The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-02-08

UO6 fCslcu III tuc SupiSmC Ccuit dhu tIiC
president, as well as Of those now exclusive
ly exercised by the people through their va
rious governmental agencies or departments
in the several independent states, and sooner
or later revolution, pcaceable or otherwise
would be inaugurated and carried en- by the
people to re assert and regain their right to
rule that In an evil hour has been surrender
ed to a congress which had become impa-
tent of all constitutional restraints on its
power or limitations to ltS-actlon.
It is fortunate for the cause of freedom
throughout the country in the north as we'll
as the south, that the southern people have
the spirit of patriotism and courage not to
yield TO threats while congress has not the
constitutional right to carry into execution
and which are based alone on the tyrant
plea Of necessity.
1t may be well for us to keep In mind,
that we have a supreme court to look to for
the interpretation of the rights of states and
of individuals and which in a recent opinion
in relation to one act of congressional usur
patton, said ''the constitution is a law for
rulers and people, equally in war and In
peace, aud covers with the shield Of its pro-
lection all classes of men, at all times and
under all circumstances, and no doctrine
involving more pernicious consequences was
ever invented by the wit Of man than that
any of its provisions can be suspended dur
irg the great exigencies of government.
Such a doctrine leads directly to anarchy
and despotism; and the theory Of necessity
on which 1t is based, is false.
l am aware what kind of spirit rules the
dominant party, and that from its threaten
ed future manifestations we have cause to
fear greater dangers to the liberties of the
people than we ever have from southern
armed rebellion!
The president from high regard to his
constitutional obligations and clear per-
ceptlon OF the rights and powers vested In
the federal government and its various de-
partments, and of the right of the states
and the obligations and duties of their cltl-
zens has from time to time, with heroic
courage resisted, and nobly attempted to
defeat many bold acts Of congressional usur-
patton.
Congress in order to remove this one
great constitutional obstacle to their full and
tree exercise Of despotic power, propose to
lmpeach the president and degrade him
from his high office, for the high crime"
of treachery committed to his party, by an
honest and faithful discharge of his execu-
tive duties devolved upon him by the CON
stitution.
The supreme court Of the United States,
in the exercise of it's constitutional func-
tons, has, to the great disgust if not terror,
of all republican officials, sustained the
president, so far as called upon, to render
opinions upon questions at issue between
him and congress, and will most undoubtea-
ly sustain his position upon the question Of
the present status Of the southern states In
the Union when brought before it for Judi
clal determination.
These opinions of the highest judicial
tribunal of the government are declared
reasonable to the republican party as they
form another great obstacle to the further
progress of congressional despotism, that
must be removed, not by abolishing the
court Or suspending judges, but IN some
yet underlined way known only as radical
ism, and to be executed by the power resid-
ing in the numbers of radical members OF
congress; our senator Howe has declared in
a recent speech delivered by him in the sen
ate, that he believed that congress is
strong enough in numbers to override the
supreme court, as well as the president, In
protecting their brethren !"
Who does our valiant senator mean by
"their brethren ?" :, The members Of the
republican party generally, Or only radical
members of congress and American citizens
of African descent?
What is this protection they demand and
for which they appeal from the supreme
court and the executive Of the people?
What is this protection they seek and
against whom, that the constitution does
not afford?
The supreme court has declared that
1.-THE constitution is a law for rulers and
people, and covers with the shield Of its
protection all classes Of men, at all times
and under all circumstances, and is the law
which that court is to interpret and which
the president is vested with plenary power
to execute.
Is this the loud tocsin Of a war Of revolu-
ton of our form of government sounded by
a senatorial mars to call and muster into
congressional service Gen. Paine military
Estate guards" for the protection of con
gress in the attempt to override the supreme
court and the President, by the establish
ment of military governments in the ten
southern states, and for the protection of
the ten provisional governors, in elevating
the blacks and depressing the whites Of the
south by executing the congressional edict
that the white race has no rights that the
black race is bound to respect?
If this be SO, this appeal to the people
will not, as We are led to believe by high au-
thority, go unheeded by the powers that be
at this capitol.
Our gallant young governor, who informs
us that he will yield no man in his veneer
alton for the constitution, and out OF his
pure love and strong affection for our err
ing brethren of the south would have them
justly and magnanimously dealt with by the
government and the conquering people of
the north, has unfortunately caught this
congressional revolutionary spirit, the same
in kind that ruled his party in this state in
1857 and 1885, and became so completely
subjected to It's control as to have been
unable to "hold himself from urging con-
gress to override all obstacles in the way of
the destruction of the present state govern
ments and the establishment of provisional
ones In their stead to be placed under coz
gressional control, and to that end, what
ever may be the sad consequences, has
promised that our people will stand by con-
gress In the execution of this scheme of
governmental policy toward the late con-
federate states so recently condemned by all
parties and the entire press of the north.
W hen and how and by whom was this
scheme originated, and when, how and for
what purpocn uac ~ olovo tod to tbo 6ippItv