The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-05-06

HON. CHAS. A. ELDRIDGE,
IN TILE
Houseof Representatives March 80, '68
Mr.. ELDRIDGE Mr. Speaker, have
been taught to believe that our system of
government, State and national, embodied
the perfection of all the models. / have
supposed it SO formed that it was safe from.
the assaults of Radical innovation, and not
subject to change or alteration from with
in, except in the manner provided in the
Constitution. With such opinions / can
not view the constant assault upon its sew
eral departments, supposed to have been
its chief perfection, but with sadness and
alarm. These departments, intended to
work in harmony, operating only as proper
checks and balances upon each other can
not long continue in open and hostile an.
tagonism without fatal consequences. And
yet, what do we behold ? The executive
power is assailed, trenched upon, hedged
about, andsaaeumscribed till its influence
is scarcely perceptible, and its chief Off
Ger finally is sought to be deposed and re-
moved because he will not altogether alb
dictate and surrender the Office and power
to partizan Congress. The judiciary,
too, that last refuge of patriotic hope, that
supposed CONSERVATION of popular liberty
when all others should fail, is in menace.
IT is not only menaued, but its preroga-
tives, powers, and jurisdiction are assailed
with frenzied zeal and partisan hate that
admit of no room for doubt of the result
It is no longer to be the Independent,
peaceful, pure, and impartial arbiter ofour
disputes and controversies; but the fat
has gone forth from partisan Legislature
that the Judges of the highest court Of the
land must soil the ermine in doing its bid
ding, or surrender the judicial power. The
gentleman from Ohio {Mrs sehenck) boast
ingly proclaimed on this floor only the
other day that the purpose was to "clip its
power" in every possible way. And thus
II is, that one by one, the very bulwarks OF
liberty are being thrown down, and all the
safeguards of the peoples rights destroyed.
These measures, / repeat, FIJI me with APP
prehension and alarm. With the Presi-
dent deposed, the perogatiyes and jurisdic.
tion of the Supreme Court taken away, a
partisan Congress will riot in power unre-
strained. With the sword and the purse
at its command, who so foolhardy as to be
heve our liberties safe? Look at the War
Department, ,barricaded and picketed with
armed soldiers in time of profound peace
and in the capital of the, Republic.
And sir, ] cannot forget the most signifi
can't fact, that only a few days ago an at
tempt was made, probably at the sugges
ton of the usurping Secretary of War, tt
snluggle through the House in an appro
priation bill a provision for the removal O
the present Capital police, and authorizing
the Secretary of War to detail non-com
missioned officers and soldiers to TAX
charge of the Capitol bnilding and grounds
Z Had this not been discovered, and the pro
49, Hf.FfH =. 3 z
vision had become law, we shonld be sit
ting to-day and legislating under th
CLEAN of the sword, and the Supreme Cour
rendering its decisions at the point of tn
bayonet. Verify, coming events are cast
ing their shadows before. Are these thing
to familiarize our eyes to what is in wait
ing for usl Are they the advance picket
of the army with which Congress, if, pei
mitted to pursue unrestrained its purpose
will control the destinies of the people
and by which it will enforce its edicts; b
which it will make and unmake States
Y make and unmake Presidents; make an
unmake the courts, and force them all t
do its bidding? Is this the power, til
policy, that is to control us?
Mr.. Speaker, / desire toienter my prote.
against thss bill and to relieve myselfofa
responsibility for its passage. Never,
my Judgment, was there more inexcus
bic or unjustifable measure. 1t has I
warrant in the Federal Constitution, al
no justification or precedent in the pra
tice of this Government, unless, indeed,
be in the Kindred measures of so called !
construction. 1t is in clear and unmista
able violation of all the underlying fund
mental principles of the Republic.
Sir, if there he one idea upon which th
Government was formed more essenti
and fundamental than any other, that id,
Is, that the people of the United States a
sovereign, and entitled by nature to Il
right of selfgovernment. This princip
nnderlies all our Institutions and is coe
tensiYe with the utmost boundaries of II