The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-03-05


ing to those who had prescribed him; thus
creating at Rome kind Of body -guard for
his protection. After having given Rome
over to slaughter, and tyranpized beyond all
example over those opposed to him and the le
gions (his terrible instruments OF wrongl, Sylla
could yet feel safe in laying down the ensigns
of power so dreadfully abused and in min
Cling freely with the families and friends of
his myriad victims. The fear which he had
inspired continued after his voluntary abd.ca-
tion, and even In retirement his will was law
to people who had permitted themselves to
be enslafed What bit g subtle knowledge
and conviction that the Roman people had
| become changed, discouraged, and utterly
broken In spirit, could have induced this
daring assumption What but public indif.
ference to conseo ouences SO terrible as to leave
Rome open to every calamity which subse-
uueiltly befsl her cotild have justified the
conclusions of the dictator and tyrant in his
startling experiment
We find that In the time which mas since
elapsed human nature and exigenctes IN gov
prnment have not greatly changed. Who, a
few wears past, in contemplating our future
could have supposed that in a brief period OF
bitter experience everything demanded In the
name of military emergency, or dictated by
caprice, would come to be considered as mere
matters of course; that conscription, confisca.
tion, loss of personal liberty, the subsection OF
States to military rule and disfranchisement
with the extension OF the right of suffrage.
merely to accomplish party ends, would re-
csive the passive submission, If not acquies-
cence, of the people Of the republic?
It has been clearly demonstrated by recent
occurrences that Entertainments upon the
Constitution cannot be prevented by the Fre-
sident alone, however devoted or determined
he NAV be. and that unless the people inter-
pose, there Is no power under the Constitution
to check dominant majority OF two. thirds
in the Congress of the United States. An ap-
peal to the nation, however, is attended with
too much delay TO meet an emergency Wnlie,
If left free to act, the people would correct In
time such evils as might follow legislative
usurpation, there is danger that the same
power which disregards the Constitution VIII
deprive them of the right to change their
rulers except by revolution. We have al
ciary circumscribed when 1t was appre.
hended that the courts would decide
against laws having for their sole object
the supremacy Of party, while the veto power,
lodged in the Executive b5 the Cons.lenton on na
and exercised by Washington and his success
ors, has been rendered nugatory by partisan
ma iority of two thirds in each branch OF the
the National Legislature. The CONSTITUTION
evidently contemplates that when bill Is re.
turned with the Presidents objections 1t will
be calmly reconsidered by Congress. Such
however has not been the practice under pre-
sent party rule. It has become evident that
men who pass bill under partisan influences
admit their error, and thefeby weaken their
own organizations by solemnly confessing 1t
under an official oath. Pride Of opinion, II
nothing else, has INTERVIEWED, and prevented
calm and dispassionate reconsideration OF
bill disappfofed by the Executive.
Much as l venerate the Constitution 1t must
be admitted that this condition Of affairs has
developed q defect which, under the aggres.
slve tendency OF the legislative department o.
the Govern ment, may readily work its over
!, hn m n.
out disturbing the harmony of the instru-
ment ,>-
constitutional grounds; and whenever 1t Is so
appl;ed, and the bill returned With the txecu-
tiye's reasons for withholding his signature,
il ought to be Immediately certified to the Su-
preme Court of tie United States for its deci.
sion. If its corstitutionality shall be declared
nv that tribunal, it should then become law
but If the decision Is otherwise, II should 1ail,
without power in Congress to re-enact ana
make It valid.
In eases in Which thh veto rests Upon hasty
and inconsiderate legislation, ana In when
no constitutional question is involved, Would
not change the fundamental law; for in such
cases no permanentevll can De Incorporated
into the Federal system.
IL is obvious that without such an amend
ment the Government, as II existed unoer the
Constitution prior TO the rebellion, may De
wholly subverted and oVerthroWn by Two
fore. difficult TO see how easily anu how
RAPIDLY the people may lose-shall l not say
have iost?-their liberties by an unchecked
and uncon trollable majority in the LAY"
making power; and when once deprived OF
their rights, how powerless they are TO regain
them. ,
Let u. turn for q moment TO the history
cf the majority IN Congress, EIlch mas
acted in such utter disregard 81 the Con-
stiIu,iou. While public attention has been
past and explated sins of the South, the
servants of the Teople III high. places have
boldly betrayed their trust, broken their
oaths of obedience 10 the Costltutlon, ana
undermined the very foundations oi ND
erty, Justice, and good government |.
When the rebellion was being suppressed by
the volunteered services OF patriot soldlers
amid the dangers Of the battlefield, these men
crept, without Question into place ana power
in The national councils. After all dangers
had passed when no armed foe remained,
when 4 punished and repentant people
bowed their heads TO the 1laG and renewed
their allegiance to the Government OF the
United States, then it was that pretended
patriots appeared before the nation and
began 10 pirate about the thousands o!
lives and millions of treasure sacrificed
in the suppression Of the rebellion. They have
since persstently sought 10 inilame the pre-
iudices engendered between the sections, 10
retard the res toTatiou of peace and harmony,
and by every means 10 Reep open ana exposed
TO the poisonous breath Of party passion the
terrible wounds OF four years war. lhey
have prevented the return OF peace ana Tie
restoration of the Union, In every way rem,
dered delusire the purposes, promises, ana
pledges, by which the army was marshalied,
treason rebuked, and rebellion crushed, and
made the liberties of the people ana the
rights and powers of the President oolects
of constant attack. Ihey nave WresLec
from the President his constitutional power
of supreme command OF the army and navy:
They have destroyed the strength and
efficiency of the Executive Department by
making subordinate officers independent OF
and able to defy their chief They have at.
power of 4 bold, defiant, and treacherous
Cabinet officer. They have robbed the EXecu.
tive of the prerogative OF pardon, rendered
null and void acts Of clemency granted TO
thousands of persons under the provisions OF
the Constitution, and committed gross usur-
patton by legislative attempts TO exercise this
power in favor of party adherents. Ihey
have conspired to change the system OF
our Government by preferring charges
against the President in the form of articles
of Impeachment, and contemplating, be-
fore hearing or trial, that he should oe
placed in arrest, held in durance, and,
when it became their pleasure TO pro.
nounce his sentence, driven from place and
power in disgrace: Ihey nave In time OF peace
increased the national debt by reckless ex-
penditure of the public moneys, and thus
added to the burdens which already weigh
upon the people. They have permitted the
nation to suffer the evils Of deranged cur
rency-to the enhancement in price OF all the
necessares of life. They have maintained :.
large standing army for the enforcement ol
their measures of oppression. They have ea,
| gagged in class legislation, and built up ard
encouraged monopolies, that the few might be
enriched at the expense of the many. IheJ
have failed to act upon important treaties
thereby endangering our present peaceful re-
lations with foreign Powers.
Thar coursa of usurpation has not beer