The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-03-17

the country, made the occasion of infaming and
irritating still further those who were recently in
against each other yet individuals, sincerely
aesirous, as shall ever be, of burving all hostile feel
ings IN the grave of the past. The bitter was
waged on the part of the Government to vndicate the
Constitution and the Union, aud if have erred
IN trying to bring about more speedy and lasting
peace to eXtngnsh heart burnlngs and enmites, to
prevent trouble in the South which was retarding ma
e1ai prosperity IN that region and lnJurousiy affect
ing the whoe country, am quite content to rest my
case with the more deliberate judgment of the people
and as have already inmated with the distant future
The war, all must remember was stupendous and
depoTable mistake Neither side understood the other
and had this simple fact and its conclusions been kcp
IN view all that was needed accomplished by the
/ acknowledgment of the terrible wrong and the ex
pressed better feelings and earnest endeavor at atone
nen shown and felt IN the prompt ratification of the
constitutional amendment by the Southern States al
the close OF the war. Not accepting the con
essed false step the part of those who augnrated
it, was an error, which only time can cure and
which at this late date should endeavor to pal
late Experiencing moreover, all have done, the
rghtul cost of the arbrament of the sword let ii
the future cling closer than to the Constitution
our only safeguard.
It is to be hoped that not until the burdens now pres
sing upon us with such fearful weight are removed wi
people forget the lessons of lhe war; and that re
memberng them from whatever source, peace betwe eer
sections and States may be perpetuated. The history
OF late events IN our country well of the sreaes
governments of ancient and modern times, teach us
that we have thing to fear from departure from
the letter and spirit of the Constitution and the undue
ascendency of men allowed to assume powers in what
are considered desperate emergencies Sylla, on be
coming master of Rome at once adopted measures te
eath his a to y the power o hi
Italy deprived Of the full Roman franchise the nh; b
tants of the Italian towns who had opposed his usurpa
ton, confscated their lands and gave them to his sol
diers, and CONFER ed citizenship upon great number
of slaves belonging to those who had prescribed him
thus creating at Rome kind body guard for his pro
lection.
After having given Rome over to slaughter and tyran
nv beyond ali example over those opposed to him and
the legons ct his terrible instrument of wrong Sylla
could yet feel safe in laying down the gns of power
50 dreadfulls abused and in mingng freely with the
families and friends of his myriad Victims The fear
which he had Inspired continued his voluntary ah
dication and even in retirement his will law to
people who had permitted themselves to be ensavcd.
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 bat public Indifference to cnnse.
quences so terrible as to leave Rome open 10 every
calamity which subsequently beivl her conld have JUS
lied the conclusions of the dictator and yrant in his
startling experiment? We find that in the time which
has since elapsed human nature and the exigcncies in
government have not greatly changed Who, few
years ago. in contemplating future, could have sup
posed that IN brief period of bitter experience every
thing that demanded, in the of military ererge
CO, dictated by caprice wonld come to be considered
as matter o course; that conscrpten, conscation
loss of personal liberty, the subections of States to
military rule, and dsfranchisement, with the extension
of the right of suffrage, merely to accomplish party
ends would receive the passive submission if not ac
quascence, of the people of the Republic,
1t has been clearly demonstrated by recent occur
renee that encroachmens upon the Constitution cannot
be prevented by the President however devoted or de-
term ned he may be- That unless the people ntepose
there is power under the Constitution to check a
dominant majority of two thirds Of the Congress of the
United States. An appeal of the nation IS attended
with too much delay to meet the emergency. If left
free to act the pie would in time such evils
AS might follow Legislative usurpation There is danger
that the power which disregards the Constitution
will deprive them Of the light to change their rulers
except by revolution.
We have already the jurisdiction of the judiciary
circumscrited. When it apprehendcd that
the courts would decide against the laws having for
their sole object the supremacy of party while the
power lodged in the Executive by the Constitution for
the interest and protection the people and exercised
by Washington and his successors has been rendered
nugatory By partisan majority of two-tlrds in each
branch OF the national legislature.
