The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-12-15
OBEY THE CONSTITUTION.


OBEY THE CONSTITUTION.
.ql The Federal Constitution, the Magma
Charta of American rights, under whose
. wise and salutary provisions we have sue
cessfully conducted all our domestic and
foreign affairs, sustained ourselves in
peace and war, and become a great ma
tion among the powers of the earth, must
assuredly now be adequate to the settle
ment of questions. growing out of the
civil war waged alone FORTS vindication.
This great fact is made most manifest by
/ the conditionof the country when Con
gress assembled in the month of Decem-
ber, 1866. Civil strife had ceased, the
spirit of rebellion had. spent its entire
force in the Southern States the people
had warmed into national life, and
throughout the whole country healthy
reaction in public sentiment had taken
place, by the application of the simple
vet effective provisions of the Constitu>
ton The Executive Department, with
the voluntary aid of the States, had bro t
the work of restoration as near compile
gtien as was within the scope of its au-
thority, and the nation was encouraged
by the prospect Of an1early and satisfac
tory adjustment of. all its difficulties
Congress, however, interfered, and refu-
sing to perfect the work so nearly con
summated, declined to admit members
from the Southern States, adopted a
course Of measures which arrested the
progress of restoration, frustrated all
that had been successfully accomplished,
and, after three years of agitation and
strife, has left the country farther from
tho attainment of union and fraternal
feeling than at the inception of the Con-
gressional plan of reconstruction. 1t
needs no argument to shows that legisla-
tion which has produced such conse-
quenccs should be abrogated, or else
made to conform to the genuine primer
pies of the republican government.
~ RErEAL OBNOXIOUS LAWS.
Under the influence of party passion
and sectional prejudice, other acts have
been passed not warranted by the Con
stitution. Congress has already been
made familiar with my views. respecting
the Tenure of Office BILL Experience
has proved that its. repeal is demanded
by the best interests Of the country, and
that while it remains in force the Presi-
dent cannot enjoin that rigid accounta-
bility-.of public officers so essential to an
earnest and efficient execution of the
laws. Its revocation would enable the
Executive Department to exercise the
power of appointn cnt and removal IL
accordance with the original design OF
the Federal Constitution. The act Of
March ., 1867, making appropriations
for the support of the army for the year
ending June 80, 1868, and for other pur-
poses, contains provisions which inter,
fcre with the Presidents constitutional
functions as Commander-in Chief of The
Army, and deny to-iStates of the tniol
tho right to protect themselves by means
of their own militia.
y .These provisions should be at once
annulled, for while the first might, IL
times of great emergency, seriously en-
barrass the Executiyein the effort to en-
ploy add direct the common strength o
the nation for its protection and preser
walton, the other is contrary to the ex
press declaration of the Constitution that
= q well regulated militia being necessary
.,,to the security of a free State, the right
of the people to keep and bear arms
shall not be infringet. 1t is heiievet
that the repeal of all such laws would be
accepted by the American people as, a
least, a partial return to the fundamental
principles of the Government, and an in
dication that hereafter the Constitution
: is to be made the nations safe and uner
ring guide. They can be productive q
no permanent benefit to the country, ant
should not be permitted to stand as sc
many monuments of the deficient wisdom
= which has characterized onr recent leg
islation.
= FACTS FROM OUR FINANCIAL HISTORY.
-t The condition of our finances demands