The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-03-19

tillI WIS uttAitN WHO hNtbhA DAhtAA'h ~ AAAo
Acknowledgement of the terrible wrong
end the expressed bitter feeling. To crush
his enemies and to consolidate the power
of his party Sylla established initiatory
colonies throughout Italy deprived Of the
full Roman franchise, the inhabitants Of
stated towns who had opposed lisusurpa-
tons, oonfiscated their lands and gave
them to his soldiers, and conferred citizen
ship upona great number of slaves belong
ing to those who had prescribed him, thus
creating at Rome n kind of body guard for
his probation. After having given Rome
over TO slaughter and ~tymnnized beyond all
example over those opposed to him and
to his legions, this terrible instrument,
of wrong, Sylla, could get full safe
ty in laying down the ensign of power
80 dreadtully nbsurd, and in ming
ling freely with the families and friends of
his myriad Of victims The fear which he
had inspired continued after his voluntary
abdication, and on retirement his word wns
law to q people who had permitted them
selves 70 be enslayed. What but Q subtle
knowledge aud conviction that the Ro-
man people had become changed, discour.
aged and utterly broken in spirit, could
have induced this daring assumption
What but public indifference to eonRe-
auonces 40 terrible as TO leave Rome open
TO every calamity, which subsequently
left her, could have justified tho con
illusions Of tho dictator and tyrant in
his startling experiment. We mud that in
the time which has aince elapsed, human
nature and exigencies IN governments have
not greatly changed. Who,a few years ago,
in contemplating out future, could have
supposed that ina brief period of bitter
a-.,YtaAaa awnpFsihtnn Hafnan1n1 in tho
name of military emergency or dictated by
caprice, would have come to be considered
as mere matters Of course; that con-
scription. loss of personal liberty,
| tho subieouon of states TO military
rule and Acknowledgement, with the
extension Of the night Of suffrage merely to
the accomplishment of party ends, would
raceiyo the passive submission II not the
acauiesoenn Of the people Of the country.
1t has been clearly demonstrated by re-
cent occurrences, that entertainments
upon tho constitution cannot be pre-
vented BIZ the President, however de-
voted or determined ne may be, that
unless the people interfere, there is no
power under the constitution to check the
dominant majority Of q two-thirds Of con-
gress OF the United States An appeal to the
nation is attended with too much delay to
meet emergency. While, II left free to
net, the people would correct in time such
evils as would follow legislative usurpa-
ton, there is danger that some power which
disregardB the Constitution will deprive
them Of their night to change their rulers
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 hay
| - =. .l..- IL .ls.aV fha ataVaVapaoaNr "a
party, while the veto power, lodged in
the Executive 10y the Constitution, for the
interest and protection OF the people, and
exercised by Washington and his buccess'
ors, has been rendered nugatory by u parti'
san vote of two-thirds in each branch o.
the National Legislature.
The constitution evidently contem
plates that when a bill ia returned with the
President's objections, il viii be calmly re
conmdered by Congress. Such, however
hna not bsen the practice under the pre8enI
I. party rules. II has become evident tina
men who pass a bill under partisan in
huence are not likely through patriotic
motives to- admit their error, and thereby
weaken then own organizations by solemn
~ confessing 1t under the official oath.
Pride OF opinion, n nothing else, has in
teryened and prevented q calm and dis
passionate reconsideration OF n bill dis
approved by the Executive, Much az
venerate the constitution, 1t mus
be admitted that this condition of affair,
has developed a defect which under the ag
nfcHsiYu tendency OF tina Legislative depart
mont OF the government may readily worn
ita overthrow. II may, however, be rene.
died without disturbing the harmony ofthC
instrument. Tho veto power 10 generally
exercised upon constitutional grounds, ant
whenever II is 30 applied, the bill returned
with the executives reasons for withhold
ing hia signature, it ought 10 be immodi
ataly certified TO the supreme court OF the
u for it's decision. lit is constitutional
: should DO 30 declared by that tribunal, ant
it should then become a law but If tn,
decision Is otherwise,it should fail, without
power Ia Congress tore enact It. In casei
IN which the veto res,s upon hasty and in
consideratc Legislation, and in which M
constitutional question IS involled, | coult
not change tho fundamental law, for II
such cases tho permanent evil can DO in
corporated in the federal system. II is OBJ
yious that without such an amendmen
the government, as II existed unde thu
Constitution prior to tho rebellion, may b.
wholly subverted aud oveTthrown by a two
thirds majority in Congress. II ID no
therefore difficult to see how easily and rap
idly the people may lose--Bhall 1 not eal
have lost-their libertiel by an unchecke,
and uncomfortable majority in the law
making power, and whenever deprived o
their rights how powerless they are TO re
/, gain them. Let us turnfora moment TO tn,
history ofthe maioIityi in Congress which ha
, acted in such utter disregard Of the consti
tuition. While public attention has been care
, fully and constantly turned 10 the past an
expiated Gins Of the South, the servant
ofthe people in high places have outrage,
, their trusts, broken their oath Of obedi
, ence and undermined the very foundation
of liberty, justice and good government :
, When the rebellion was being suppressel
by the VOLUNTEERED services OF patriot sol
. diers amid the dangers Of the battle field
these men crept without question into plac
; and power in the national councils. Aite
, all danger had passed, when no armed 10
: remained, when a penitent people bowe
, their heads TO the flag and ronewe
, their allegiance to the government {
the United States, then il was that thes
! pretended patriots appeared before the M
! ton and began toprate about t~hethousand
of lives and millions Of treasure sacrifice
in tho suppression of the rebellion. The
have since persistently sought to inham
the preiudiees engendered between tho SET
@ tions 70 retard tho restoration Of peace an
4 harmony, and by every means to keep ope
and exposed to the poisonous breath
' party passion the terrible wounds Of a iou
& years war. They have prevented the II
: turn OF peace and the restoration OF th
) Union, and in every way rendered delusiy
e the purposes, promises and pledges b
c which the army was marshaled, treason 7,
D buked and the rebellion crushed, and mad
v the Liberties Of the people and the right
{ of the President the object OF col
/ slant attack, They have wreste
a from the President the constitI
= tional power OF supreme command OF II
v army and navy, they have destroyed II
strength otthe executive department b