The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-03-10

under the Constitution to check q
dominant majority of two thirds OF
tho Congress of the United States
An appeal to the nation is attended
with too much delay 10 meet the
emergency, while, If left free to act,
the people would correct, IN time.
such evils as might follow Legislative
usuIpations. There is a danger that
the same power which disregards the
Constitution Will deprive them of the
right to change their rules except by
revolution. We have already seen
the Jurisdiction of the Judiciary cir
cumscribed, when it was apprehended
that the Courts would decide against
laws having for their sole object the
supremacy of party, while the veto
power lodged in the Executive, by
the Constitution, for the interest and
protection of the people, and exerci-
sed by Washington and his successors,
has been rendered nugatnry bysa par
tiSan majority OF two thirds in each
branch OF the National Legislature.
The Constitution evidently contem-
plated that when bill is returned
with the Presidents objections,it will
be calmly recOnsidered by Congress
Such, however, has not been the prac
tice under the present party rules. Ii
has become evident that men who
pass bill under paFtizan influence.
are most likely, through patriotic mo-
tiVes, to admit their error, and there
by weaken their own organization, by
solemnly confessing it under the Off
cial oath. Pride OF opinion, if moth
ing else, has intervened and prevent
ed a calm and dispassiOnate recOnsld
Grafton of a bill disapproYed by the
Executive. Much as / Venerate the
Constitution, it must be admitted
that this condition of affairs has de-
Veloped a defect which, under the ag-
gressive tendency OF the legislative
department of the government, may
readily work it's overthrow. 1t may
however, be remedied without dis
turbing the harmony of the instru-
ment. The veto power is generally
exercised upon constitutional grounds
and whenever it is so applied and the
h.II returned with the Executives
reasons for Withholding his signature,
it ought to be Immediately certified
To the Supreme Court of the United
States for it's decision. If its consti-
tufiunality shall be declared by that
tribunal It should then be declared II
law; but if the decision IS otherwise il
should fail without power in Congress
20 re-enact 1t. In cases In which the
veto rests upon hasty and inconsider-
ate legislation, and in which no con-
stitutional question Is involved,
would not change the fundamental
law, for in such cases no permanent
evil can be incorporated in the federal
system. 1t is obvious that without
such an amendment the Government
as it existed under the Constitution
prior to the rebellion, may be wholly
subVerted and oVerthrOWn by two
thirds majority in Congress. 1t is not
the, efOre, difficult to see how easily
and rapidly the people may lose, may
l not say have lost their liberties by
an unchecked and uncomfortable ma.
jority in the law making power, and
whenever deprived OF their rights
how pOWerleSs they are. Regain
them Let Us turn for a moment tC
the history of the majority in Con
gress, which has acted in such uttel
disregard of the Constitution, While
public attention has been carefully
and constantly turned to the past and
expected sins of the South, the ser
wants of the people in high plaoei
have boldly outraged their trust, ,hrok
en- their oaJhs of obedience, and un
dermined the very foundations o
liberty, Justice and good government
when the rebellion was being sup
pressed by the volunteered service o
patriot soldiers, and the dangers of tht
battle field, these men crept withou
question into place and power in the
national councils. After all danger
had passed, when no armed foe re
manned, when a penitUnt people how
ed their herds to the flag, and renew
ed their allegiance to the Governmen
of the United States, then it was tina
pretended patriots appeared befor
| the nation and began to pirate abOu
| the thousands of lives and millions O
treasure sacrificed in the supprt ssioI
of the rebellion; they have since per
sistently sought to inf1ame the preju
dice engendered between the section
to retard the restoration OF peace AM
harmony and by every means to keeI
open and exposed to the poisonou
wrath of party passion the terribl
wounds of four years war; the
have prevented the return of peace
and the restoration of the Union i
every Way;rendered delusive the pul
poses, promises and pledges, by Whic
the army was marshalled, treason n
| buked and rebellion crushed, an
made the liberties of the people an
the powers of the President, objects
constant attack; they have arreste
from the President, his Constitutions
power of the supreme command ofth
army and navy; they have destrOye
the strength of the Executive depar
ment, by making subordinate office
independent of and able to defy the
Chief Magistrate; they have attemp
ed to place the President under Il
power of bold, defiant and tre0che
Gus cabinet officer; they have rObbe
the Executive of the prerOgative
D rdon; rendered null and void &C
:. of ciemency granted thouS lnds OF pc
sons under the Constitution, and cor
United gross uSurpatiOn by legisl2ti'
: attempts to exercise this power in
vOr of party adherents; they ha'
| conspired to change the system of o.
} Government, by preferring charg
= against the President in the form
) articles of Impeachment, and conteI
e plating their hearing or trial, that
8 should be placed under arrest, he
! in durance, and when 1t became the
S pleasure, to pronounce sentence, a.
I be driven from place and power
I disgrace.
1uOJ nave III bAAAO VI PCSOO AAOAO'
: ed the national debt, by a reckless
d pendIture of public moneys, and th
= added to the burdens which alrea
Oppress the people; they have perm
r ted the nation to suffer evils Of {
IS ranged currency, to the enhancemt
/ of all the necessaries of life; they hs
n maintained large standing army
y the enforcement of their measures
e oppression; they have engaged
If class legislation, built and encOurag
l. monopoIies, that the few might
y enriched at the expense of the man
t, they have failed to act upon impC
d ant treaties, thereby endangering
]. peaceful relations with foreign pc
ID ers. Their course of usurpaLion
le not been limited to inroads upon
ID Executive department, by uncon
re tutiOnal and oppressive enactmeI
The people of ten States of the Un
n. have been reduced to a condit
he more intolerable than that from wh
E. the patriots of the Revolution reb
I'd ed. Millions of American citizens
y now say of their oppresSors, "
Ie more truth than our fathers diC
ce British tyrants. that they have
es hidden State Governments to pass Il
yyy . 6 ,nIiafo and Oroazi :, " iTnnOrf,3