The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-03-06
NO. 49,.

sary to repeat it here. 1t IS sufficient to
call attention to the general principles
involved In the case, which fortunately
ere 80 much importance as to COM
mend themselves to the attention of all.
When these are properly studied, no one
can mistake the course to be pursued;for
on the one hand we have the principles
of government by autocracy, or the one.
man power, and on the other, of demo.
cracy, or by the representatives of the
people. As the purpose OF the Consti-
tuition could not possibly have been to
make an autocracy. but free democra-
tic republic, it must be obvious that most
ot the assumptions on which the policy
of the present Congress are held to be
unconstitutional, violent and revoIu-
tonary, are Numerically opposed to the
spirit in which the Constitution was
framed.
Ot late years it has been universally
conceded, both IN Europe and America,
that the President of the United States
wlelds more actual power than any con-
stltutional monarch in Europe. This
was under the most ordinary and limited
Interpretation OF the prerogatves of the
Office But Mr.. Johnson has stretched
his assumptions of power far beyond all
precedent, and seems inclined to initiate
surprise that Congress will not submit
quietly to these usurpations Great and
perilous as were previously the attributes
of the Presidency, he has made them
more so; and in fact, in his hands, they
have become most dangerous to the
liberties of the republic. To contend
that what he has done and is doing every
day IS constitutional, and that Congress
is grossly in error in opposing and fet-
tenng him, is virtually to contend that
the trainers Of the Constitution had no
faith in representative institutions, and
that under pretext Of organizing re-
public they set up sort of elective mon
archy.
1t is absolutely essential that the peo.
pie should now prove by course of Con-
gress that they always hold in their pos
session the means ofrectifying Executive
errors. We must prove that this Is not
a government Of Executive caprice and
arbitrary power, but oflaw and order,
OF democratic.republican institutions, of
representative legislation and popular
basis. If Mr. Johnson's assumptions
should be tolerated, our government
would in great measure lose Its char.
acter OF republican and become autocra-
tic. 1t is proper that we should look
this matter sternly in the face, for 1t
nearly and dearly concerns all our liber-
ties, aud must be held to be the most
important issue Of the day. President
johnson found himself opposed by an
adverse majority in Congress. Instead
OF treating it respectfully and deferen-
TALLY, as became the occasion, he, in
the most insolent and defiant language
he could utter, insulted, slandered and
denounced that majority, and appealed
to the constituents Of the members.-
Elections have since been held, at which
he appeared as an advocate In his own
behalf, backed by all tho influence
Of his Cabinet and the countenance of
OF the great heroes of the war, as we'll as
OF the whole strength of the Democratic
party, and Congress has been sustained
and vindioated in the most triumphant
manner. Instead OF bowiug to this ver>
dict of tribunal to which he had him
self appealed, he goes on in his headloDg
course, repeats his insults, and yyietoes
right and left oil the important actsot
Congress. dns
1t is by his inspiration that the chaige
Of revolution is made against Congress,
1t is the act OF one who is himself guilty
of the most outrageous usurpations, and
il is made as an offset to his own acts.
Let the people look at this matter fairly
and squarely The powers Congress is
now exercising are those confided to it
by tho Constitution. They are the con-
servative powers requisite, nay indispen-
sable, to the maintenance of popular
liberties, and are now welded because
The emergency demands that they should
be.