The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-04

only tine Can cure, aud which even nt this late
date we should endeavOr 10 pallate. Expe.
riencing, moreover, as all have done, the fright
ful coat OF the arbit~ament OF the swerd, let us
IN the future cling closer than ever to the Con.
stitution as our only tafeRuafd. II is TO be
hoped that not until the burdens now pressing
uron us with such fearful weight are removed
will our people forget the lessons OF the var:
and that. remembering them, t On whatever
cause, peace between sec ION and state may be
perpetuated.
The history of late events in our country, as
we'll he OF the greatest governments of ancient
aud modem times teaches that we have every
thing TO fear from the departure from the let er
and spirit OF the Consultation, aud the undue
ascendancy of men alo wed to assume DO yer In
what are considered special emergencies. Sylla,
on bect ming master of Rome, at once adop'ed
measures TO crush his enemies and consolidate
the power of his party. He established mili-
tsry colonies throughout. aud deprived of full
Roman franchise the inhabitants OF Italian
towns who had approved his usurpatiOn, con-
diers, and conferred citizenship upon great
number of slaves belonging TO those who had
prescribed him, thus creating at Rome a kind
of body guard for bis protection.
After having given Rome over TO slaughter
and tyranny, beyond all example, over those
opposed to him and his legions, his terrible
instrument OF wrong, Sylla could not feel safe
In laying down the ensign of power, SO dread
fully abused, and in mipgling freely with the
fami,iars aud friends of his myr Rad victims. Tue
fear which he had inspired continued after his
his will was law TO a people who had permitted
themselves to be enslaved. What but 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 in
difference to consequences so terrible as 10
leave Rome open to every calamity which sub.
sequently beiel her, could have justified the
conclusions of the dictator and tyrant in his
startling experiment?
We find that, In the time which has since
elapsed, human nature and exigencies in gov
ernment have not greatly changed. Who, few
years past, in contemplating our future. could
have supposed that in brief period of bitter
experience, everyt thing demanded In the name
of military emergency or dictated by CAPRICE
would come TO be considered as mere matters of
course? That conscrption, con6scatlon, loss of
personal liberty, the subsection of States to
military rule and Acknowledgement, with the
extension of the right of suffrage, merely to
accomplish party ends, would receive the
passive submission, II not acquiescence, of the
republic? 1t has been clearly demonstrated by
recent occurrences that encroacbments upon
the Constitution cannot be prevented by the
President alone, however devoted or determined
he may be. and that unless the people interpose,
there is no power under the Constitution to
check dominant majority OF two-thirds in the
Congress OF the United states. An appeal to the
nation. however, Is attended with too much
delay TO meet an emergency; while, If left free
to act, the people would correct in time such
evils as mig ht follow legislative usurpation.
There is danger that the same po Her which
disIegards the Constitution will deprive them of
the right to change their rulers except by revo-
luton. We have already seen the jurisdiction
of the judiciary circumscribed 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, aud
exercised by Washington and his successors,
has been rendered nugatory by partisan ma.
jorty of two-thirds in each branch of the
national legislature. The Con stitntj0O
contemplates that when a bill is returned. with
the Presidents objections, II will be calmly re-
considered e a by Congress Such. however, has
1t has become evident that men who pass a bill
under partisan influence, are not likely. through
patriotic motives, TO admit their error, and
thereby weaken their own organizations by
lolemnly confessiDg it under an official oath.
Pride of opinion, if nothing else has inter-
vened and prevented O. calm and dispassionate
reconsideration of bill disapproved by the
Executive. Much as l venerate the Constitu.
ton, it must be admitted that this condition of
affairs has developed defect which, under the
aggressive tendency OF the legislative depart
ment of the Government, may readily work its
overthrow. 1t may, however, be remedIed
without disturbing the harmony of the instru.
ment. The veto power is generally exercised
upon constitutional grounds, and whenever it is
so applied, and the bill returned with the Execu
tive reasons for Withholding his signature, 1t
ought to be Immediately certified TO the Supreme
Court of the United States for its decision. I its
nal, it should then become a law; but If the de-
csion is otherwise, it should fall. without power
in Congress to re.enact and make it valid. In
cases in which the veto rests upon hasty and
| inconsiderate legislation, and In which no
constitutional question is involved, it would not
| change the fundamental law, for in such case
| no permanent evil can be incorporated into the
| Federal system. 1t 1t obvious that, without
| such an amendment, the Government as II
| existed under the Constitution prior to the
| Rebellion, may be wholly subverted or over.
| thrown by two.tbirds majority In Congress
1t is not, therefore, difficult to see how easily
| and how rapidly the people may lose shall
| not say have lost?-their liberties by an un-
checked and uncomfortable majority In the la W
| making power, and when once deprived o
their rights, how powerless they are to regain
| them
let us look for moment 10 the history of the
| majority IN Congress, which has acted in such
| utter disregard OF the Constitution. while public
| attention has been carefully and constantly
| turned to the past and expiated sins of the
| South. The servants OF the people In high
| places have boldly betrayed their trust, broken
| their oaths of observance to the Constitution
| and undermined the very foundations Of liberty
| justice, and good government. When the Re
| bellion was being suppressed by the vol lnteere(
services of patriotic soldiers, amid the dangers
OF the battle field, these men crept, without
| question, into place and power In The nationa
| council. After all danger had passed, when nc
armed foe remained, when punished anG
| repentant people bowed their heads to the flag
4 and renewed their allegiance to the Govern
| ment OF the United States, then it was that pre-
tended patriots appeared before the nation anC
began to pIate about the thousands OF lives ant
millions oftreasure sacrificed in The suppression
| of The Rebellion.
They have since persistently sought to iu fame
the Irejudices engeudered between the section;
10 retard the restoration of peace and harmony
and by every means to keep open and exposed
to the poisonous breath of party passion thu
II NnRF NUnn do ~ NnEu1 nnx