The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1868-02-08
Theory Of Our Constitution.

he Legislative, Executive and Judicial
departments are coordinate ana independ
ent of each other, within the sphere of their
constitutional powers. The powers and
duties Of each ale granted and clearly de-
fined BIZ the Constitution itself Congress is
the supreme legislative power under the
Constitution and can only be restrained in
its action by that instrument, save that their
action may be modified by the viii of She
constituent IN its discretion The Executive
is the supreme executor of the Constitution
and the treaties and laws made in pursuance
thereof. The Executive is bound to obey
and execute all laws made by Congress, until
the same are declared unconstitutional by
the Supreme Court Of the United States,
save such laws as restrict or take away from
him privileges and powers clearly and uue
quiYOceliy conferred upon him by the Con
stitutI0u, Any attempt by Congress to take
away such powers or privileges is usurDa-
ton and should be resisted by tbe Executive
The powers nd-duties of the Supreme Court,
like those of the other two coordinate de-
partments Of the Government, are derived
from the Constitution itself, and Congress
has no power to abridge or limit them in
any way whatever. The trainers Of our
Constitution thought 1t wise to make this
distribution OF powers, and to make each CO.
ordinate departmental the GOFernment in
dependent Of the others, SO that any en-
eroachment by one of these departments
upon the clearly granted powers of the
others, viii be dangerous to their constitu-
tioual integrity and aa ineipient step to mar
the harmony and equilibrium of the Gov
ernment and overthrow the Constitution
Has there been any encrCachment by one Of
these co ordinate departments upon the
rights and powers Of another? Yes; Con
and is attempting to strip the Executive and
Judiciary of all power that constitutes a
barrier to this end. 1t is making the heads
of departments independent of the Presi-
dent, who defy and insult him. It is placing
the army beyond the control of the Presi-
dent, and making it subject to the order Of
itself The Constitution makes the PTesi-
dent the Commauder-in Chief Of the army
and navy of the United States, but Congress
would strip him. of this power and place it
in the hands Of the commanding General.
1t proposes to take away the right Of the
Supreme Court to review the record of any
proceedings coming up from any district
commander, either upOn Ho6eaS corpus or
quo G0QTTantO, or in any other manner what
ever Let this nefariOus and revolutionary
scheme be accomplished, and Congress viii
have an army at its command, judiciary
powerless to interpose in. behalf of the Con-
stitution, and it Will only remain then to
proclaim Gen. Grant dictator and the reVo-
luton is accomplished, and our Constitution,
and republican form Of Government there
under viii be gone forever. Our form of
Government is in great peril; the times are
ominous Of events that the present state Of
things foreshadow. We are resting upon a
volcano that may break forth at any time,
engulf the Constitution and destroy civil
liberty. We can only trust to the frmness
of the President, and warn the public of the
threatened crisis in our governmental af-
frirs.-Irenton Gazette