laid as t,
present an irresistible temptation
TO evade payment. The great sum
which officers may win by conniy
ance at fraud, create u pressur
which is more than the virtue o
many can withstand and ther
can be no doubt that the open dis
regard Of constitutional obligation
avowed by some of the highest ant
most influential men in the coun
try, has greatly weakened the NOR
al sense ofthcse who serve in
subordinate place.
The Tenure Of-ofice Law.
The expenses of the Unite,
States, including the interest o
the public debt, are moro thar ST