The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-01-18

within a few weeks of an election be-
fore organization is ATTEMPTED and
m cans concerted to bring out the De.
mocratic vote. This is leaving too
m UGH to be done in the excitement Of
a campaign. Voters should form their
opinions before the turmoil commences.
The popular mind should be educated
in advaece. The political questions of
the day should be l%sisurely examined
and discussed. If laboring men find
thoir-efforts not in as prosperous con-
dition as they used to be, now is the
time to inquire into the cause, and to
take the proper steps for their removal.
Ifs compulsory paper currency, a vic.
lous revenue system; and unequal tax
alton have co-operated to raise the prices
of the necessaries of life, without a cor
responding rise in the wages of labor,
it becomes, at once, apparent, that
there issometihng wrongin the manage.
ment of public affairs which should be
Immediately reformed. If, in the in
vestigation of these questions it should
be discovered, that through indirect
methods, one-half of the daily wages
ofthe laboring man went into the cof-
fers of the national government, of
bankers and New England manufactu.
rers, the cry for q change of policy
would go up from every party of the
land, and the opinions of the old Dem
Ooraticy party on these vital subjects,
would become more precious than
ever.
There are no deeper questions in
political economy, than are now before
the country, demanding the attention
of the people, and affecting their most
vital interests. Men cannot vote inteli-
gently, nor Gun they decide with which
OF the great political parties to unite,
until they first look into these matters
and see how they affect national, as
well as individual interests.
The usurpations of Congress, of pow
ers not conferred by the Constitution,
and its efforts to force the coordinate
branches ofthe Government intoa con-
currence in all its assumptions and
abuses, present an alarming condition
of things, requiring immediate popular
attention, to stay a revolutionary tend.
ency, which, unless checked, will soon
overturn the judicial and executive de-
partments, and the rights of the States
subjecting all to the arbitrary will and
control Of a despotic Congress. The in
dependence OF the Judiciary must be
sustained-it Is tho only guard of con-
stitutional liberty. Neithermust Con-
gress be allowed TO usurp the.powers lie
gally belonging to the Executive. 1t
is essential to the preservation Of our
free institutions, that ZACH OF tn three
great departments Of the Government,
should exercise the functions assigned
1t in the Constitution, without inter-
ference on the part of the others; and
such interference cannot be permitted
without destroying the political system
established by tho patriots and states
men of the revolution
The failure TO restore the Southern
States to their just condition of equali-
ty IN the Union, excites such appre-
tensions us to future peace and the
political stability of affairs, as prevents
the growth of confidence and the revi-
val of business in that extensive section
Of our country. Our manufacturers,
mechanics and farmers, are thus depri-
we'd of a great outlet for their products
all the commercial relations Of the
country are disturbed-and to this
cause, more than any other, ~ the
growing business depression, none so
prevalent, to be ascribed.
All these important subjects should
be eandidly and lpcidly canvassed, in
the cities, towns, villages and rural
districts. County and township com
mittees should be organized to call at
t%ention to them; to circulate the best
composed speeches and papers; to adj
moAish, explain andurge to such action
as the pressing exigencies of the times
imperiously demand. The public lib
critics, as well as individual rights,
were never in more imminent danger.
Suffering has already commenced
o~onn thu lahorin0 claaaAa--it will