The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-18
THE ALARMING ATTEMPT OF CONGRESS
TO REvoLUTI0NIZE THE GOVERN
MENT

We give up all our available space, to-day,
to the alarming attempt of a radical congress
to overturn the Supreme Court of the United
States, and destroy the government; and We
ask all men, without regard to party, to come
to the rescue of their country before it shall
be too late to avert the threatened danger
without a resort to arms-the last resort OF
freemen to preserve their rights. We do not
sound an unnecessary alarm. Republicans
as well as democrats are alarmed at the ia
Goblin designs of the majority in congress
and the New York Times, a republican pa
per, charges that measures are now before
congress which, ifcarried out, will overthrow
the government. Those who lead congress
in the enaction of these "violent measures
do not intend that the Union under the con-
stltution shall be restored. They look to the
overthrow Of the constitution and of our sys
tenn ofgovernment. They intend that Grant
shall be dictator, not only of the excluded
states, but, if necessary to perpetuate Jaco-
bin ascendency, of the northern states also.
They intend, through fraud, contempt oflaw,
and despotism, to install him in the presiden-
tial chair !; and, when there, BY such usurp
ing and unconstitutional legislation as is
now pending before congress, to clothe him
with imperial powers. They will be careful
not to offend republican-we use the word
In no party sense-prejudices by giving him
any other title than President; but unde,
this title they will invest him with 1thoritv
such as Napoleon or the Car would not
dare to assert
The proof is daily accommodating that there
is conspiracy of this character in progress
and that stanton, as manager and prime
mover. and Grant, Morton of Indiana. and
Boutwell, of Massachusetts, are parties there.
to; and that, with others whom the chief
conspirators have thought might be safely in.
trusted with the secret, they are leading con-
gress to the adoption of measures which will.
as is alleged by the New York Times, @tbor-
oughiy and permanently revolutionize the
whole framework of our of our republican
form OF government" This isexactly what
the conspirators design to do; and the ma.
Jorlty In congress, in voting for the '.violent
measures now under consideration in that
body. are ignorantly and urconsciouslv led
IN the direction which the conspirators wish
to pursue.
The New York World saws:
by the passage ofthis bill, Congress would |
Grsup the most important function of the |
supreme court, namely: that of deciding
on the eonstitutionality of laws. Congress
oeclaes by mere ma ority, that q law !.
constitutional, and forbids the S,nran
Court to decide, by ats majority. thai i 10
not. The majority of Congress is tbarebr
made superior to the majority of the Sn.
preme Court in deciding the very class of
cases especially committed to the LATTER
II congress has right to make two-tbirds
u the court necessary to declare a law mn.
constitutional, it has an equal right to make
.nree-fourths or seven-eights necessary for
mat =, purpose, and thus enable Chief ,Just;ce
ouase 10 counterbalance all the rest of the
uoges. There is no obstacle to fixing tho
proportions at seveneights which does M,
,quai.y exist to fixing it at two.thirds IF
ae.efore, congress has right to mass aucb /,
OIL as is now proposed, it might eonalJv ,
Jas, 70 Din which would make the decision Of ,
.eiei Justice Chase, in his circuit, incapable
!. nelng reversed when carried up by apneaI !
. me Supreme Court. Nay, if Congress- has
,. rght TO pass the proposed bill, it has an
, la, rlgnt to prescribe that no law shall be
Pronounced unconstitutional except bv !
1na1 y decision. A single party tool ON :
a ne supreme bench would suffice to renaa-
congress- omnipotent. In vain did the fran.
40 u Tue constitution attempt to establish