Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-16
THE DRIFT OF THE POLITICAL
REVOLUTION.

The intelligent and dispassionate press
of England take generally a very clear
view of the drift of the political reyolu-
ton in progress in this country. The
London Spectator, an organ Of the ex-
treme liberal party in Great Britain,
comments with satisfaction on the proba-
bic results-ultra Liberalism in English
politics being the counterpart Of Ameri-
can Radicalism 1t says
Congress which has pretty nearly struck
down the President, has been compelled as
we anticipated, TO level a blow at the SUI
pTeme Court. An Appeal came mp from
the Circuit Court which involved the va
lidity Of all the reconstruction laws, and
it was understood that they would be de-
clared unconstitutional. The nation, not
being disposed 10 allow seven old lawyers
to constitute themselves a supreme legisla-
ture, therefore passed a law forbidding the
court TO entertain appeals from either the
Circuit Courts or the National Courts, that
IL, forbiddIng i! To NEEDLE in politics at
all. OF course the President vetoed the
bill, and OF course, therefore, it will be
passed over his head. Every power,
therefore, has yielded to the Repre-
sentatives except the Senate, and it will be
curious TO watch if that body will keep
itself in accord with the people, or will
compel them TO strike il down also. If it
also gives way, little will be LEFT of the
American Constitution except its flnda-
mental principle, that thewill OF the nation
is supreme over all within it, the only
principle worth keeping.
in remarking upon this expression of
opinion, and indorsing its correctness,
the New York Times takes occasion to
say that the Democratic press of this
country is guilty Of exaggeration in
speaking Of the usurped predominance
of one branch of the Legislative depart"
ment as a virtual overthrow Of the gov
srsment and indites a column and a
half TO show that it is not an overthrow,
but only a Fundamental alteration Quoth
the Times
This s not an overthrow of the govern
ment, but it is a change of its constitu-
tional organization-a fundamental change
in the practical working of its machinery.
1t does not in form alter the Constitution
or the distribution Of the powers of the
government but il does in fact In It's
practical opeTations-in the action by
which il seeks 10 accomplish the ends for
which IL exists-it is a different govern
ment from that which the Constitution or
dained, and under which we have lived
down to the present time. 1t may be bet
ter or it may be worse; it certainly is not
The same.
Pray is not this an overthrow of the
government established by the Constitu-
ton The Times is hypocritical, and
trying TO sever hair twixt north and
northwest side" The Constitution estab-
lished an Executive with a qualified mega,
tive on Acts Of Congress, and a vast fund
Of powers besides These have been
virtually annulled. 1t erected court
for the judicial determination ofquestiens
Of disputed construction of its meaning.
This, by Congressional enactment has |
been eStopped an the discharge OF ITS duty. |
1t made a Senate after a model intended
70 preserve it from the influence of tran
sient political excitements Its characa
ter has been changed, and it has been |
awed into acquiescence into the imperi,
Gus win of the popular branch holding |
the purse-strings Are these essential
and destructive alterations anything
short of virtual overthrow of that admir- !
able form in which the power of each de-
partment was securely checked within |
safe limits, and an almost perfect balance
maintained2 Is not the nation now gov |
erned solely by the House Of Representa-
tives