Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-03-04


safeguard. Ii is to be hoped that not until
the burdens now pressing upon us with such
fearful weight are removed will our people Tor
oct the lessons Of the war, and that remember
ing them, from whatever cause, peace between
sections and States may be perpetuated.
The history OF late events in our country, as
wou as of the greatest Governments OF ancient
and modern times, teaches that we have every
thing 10 fear from departure from the letter
and spirit of the Constitution, and the undue
ascendency Of men allowed to assume power IN
what are called desperate emei gencies. Sylla,
on becoming master OF Rome, st once adopted
measures to crush his enemies, and to consoll.
date the power OF his party he established
military olonias.throughout Italy, deprived OF
the full Romf8s franchise the inhabitants OF the
Italian townsykho had opposed his usurpa-
tons, confscafed their lands and gave them to
his soldiers, ana conferred citizenship on q
great number of slaves belonging to those who
had prescribed him, thus creating in Rome
kind of body guard for his protection. Alter
having given Rome over to slaughter and ty.
rannies beyond all example, over those opposed
| n him and the legions, his terrible instrument
| OF wrong, Sylla could yet feel safe In laying
down the insignia of power so dreadfully
abused, and in mingling freely with the faml-
lies and friends OF his myriad victims The
fear which he had inspired continued alter his
voluntary abdication, and even In retirement
his will was a law to people VINO had per,
mitted themselves to De ensaved. what Dut
subtle knowledge and conviction that the
Roman people had become changed, discour-
aged and utterly broken in spirit could nave
induced this daring assumption! WaefaRSat
public Indifference to consequences 30 !gzs!ple
| Y,
which subsequently befell her, could have JUS
tilted the conclusions of the dictator and tyrant
in his startling experiment? We find that, in
the time which has since ela1Ded, human Da-
ture and exigences in Governments have not
greatly changed. Who, sS'few years past, in
contemplating our future, could have supposed
that ia brief period of bitter experience every
demanded in the name Of military emer-
or dictated by caprice, would come to
Tered az a mere matter o. .course? That
ton, confiscstion, loss of personal lib
sutiectio1sot States to military rule
l,franchisem0pt, with the extension OF
40 right Of suffrage merely to accomplish per
sona ends would receive the passive submission
if not acauiesceuce of the people OF the Repub-
lie? 1t has been clearly demonstrated by recent
occurreuces that encroachments upon, the Con
stitution cspnot be prevented by the Presi,
dent alone however devoted or determined
he may be, and that unless the people In
terpose, there is no power under the Constltu'
ton to check dominant ajority Of two thirds
in the Congress of the United States. An apl
neal TO the nation, however, is attended with
too much delay to meet an emergency. While
If left free to act the people would correct 10
time such evils as might follow legislative usur-
nation, there is danger that the same power
(which cis!cgards the Constitution will deprive
4 them of the right to change theirrulers except
bv revolution. We have already seen the
Jurisdiction OF the judiciary circumscrlbed when
it was apprchended that the courts would de-
eide 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,
and exercised by Washington and his success.
sors, has been rendered nugatory by partisan
majority of two thirds in each branch OF the
National Legislature. The Constitution evil
IDENTIFY contcmpaes that when bill is return
eli with the Presidents objections, 1t will be
calmly reconsidered by Congress. Such, how
ever, has not been the practice under present
marty Iule. 1t has become evident that men
who pass bill under partisan influence are
not likely, through patriotic motives to admit
their error, and thereby weaken their orgatt-
cation by s0emnly confessing 1T under an
official oath Pride OF opinion, if nothing else,
has interviewed and prevented calm and dis.
passionate reconsideration OF bill disapproved
by the Executive. Much as venerate the
Constitution, it must be admitted that this con-
dition of affairs has developed defect, which,
uader the aggressive tendency the Leglsa'
tive Department of the Government, may
readily work its overthrow. 1t may, however,
be remedid without disturbing the harmony Of
the instrument. The veto power is generally
exercised upon constitutional grounds, and
whenever it is so applied and the bill returned
with the Executives reasons Tor withholding
his signature, it ought to DC Immediately Ger,
titled to the Supreme Court OF the United
States for its decision. 1t its consttutlonality
shall be declared by that tribunal, 1t should
then become law, but if the decision IS other
WISE it should fail without power In Congress
to re-cnsct or make 1t valid. In cases IN whlch
the veto rests upon hasty and inconslderatc
legislation, and in which no constitutional ques-
ton is involved, | would not change the fun
damental law, for in such cases no permanent
evil can he incorporated into the Federal sys
TEN. lt is obvious that without such an
amendment the Government, as it existed no.
der the constitution prior to the rebellion, may
be totally subverted and overthrow by two
thirds majority in Congress. 1t is not, there
fore, difficult TO see how easily and how rapid
ly the people may lose, shall | not say have
lost their liberties by an unchecked and un
comfortable majority in the law-making power
and when once deprived Of their rights, how
poweress they are to regain them. Let us
turn for a moment to the history Of the ma
iorlty in Congress, which has acted 10 such utter
disregard of the Constitution. While public
attention has teen carefully and constantly
turned to the past and expiated sins Of the
South, the servants of the people in high place:
have boldly betrayed their trusts. broken thel'
osths of obedience to the Constitution, and un
dermined the very foundations of liberty, Jus
tice and good government. When the rebellion
was being suppressed by the volunteer services
of patriotic soldiers amid the dangers OF the
battle field, these men crept without question
into place and power in the national councils
After all danger had passed; when no armed
foe remained; when a famished and repentan
people bowed their heads to the flag and re
newed their allegiance to the Government O.
the United States, then it was that pretended
patriots appeared before the nation and begaI
to pirate about the thousands of lives and mil
4 ,.ooe,r, in tha sunpressioY