The Constitution evidently contemplates that when
bill is returned with the President objections it will
be calmly reconsidered by Congress- Such, however,
bias not been the practice under the present party rule
1t has become evident that who pass a bill under
partisan Influence are not likely through patriotic
motives to admit their error and thereby weaken their
own organsaon, by solenniy c0nfessing it under the
official oath Pride of opinion; if nothing else has in
tervened and pervcnted ca1 aud dspassonate
! sheraton ot bill dlsapproyed by the Executive.
Much as venerate the Constitution it must be ad-
Hifttea Hiftte cnh t nhH G eendIon M Of affairs had developed
Legislative department OF the Government may readily
work its overthrow. 1t must, however, be remedied
veto po"erls generally exercised upon constitutional
grounds, and wherever it is applied and the bill
turned with the Executives for withholding his
signature it ought to be Immediately certified to the
Supreme Court of the United States for its decision
fits sttutionaIity Shall be declared by that tr-
bunal 1t should then become law, but If the decision
Is otherwise, 1t should tl, without power in Congress
to reenact 1t. In cases i'll which constitutional
question is involved, | would not change the fund,,
mental law, Tor IN such permanent evil be
Incorporated in the federal system. 1t is obvious that
without such an amendment, the Government as it cx
listed under The Constitution prior to the rebellion may
be wholly snhycrtcd and overthrcwn BY two thirds
majority in Congress-.
1t not, therefore, difficult to see how easily and
rapidly the people may losc-sha say have lost
their rperes by unchecked and uncomfortable author
ity in their law making power and whenever deprived
of their rights bow powerless they are to regain them
Let us turn fer moment 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 exposed
sins of the South the servants Of the people in their
high place have boldly outraged their trust broken
their oahs of obedience and nermine ed the very oun
dation oflberty, justice and good government
When the rebellion was being suppressed by the vol
unteered services OF patrolc soldiers amid the dan
gers OF the battlefield, these crcpt without uueS
ton into place and power in the national councils At
ter all danger had passed, when armed foe remained
when pentent people bowed their heads TO the flag
and renewed their allegiance to the Government Of the
United States, then it that the pretended patriot
appeared before the nation and began to prate about
the thousands ofves and millions of treasure sacrificed
They have since persstenty sought to inflame the
prejudice engendered between the sections retard
the restoration of peace and harmony and by every
means to Keep open and exposed to the poisonous
breath Of party passion the terrible wounds OF four
years war. They have prevented the return of peace
and the restoration Of union in every rendered
delusve the purposes promises and pledges by which
the army marshalled, treason rebuked and REBEL
icn crushed and made the liberties Of the people and
the rights and powers of the President objects Of
slant attack.
They have wrested from the President lis constu
tlonal power OF the supreme command OF the army and
navy they have destroyed the strength Of the Exccu
tive Department by making subordinate officers inde
pendent of and able to defy their Chief Magistrate
they have attempted to place the President under the
power of bold, defiant aud treacerous cabinet Off
Ger they have robbed the Executive OF the prtrogative
of pardon rendered null and void the of cemcncr
granted to thousands of persons under the provisions
Of the Constitution, and committed gross nsurpations
by legislative attempts to exercise this in favor
party adhereuts they have conspred to change the
system OF our by prcerng charges against
the President IN the form Of articles OF inpcach ment
and contemplating before hearing of trial, that he
should he placed under arrest held III durance, and
when became their pleasure to pronouce his sentence
driven from place and power in disgrace they have in
time of peace increased the national debt by reckless
expenditure OF public moneys and thus added to the
burden which already weigh upon the people, they
have permitted the nation to suffer the evils Of a de
ranged currency to the enhancement in price of all the
necessares ofe they haze maintained large stand
ing army for the enforcement of their of op-
preston they have engaged in class legislation buiit