The Opelousas courier., 1868-03-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Present National Crisis.

ed and intensified political excitemen
The crisis, which for some months pas
has been steadily and surely approach
ing, would now appear to be rapidly cul
minating. During the four years. rag
edy which was brought to close wit
the uutimely death of the Chief Magls
trate of the nation, it was the boast o
not a few Americans that the Unltet
States was "making history'' with rap
idity never before equalled. Be it so
But, like the child who for the first time
witnessed the sudden transformation O.
a chemical mite into lengthening anl
life-like serpent, the vain and inexpe
rienced american citizen thoughtlessly
rejoiced in the novelty of the dreadful
exhibition that he was SO suddenly
called upon to witness; but apparently
knew as little of the poisonous com.
pound which, on the application of the
torch, so magically took form and life, as
did the infant mind when it first ad,
mired its dangerous toy.
But to abandon the figurative and treat
of the stern facts of the position at the
American capital. Our views, as al
ready repeatedly recorded, are only
strengthened and confirmed. 1t is ill.,
deed dangerous experiment for rash
and extremely partisan legislators, to
hack away indiscriminately, and with
out the least appearance OF deliberate
thought, at the constitution under which
this great and widespread family of
commonWealths have agreed, by original
compromise, to live. We will not, at
present, more than allude to the diver
sifed interests and sectional peculiarities
thus held together-since at present the
struggle is more political than CONNER
cial-Dut will for moment consider the
nature and objects of the present strug-
gle. In order to fully comprehend the
position, it is, in our Judgment, neces-
sary to so back nearly seven years in the
history of the country. 1t was then
that the sweeping revolution began.
which has since steadily progressed from
stage to stage, until it now more directly
threatens the actual life of the great
American Republic, than at any former
period of its short but eventful exis-
tence. One leading question in dispute
has certainly been partially solved by
the late war but this has only beenef-
fected through force of .more powerful
armaments, coupled with superior num-
bers. The spirit, and determination on
one. side, and the reckless persistency
on the other, which originally brought
on the contest, still remains. and is only
to be eradicated by yet another conpro-
mise, Or otherwise the complete annihil-
ati0n or determination of the inhabi-
tants of an entire section, numbering
nearly one-third of the Confederacy.
The war OF bullets had for time ceased,
it is true, but the war of ballots is now
about to begin, and to what this strife
may again lead, it is difficult to foreteli.
Experienced statesmen OF the Old World
clearly foresaw this state Of things since,
and now that the Presidential election
is again approaching, the elimination of
the political crisis is at hand,
So far as the original constitutional
questions are concerned, it is, happily,
not our part to interfere. Whether Con-
gress, the President, or the Supreme
Court OF the nation have done, or are do
ing, most to destroy the charm which
originally hedged about this only char
ter OF American liberty, it is not for us
to determine !; but certain it is, that the
American people now widely differ on
this important point, and, what is worse,
when the guiding star is once lost. OF
disregarded, all parchments must sud-
denly disappear, and the tempest of par
tizan hate take the place of calm polit-
ical reason and rectltude. The ilnme-
diate Constitutional question now raised
by President johnson, may be said to
be only raised as a means to an end.
Whether the appointee of the President,
or OF Congress, or-according to the
letter OF the CONSTITUTIONAL both COM
bined or ''concurring," preside over the
War office for the ensuing year, is imma-
terlal to the mass of the American peo-
pie. provided active hostilities are not
TO be INDUCED in but should an actual
collision occur, between the Executive
and Legislative branches of the govern
ment, the importance of its possession
becomes at once apparent, since all or
ders to the army must, according to the
Constitution, 60 through the Office of the
Secretary of War.
But it we may judge from the Ian
guage OF grave and responsible legisla-
tors, clash at arms is not only possible
but probable. On the introduction of
the resolutions on impeachment, Mr..
Brooks, of New York, is reported to have
said: IF yon depose the President by
violence, you suspend him, If you put
him out OF Office, except by due process
OF impeachment, j tell You, in behalf
OF thousands and tens of thousands, and
hundreds of thousands, and millions Of
the people, that we will never, never, SO |
help ns God, never, never submit. Sir, |
we have the physical power of the coun-
try with us; the labour, the industry, |
the bone and muscle OF the countrr are |
ours. The heroism Of the country is /
ours. Four effths of the army of the il. S.
is composed of the Democracy OF the /
country; and If you proceed to introduce /
politics into the army, the Democratic /
soldier viii follow the Democratic in l
stinct, and will stand BY the .Constitu-
ton and laWs.''
This il strong language, and were the |
words by violence" and except by
due process of impeachment omitted,
would be serious indeed. But when the
President and Congress SO widely differ
% 20 what constitutes la,r, heated cleo
saon times. and very narrow maiorities,
might easily plunge this impulsive and
i6saless nation into contest, the end of
which no man could well foresee. and,
moreover, when ne consider that serious
aonots exist in many minds, as to the le-
sahGy or cOnstitutionality of the two