The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1867-12-11

and in Crc%. five repudiate the Consttu-
tion, we viii io: b. expected to care much
of mere pecuniary OBJ igations.
The violation Of such pledge "a wo
made on the 22 of ,fuly, 1861, will assuredly
diminish the market value OF our Other
promises. Besides, if we now acknowledge
that the national debt was created, not to
hold the States in the Union, as the tsxs
payers were led to suPpose, but to expef
than from it and hand them over to be
governed by negroes, the moral duty to pay
il may see much less clear.
say it may seem so, for do not admit
that IT, or any other argument in favor Ct
reputation can be entertained as sound;
but its infuhce on some classes of minds
may will be appreherded. The financial
honor Of great cnmmercial nation, largely
Indebted, and with republican form of
government, administered by aEnts of the
popular choice, is thing Of such delicate
texture. and the destruction of it would b0
followed by such unspeakablc calamity, that
every true patriot must desire TO avoid
whatever might expose it to the slightest
danger.
The great interests ofthe country requirs
immediate relief from these enaetments.
Business in tho South istraralyzed by Il
sense of general insecurity, by terror OF
confscation and dread of negro supremacy.
Southern trade, from which the North
would have derived so great profit under
government of law, still lAnguishes, and
can nevre be rvived until it ceases to be
fettered by arbitrary power, which makes all
its operations unsafe
That rich country, the richest in natural
resources the world has ever seen, is worse
than loek ,f - bn y11nco1 ,+v,da. tho
protection Of free constitution. Instead
of being what it ought to be, source of
welth and power, it will become an intolera-
bic burden upon the rest of tho nation.
A WORD ABOUT THE LATE ELECTION.
Another reason for retracing our steps
will doubtless be see,fby Congress in the
late manifestation of public opinion upon
this subject We live in country where
popular will always enforces obedience to it
self sooner or laterr 1t is vain to think Of
opposing it with any thing short of legal
authority, backed by an oV. rwhelmiDg
force.
1t can not have escaped your attention
that from the day on which Congress fairly
and formally presented the proposition to
govern the Southern States by military
tcrca, with view to the ultimate establish
mont nt negro supremacy, every expression
Of public sentiment has been more or lass
adverse to it.
The affection of this generation can not
be detached from thSfustitutions of their
ancestors Their determination to pre-.
serve, this inheritance Of free government ia
their own hands, and transmit it, undiSi-
ded and unimpaire'~ to their own posterity,
is too strong to be successfully opposed
Every weaker passion VIII disappear before
the love ofiberty anl law, for which tie
American people are distinguished above
all Others in TIE world.
THE PRESIDENTS DUTY CONSIDERED.
How far the duty of the President to pre-.
serve, protect and defend the Constitution
requires him to 70 in opposing an uncon-
sfitutional act of Congress, is very seriT
Gus and important question, on which
have deliberated much and felt extremely
anxious to reach n propea conclusion.
When an act has been passed, according
to the forms of the Constitution, by the SIT.
preme legislative authority or the country,
Executive resistance to it, especially in
times of high party excitement, would be
likely to produce violent collision between
the respective adherents of the two branches
of the Government This would be simply
civil war, and civil war must be rest ored to
only as a last remedy for the worst of evils.
Whatever might tend to provoke, it should
be most carefully avoided.
\ faithful and conscientious magistrate
will concede very much to honest error, and
something even to perverse malice. before
he will endangcr the public peace: and be
will not adopt torcible measures, or such as
might load to force, as long as chances
which are peaceable remain open to him or
his constituents.
1t is true that cases may occur in which
the Executive would be compelled to stand
on its rights and maintain them, regardless
Of consequences.
IF Congress should pas an act which is
not only in palpable conflict with the Cons
stitution, but with certainty, if carried
out, to produce Immediate irreparable in
jury to the organic structure of govern
mcnt, and if there be neithor judicial RENE.
dy for the wrongs it inficts nor power in
the people to protect themselves without
the official aid of their elected defenders; if,
pass an act, even tn ough observing all the
forms Of law, to abolish coordinate de-
partment of the Government, i'm such
case the President must take the high re>
sponsibilities Of his office, and save the life
of the nation at all hazards.
The so-calIod Reconstruction Acts, thgtsgf
as plainly unconstitutional as any that can
be imagined, were not believed to be within
the class last m ntioned. The people wera
not wholly disarmed of the power of self
defense. In all the Northern States they
still held in their hands the eacred right Of
the ballot, and it was safe to believe that in
due time they would come to the rescue OF
their own institutions.
1t gives me pleasure TO add that the an,
peal to Our common constituents was not
taken in vain, and that my confidence in
their wisdom and virtue seems not to have
been misplaced.
FINDS ON THE GOVERNMENT.
1t is we'll and publicly known that enor.
most frauds have been perpetuated on the
Treasury, and that colossal fortunes have
been made at public expense. This species
oi' corruption has increased, is increasing,
and if not diminished will soon bring an
into ruin and disgrace. Public creditors
and tax>payeTs are alike interested in an
honest administration Of the finances, and
neither class will long endure the large
handed r0bheries of the recent past.
For this discreditable state of things there
are several causes. Some OF the taxes are
SO laid as to present an irresistible tempta-
ton to cvade payment. The great sun
which officers may win by oonnivance at
fraud, create pressure which is more thaa
the virtue Of many can withstand; and
there can lie no doubt that the open disre,
gard OF constitutional obligations avowei
by some of the highest aud most inaucn~
tial men in the country, has greatly wesks
ened the moral sense OF those who serve in
subordinate place.
THE TnNITRF. or. fRFrr-E III tvV