The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-10-09
" Outside Of the Constitution, Y

Mr. Stevens has all the faults of old age, embitered
by the recollectons of heartless and ilspent life
lie is yindictise and cruel without scfnre Of con-
science or remorse. Neither has he any reverence.
Old things are nothing to him, new things, of
interest," as new things to this cid man, trembling on
tie verge Of the grave The Constitution of tile
United States, the Joint political work of the Madisons,
the IIamiltons and their compatros, the sages and
heroes Of the ReFouon, is to-day TO Mr.. Stevens of
less consideration of less import of less significance
and consequently of less authority than any articles
of copartnershp between individual members of a
commercial firm submitted to lis professional udg-
ment. These he would understand, in a moment, were
the law as between its members and he would SO ul-
hesitatipgy advse-aua the law, in all eases, unless
the articles Of agreement contained provisions pro-
hbited, either against public morals or public poll
cy. In any matter relating to the partnership affairs
or to the social interest," the odvsor of the frm he
would look to their articles of agreement in order to
ascertain the rights and duties Of the several members
When he leaves his dingy Office he leaves his infor-
nation of law behind. When required to act as
lawmakcr he ignores all his previous education, the
acquired information Of long professional life, the
habits of accurate and conservative ana sis always
supcrnduced by the practice and the study of the law
ard when called upon for lis opinion, to the rights
Of sovereign members OF constitutional compact he
replies, 81 advise that act outside of the Consti-
tution.' Can a candid world believe that conscicn-
ti61s honest man could advise bis fellow
bers Of the National Legislature to lay aside in this
way the obligations of the Constitution, and the sa-
cred sanction of their oatls, for any purpose, con-
nccted with public Or Official duty? Nr. Stevens, as
IS every other member of Congress- is to sup
port the Constitution and laws of the United States
But, according to the casusry of this old man, this
oath is only obligatory when the Legislation of Con-
grcss is limited by the Constitution. If Congress is
obliged to egi~late beyond the limits of the Cousu
ton, then, and in that case, the oath is not sanction
it does not apply in word, 10 the neral conduet of
tie legislator.
And this argument it seemed, prevailed with all
the Radical members of the Rump, with the exception
of two conservative Senators of the party
whose conservatism meets the hearty contempt of that
old political Jesuit, Mr.. Stevens. They hcsitaed-
they rccoledand could only be brought up after the
usual appliances df party machinery; and then,
little to the satisfaction Of the virtuous Mr. Stevens
that he not only refuses them forgiveness for their
tender conscicnccs hut he Furnishes them by the ex
posure of their weakness.
The Republican party was indebted to Mr. Seward
for the dogma Of the higher aw"-for the substi-
tuition of the innate consciousness for written com
pact, a rule of conduct and of duty But Mr. Sew
ard to do him justice, perhaps contemplated any
practical exercise of this law, beyond wcll-worded
platform, to nullify act of Congress for the rem
dition Of lugitives from labor He never dreamed
that logical deduction would authorize Congress it.
self to vote "ii' or "outsdc' of the Constitution,
according to its conscience capricc-to determine
first that the question 'outsde' the Constitution,
and thus evade its requirements or abrogate their own
oaths, before vote the merits finder this conye-
nent application Of the "highcr law" there can be
no such thir moral perjury, the violation Of
the oath to support the Constitution and tie laws of
the United States. The tcnderest conscience is pro-
tected by the simple, preliminary disposal of question
outside Of the Constitution 1t is saved even the
embarrassment of a mental reservation. There is no
chance for any "compunctous viSitings in the nature
of afterreiccton. There be sting of remorSe
Of what value thens the Constitution ITSELF if It's
qurements can be evsded by such c.suistry9 What
is the necessity for the sanction Of an oath?
Practically, wesee in the reconstruction measures
themselves what vaue is attached the Constitution
by the Radical leaders. The restoration of the Union
is to be accomplished not according to the Consttu
on but to snbserve the purposes and perpetuate the
power of dominant party. The spirit and the pvn-
cples of the Constitution are laid aside ramplrd
under FOOT but its forms are sacred and sacred only
for the revenge of that party fer the purpose Of i'm
pcaching the President. The Radical leaders will still
employ its penalties not to its principles, but
to punish tlcir defenders. They would remove the
Executive impeachment" TO their policy of ga
oting ten States
How long-0 how long will the patience of the
people of the United States submit to this treason to
he Constitution