Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-02-05
TIE TMPRAGHN6NT.
Bic Talk OF TltE c3SSERvIrIyE FGgss
OF TER NoREH
Threatened Regiatange 70 RadicaIlIsl.fI

For the benefit of those who have any con-
idence in the professions of the Northern
people (having very little OurselTes) We con
dense this week some expressions of their
purposes, if the radicals insist upon tho i'm
parchment of President johnson. We of
the South, can afford to remain quiet, while
the great problem Is being solved by the an
tagonistic forces of the North. Connected
with the impeachment of the President ia
the mad schemes of the radicals is the over
throw of the Supreme Court, and this com-
bination of evils, seems to have brought the
lethargic press of the conservative party, TO
realization of their danger. The first extract
which VIC present is from the Washington
Constitutional Union, journal which is re-
| garded US the organ of President johnson.
It says:-
Events have already brought the govern
meut to the very verge ofanother revolution.
| If the Radical majority Of Congress pursues
its reasonable course much longer, the 9oV-
| eminent, an order to sustain Itself, 1riW haze
! TO arm ats supporters. AT the call of the
President all his friends, North and South,
and in the army. and navy, will respond: Ii
such a contest the issue cannot be doubtful.
! congressman may be valiant fighters on the
| floors of Congress, but when they come to
| lead their cohorts into the field it will be an
otllcr thing. The real armies and great SOL
ders of the Republic will be found fighting
under the flag. We advise the opposition Of
| the determined and fixed fact that Andrew
johnson will serve out his constitutional term
/ of office.
In we'll written Article upon tie same sub
jcct, the Philadelphia Age holds the follow.
ing emphatic language:
Now, this question is plain and simple
| one. The President of the United States is
the sworn defender of the laws and Consti-
tuition. 1t is his solemn duty to protect the
| people in all their inalieuable rights, and he
must do so at every hazard and at every ex-
tremity. If any body of men.. no matter
whether they call themselves Congress, or
assume any other Legitimate disguise, attempt
to override the Constitution and set at naught
the laws, the President is bound to call to his
assistance all the means within his power to
| resist the usurpation, and in doing so he will
be thoroughly sustained by the loyal masses
of the touhtft. The time has gone by for
mere specuiations upon this subject. The
day is fast approaching when stern aud DELHI
crate action will be demanded. We do not
pretend to mark out any course for the Presi-
dent or for the people. Both know their
duty, and we honestly believe that both will
act we'll and wisely if the great crisis ever
arises. The Democratic party wants peace.
and has ldbored necessarily with that end and
aim. By no act or counsel Of that great and
mc-honored organization, as full of life and
vigor to-day as it ever was in the history of
the Republic, will any other fate befall the
nation. But of this the wicked men who
now are striving to ruin the best government
the world ever saw, may rest assured, that if
the President of the United States, in the
discharge of his high constitutional functions,
calls upon the people of the States to rally
around the banner of the Union, they will
rush to its defense more freely and fearlessly
than they ever did before to save from de-
struction "thc Common bord ana Common
brotherhood"
The Valley Spirit, an influential Demo-
cratic paper published at Chambersburg, Pa,
says:
The evidence is accumulating that the rad
zeal majority in Congress intend to subvert
our republican form of government. The
danger to our institutions is imminent. Will
the people heed the warning and prepare to
meet the danger? 1t is time that these con-
spirators against the life of the Republic are
u.
This trump Congress should be speedily dis.
pcrscd as public enemies plotting the over
throw Of the best government the world ev>
or saw. 1t is the only remedy We can see OF
saving the noble heritage bcqueathed to US
by our revolutionary ancestors, wa Presi-
dent johnson do las duty?
Even Raymond the political supple jack of
the New York Times, who has seat in the
! Rumo Con0ress 10 booo-o;ao .oo.o5 -,
Sounds the note Of alarm. Speakiug of the
bill introduced in Congress by Mr. Williams,
of Pennsylvania, "to define the powers of the
Supreme Court" Mr.. Raymond says:
Congress has no more RICH: to define the
powers of the Supreme Court than to define
its own powers or those of the President The
people have already done all this through the
Constitution and the people may change
their definition through tho Constitutions
When the powers either of Congress. the
President, or the Supreme Court arc abridged
or enlarged in any other way, constitutional
government is at an end, and constitutional
Hoerty has Tor the time, perhaps forever been
destroyed. Yet this proposition 10 define the
Supreme Court; and to make full bench
and unanimity necessary to any decision upon
the constitutionality of the proceedings OF
the majority in Congress, was not rebuked OF
laughed down, but actually referred to the
Judiciary committee by vote of one hun,
drcd and seven to thirty-pine.
Here we have proposition to usurp the
functions of the Supreme Court, not :'rebuked
or laughed down." as it deserved to be, but
actually endorsed by vote of 'sone hundred
and screen to M1ty-nine." Mr.. Raymond
continues:
These things are done before us; the doom
of our government is on the brink of execu-