American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-03-13

] Il
which disregards the Constitution
will deprive them of the right to
change their rulers except by revo-
luton.
We have already seen the jurisdic-
ton of the Judiciary circumscribed,
when it was apprehended that the
courts would decide against the laws
having for their sole object the
supremacy of party, while the veto
power lodged in the Executive by
the Constitution for the interest aid
protection of the people, and eXer-
cised by Washington and his sue
cessors, has been rendered nugatory
by a partisan majority of two thirds
in each branch of the National Legis.
latme.
The Constitution evidently con-
templates that when bill is return
ed with the Presidents objections it
will be calmly reconsidered by Con-
greSS. Such, however, has not been
the practice under the present party
rule. 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 own organ
ization, by solem lly confessing
it under the official oath. Pride of
opinion, if nothing else, has inter-
vened and prevented a calm and dis
passionate reconsideration of a bill
disapproved by the Executive.
Much as | venerate the Constitu-
ton, it must be admitted that this
condition of affairs has developed a
defect which under the oppressive
tendency of the. legislative depart
ment of the Government may readi
ly work it's overthrow. 1t may,
however, be remedied without dis
turbing the harmony of the instru
ment. The veto power is generally
exercised upon constitutional grounds
and wherever it is so applied and the
bill returned with the Executives
reason for withholding his signature,
it ought to be Immediately certified
to the Supreme Court of the United
| States for its decision.
If its constitutionality should be
declared by that tribunal. it should
then become a law, but if the decl-
sion is otherwise it should fail, with
out power in Congress to re enact it.
In cases in which the veto rests upon
hasty and inconsiderate legislation,
and in which no constitutional queS-
tion is involved, [ would not change
the fundamental law. for in such
| l1o -,
corporated in the Federal system.
1t is obvious, without such an
amendment, the Government as it
existed under the Constitution prior
to the rebellion may be wholly sub
verted and overthrown by q two
thirds majority ill Congress.
1t is not, therefore, difficult to see
how easily and rapidly the people
may lose, shall | not say have lost
their liberties by unchecked and un-
controllable authority in their law.
making power, and whenever de
prived of their rights how powerless
they are to regain them. Let us
turn for moment to the history OF
the majority in Congress which has
acted in such utter disregard of the
Constitution. While public atten-
tion has been carefully and constant
ly turned to the past and exposed
sins of the South, the servants of the
people in +h' ir high place have bold
ly outraged their trust, broken theil
oaths of obedience aud undermined
the very foundation of liberty, jus
tice and good government.
When the rebellion was being sup
pressed by the volunteered s,rvice:
of patriotic soldiers amid the dan
gers of the battle field, these mcr
and power in the National councils
After all danger had passed, when NJ
armed foe remained, when peniten
people bowed their heads to the flag
and renewed their allegiance to thu
Government of the United States
then it was that the pretended
patriot appeared before the natioI
and began to prate about the thous
ands of lives and millions of treasure
sacrificed i'll suppression of the re
bellion.
They have since perSistently
sought to infame the prejudice Ell
gendered between the sections, tt
: retard the restoration of peace mt
harmony, and by every means t.
r keep open and exposed to the poison
| ous breath of party passion the terri
| ble wounds of a four years. wal
They have prevented the return O
: tpeaco anil the restoration of tn
4 VI ion in every way rendered delu
t sive the purposes, promises pledge
e by which the army was marshaled
treason rebuked, and rebellion crush
l ed; and made the liberties of th
t people and the rights and powers q
S the President objects of constan
o attack.
Y They have wrested from the Pres
e ident his constitutional power of tn
t supreme command of the army an
e navy; they have destroyed tn
$ strength of the Executive Depart
c ment by making subordinate officer
It independent of and able to defy thei
s Chief Magistrate; they have a
=, tempted to place the President Ill
# der the power of Il 0old. defiant an
: treacherous Cabinet officer; the
e have robbed the Executive of til
y prerogative of pardon (; rendered nu
Il n d void the acts of clcmency gran
} ed to thousands of persons under tn
Il provisions Of the Constitution, an
o committed gross uSurpatIons b
t, legislative attempts t" exercise thi
If power in favor of their adherents
y they have conspired to change tn
, system Of our government by pl,
e ferring charges against the Pes
dent in the form OF articles of in
d parchment. and contemplating, b,
l. fore hearing or trial, that he shoul
1t be placed under arrest, held i'll dnl
: ance, and. when it became the
V pleasure to pronounce his senteno
+ driven from place and power in di
le grace they have in time of peat
1t increased the National debt by
l. reckless expenditure of publ
D. moneys and thus added to the bu
h dens which already weigh upon ii
n npop'n. they havn nprmittp1 II