The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-02-04

were then forming, and to that extent
of course, abridge the powers of their
State Government. It was submitted
to the people of each State instead OF
meeting all in one Convention, because
it was more convenient, and the people
of each State became consolidated to
the extent of the powers granted to the
United States, but no farther-as fast
as they ratified.
The people thereby made themselves
subject to two Governments, the Ma
tional, which was supreme within the
scope of powers expressly granted with
those necessarily incidental, and their
respective State Governments, to the
extent of the remaining powers that
continued vested in them. The people
then are the sovereigns, and as such the
source of all power-who conduct their
Governments, National and State,
through their chosen agents, whose
guide and warrant are the CONSTITUTION,
National and State, and which, so far as
they are to act under them, they swear
TO support.
1t is the duty and right of the people
therefore, who are the principals and
masters to keep their respective agents,
National and State, within their proper
sphere of duty. If one agent attempts
to encroach on another-a National on
a State, or the reverse; or in the same
government, the Legislative, on a Judi
cial or Executive, or the reverse-in all
such cases, it is the imperative duty and
right of the people to check and punish
the intruder. The keeping Of the ma
tional agents to their appropriate
spheres and to check and punish any
encroachment upon what is properly
State authority, is as vitality essential
to the safety of the system as the reverse
would be. The safety and harmonious
action of the entire system consists in
the people keeping all their agents,
National and State, to their appointed
spheres as clearly defined in the Coz.
stitution.
The fathers were equally careful to
separate and clearly define the duties
pertaining to the three great depart
ments of the National Government, the
Legislative, consisting of the Congress,
the Executive, being the President, and
the Judicial, being the Supreme Court of
the United States, and such inferior
tribunals as Congress should establish
by law. The people directly or indi-
rectly appoint the officers and agents to
represent them and to perform in their
place and stead the duties pertaining to
each of these three great depart
ments of sovereignty, and although
to each is allotted by the COnsti-
tuition separate, distinct and pecu-
liar duties, they are styled and
treated as coordinate, which means of
equal dignity and importance and
equally essential. A majority. OF each
House of Congress, with the approval
of the President, or two-thirds where he
disapproves, make the national laws, and
here its duty and power stops. The
Senate concurs with the President in
certain officers and cOnclu-
ding treaties and there its executive
duty and power stops. The executive
powers are devolved on the Presi-
dent, who takes an oath to the
best of his ability to preserve
protect and uphold the National COnsti-
tuition, and to take care that the laws
are faithfully executed" To enable
him tn do this, he is made ''COmmander-
in Chief Of the Army and Navy of the
United States, and Militia of the States
when called into actual service" He,
with the advice and consent OF
the Senate, appoints his Cabinet Off
GERS who are made his conf
Dental advisors, and for whose
conduct he is made responsible,
aud for this reason he has uniformly,
since the Government was formed, dis
missed such Cabinet officers, when he
saw fit, without being held accountable
to either of the other coordinate depart
nents. but only to the people, whose
immediate representative he Is. Tue
judicial powers are dGvolved by
the Constitution on zone Supreme
Court and such inferior tribunals as
Congress shall establish by law. The
provides that the Judges
shall hold their Office during good be-
havior (Which is in effect for lile) and
receive for their services fixed cOmpen-
sation that shall not be diminished du-
ring their continuance iR OtlicG-thus
making the Judicial agents as independ-
ent and far removed from PARTISAN intiu-
ence as the system would admit. The Con-
situation expressly provides that the
jurisdiction of these courts shall ex-
tend to all cases IN law aud equity
arising under the Constitution and laws
and treaties made by the United States,'
and some other cases not necessary
here to mention The Constitution
also expressly provides that
all the civil sfiicers of each
of the three great departments,
may be impeached by tie House of Rep
resentatives and tried aud convicted by
the Senate and removed from Office for
treason, bribery or other high crimes
and miSdeneanOrS.
1t is also made the express duty of
Congress to make all laws necessary
and proper, 10 carry into effect all powers
granted to the Government or Depart
ment, or officer thereof; "to make rules
for the Government aud regulation of
the Land and Naval forces" in pursu
auce of which Congress established in
1906, the rules known as the Articles
of War;" 1t also authorizes each House
of Congress to establish "rules" for the
Government or regulation Of its own
Body.
Article 4, section 4, of the Constitution
reads thus: "The United States shall
guarantee to every State in this Union
. republican form of government, and
shall protect each of them against in
vasion; and on application of the Legis-
lature, or of the Executive (when the
Legislature cannot be cOnvened) against
domestic violence
This is an outline of the system of
civil polity which our fathers estab-
lished, who seemed to have been fit in
struments in q Divine hand. In nv
next and last, l will examine tie recent
measures and conduct of some of our
public agents by the light the Consti-
tuition sheds. Very Respectfully,
G. p.