The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-03-11

evou at this late date we should GU
deavor to palliate. Experiencing
moreover, as all have done, th,
friehtiul cost of the arbitrament Of
the sv ord, let US in the future rlins
closer than ever to the Constitution
as our only safeguard. 1t is to bC
hoped that not until the burdens nov
pressing upon us with such fearful
weight arc removed will our people
/ forget the lcSsous of war, and remem
ing them from whatever cause, peace
between sections aud States may be
| perpetual. The history of late events
in our country, as we'll as the greatest
Governments Of ancient aud modern
times, teach us that wo have ovcryry
thing to fear from a departure from
the letter aud spirit of the Coustitu-
ton, aud the undue asceudancy OF
muu allowed to assume power in what
are considered desperate emergencies,
Sylla, on becoming master Of Rome.
at once adopted measures to crush his
euumies, and to consolidate the pow
er Of his party he established militia.
ry colonies throughout Italy, dcpriv.
ed Of tho full Roman franchise the
inhabitants Of the Italian towns, who
had opposed his usurpation, rouds-
Gated their lands, and gavo thcm to
his soldiers, and conferred citizenship
upon a great number Of slaves be-
longing to those who had prescribed
him, thus creating at Rome a Kind of
body guard for his protection. After
giving Rome over to slaughter aud
tyranny beyond oil example over
those opposed to him and his lcgions,
his terrible instrument Of wrong,
Sylla could yet fell safe in laying down
tho ensign Of power so dreadfuny
abused, aud in mingling freely with
the families aud friends of his my
Rad victims. The fear which he had
Inspired continued after his voluntary
abdication and went into Retirement.
His will was law to people who had
permitted themselves to be euslavod
What but a subtle knowledge aud
conviction that tho Pumau people
had become changed, discouraged aud
utterly broken in spirit could have
induced this daring assumption I?
What but public indifference to eou
| sequences so terrible as to leave
Rome open to every calamity which
subsequently, met her could have
justified the conclusions of the die.
tator and tyrant in his startling OK
perimont2 We find that in the time
which has since elapsed human na-
turo aud exigencies in Governments
have not greatly changed. Who, n
few years ago, in contemplating our
future, could have supposed that, in a
brief period of bitter experience, ev-
erythi1g demanded In the namo of
military emergency Or dictated by
caprice would come 10 be cousidarod
as mere matters of coutso2 That
conscriptiou, conAscation, loss OF
personal liberty, tho subjec,ion of
States TO military rule aud diSfrnn.
chiscment, with the extension of the
right Of suffrage merely to uccom.
plish party ends, would receive the
passive submission if not the acqui.
cscence of the people of tho Ropub.
licP 1t has been clearly demonstrat,
ed by recent occurrences that en-.
croachments upou the Constitution
can not be prevented by the Prosi
dent, however devoted he may be,
that unless the people interpose,
there is no power uudor tho Cousti.
tuition to check II dominant majority
Of two-thirds Of the Congress of the
United States. An appeal to
the nation is attended with
too much delay to meet the emergen.
oy. While left free to net the peo-
pie would correct in time such evils
as might follow legislative usurpa.
ton; yet there is danger that the
same power which disregards the
Constitution viii deprive them of the
right to change their ruler except by
revolution. We have already seen
the jurisdiction of the judiciary cir
cumscribed, when it was apprehend. 4.
ed that the Courts would decide
against laws having for their sole OBJ
ject the supremacy of party, while
the veto power lodged in the Exeou-
tive by the Constitution for the iu-
terest and protection of the people,
and exercised by Washington and
hiS SUCCESSORS, has been rendered nu-
gatory by partisan majority oftwo-
thirds ia each branch OF the National
Legislature,
The Constitution evidently con
templates that when bill is return
ed with the Presidents objections, il
will be calmly reconsidered by Coz.
gress. Such, however, has not been
the practice under the present party
rules. Ii has become evident that
men who pass bill under partisan
influences arc not likely, through
patriotic motives, to admit their er-
ror, aud thereby weaken their own
organization by solemnly confessing
it. Under the official oath, pride of
opinion, il nothing else, has utter.
yened aud prevented calm aud dis
passionate reconsideration Of a bill
disapproved by the executive. Much
as venerate the Constitution, il
must be admitted that this condition
Of affairs has developed defect
which. under the aggressive ienden-
cy Of the Legislative department Of
the Government, nay readily work
its overthrow. II may however, be
remedied without disturbing the
harmony of the instrument. Tho
veto power, is generally exercised
upon constitutions! grounds, aud
wheuel er it so applied, aOd the bill
returned With the Executives rea-
sons for withholding his signature,
il ought 10 be Immediately certified