Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-03-16

accepting the war as a confessed raise step OF
the part OF those who inaugurated 1t, was al
error which not only time can cure, and which
even at this late date we should endeavor t.
palllate;; Experiencing, moreover as all nave
done, the friehtful cost of the arbltrament o
the sword let US, in the future, cling close
than ever to the Constitution as our only safe
guard. 1t is to be hoped that not until the
burdens now pressing upon US with such fear
ful weight are removed will our people forge
the lessons of the war; and that, remembering
them from whatever cause, peace between sec
tons and States may be perpetual.
The history of the late events Of our coun
try as well as of the greatest Governments ol
ancient and modern times, teaches that we have
everything to fear from departure from the
letter and spirit Of the Constitution, and the
undue ascendency Of men allowed to assume
power in what are considered desperate emer
gencies Sylla, on becoming master OF Rome,
at once adopted measures to crush his enemies,
and to consolidate the power Of his party. He
established military colonies throughout Italy
habitants of the Italian towns who had op-
posed his usurpations confscated their lands,
and gave them to his soldiers and conferred
citizenship upon great number OF slaves be-
longing to those who had prescribed him, thus
creating at Rome kind of body guard for
his protection. After having given Rome over
to slaughter, and tyrannzed beyond all example
over those opposed to him and the legions, his
terrible instrument of wrong, Sylla could yet
feel safe in laying down the ensgns of power
so dreadfully abused and mngling freely with
the families and frieLds Of his myriad victims.
The fear which he inspired continued after his
voluntary abdcation, and even in his retire
ment his will was law to people who had per-
mitted themselves to be enslaved. What but
a subtle knowledge and conviction that the Ro-
man 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 to
leave Rome open to the calamity which subse-
quenty befell her, could have justified the con-
clusions of the dictator and tyrant in his start
ling experiment?
We find that in the time which has since
elapsed human nature and eXigencles In gov
ernment have not greatly changed Who, a
few years past, in contemplating our future,
could have supposed that in brief period OF
bitter experience everything demanded in the
name OF military emergency, or dictated by
caprice, would come to be considered as mere
matters of course that CONSUMPTION, confsca-
States to military rule, and disfranchisement,
with the extension Of the right of suffrage
merely to accomplish party ends, would receive
the passive submission, if not acquiescence, OF
the people Of the Republic?
1t has been clearly demonstrated, by recent
occurrences, that encrOachments upon the Con
stitution 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 q
dominant party 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
might follow legislative usurpatlon, there Is
danger that the same power which disregards
the Constitution will deprive them of the right
to change their rulers, except by revolution
We have already seer the jurisdiction of the
judiciary circumscribed when it was apprehen
ded that the courts would decide against laws
having for their sole object the supremacy Of
party, while the veto power, lodged In the Ex
ecutive by the Constitution for the protection
of the people, and exercised by Washington
and his successors, has been rendered nugatory
by partisan majority OF wothirds in each
branch Of the National Legislature. The Con-
stitution evidently contemplates that when a
bill is returned with the Presidents objection
it will be calmly reconsidered by Congress. =
present party rule. 1t has become evident that
men who pass bill under partisan influences
are not likely, through patriotic motives, to ad-
nit their error, and thereby weaken their own
organizations by soemnly confessing it under
an official oath, Pride Of opinion, if nothing
else, has intervened, and prevented calm and
dispassionate reconsideration of bill disap-
proved by the Executive.
Much as yenerate the Constitution, it must
be admitted that this condition of affairs has
developed defect which, under the aggressive
tendency of the legislative department Of the
Government, may readily work Its overthrow.
1t may, however, be remedled, without dis
turbing 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 Execu~
tive's reasons for Withholding his signature, it
ought to be Immediately certified to the Su-
preme Court of the United States for its deci
sion. If it's constitutionallty shall be declared
bv that tribunal it should then become law :;
but if the decision is otherwise, it should fail,
without power In Congress to resenact and
make it valid.
In cases in which the veto rests upon hasty
and inconsiderate legislation, and in which no
constitutional question is involved, would not
change the fundamental law for in such cases
no permanent evil can be Incorporated into the
Federal system.
1t is obvious that without such an amend
ment, the Government, as 1t existed under the
Constitution prior to the rebellion, may be
wholly subverted and overthrown by two
thirds majority in Congress. 1t is not, there
fore. difficult to see how easily and how rapidly
the people may lose-shall not say, have lost ?
their Liberties by an unchecked and uncontroa-
BILE majority in the law making power, and,
when once deprived of their rights, how pow
erless they are to regain them.
Let us turn for moment to the history of
the majority in Congress, which has acted in
snch utter disregard of the Constitution. While
public attention has been carefully and constant
" turned to the past and expiated sins of the
South. tue servants Of the people, in high
places. have boldly betrayed their trust, broken
their oaths of obedience to the Constitution, aud
undermined the very foundations of liberty,
Justice, and good government. hen the re-
bellion was being suppressed by the volunteer
ed services of patriot soldiers amid the dangers
of the battlefield, these men .crept, without
question. into place and power IN the national
councils. After all dangers had passed, when
no armed foe remained, when q punished and
repentant. people bowed their heads to the flag
and renewed their allegiance to the Government
of the United States, then 1t was that pretend
ed patriots appeared before the nation and be-
gan TO nrate about the thousands of lives and
millions OF treasure sacrificed in the suppress
sion of the rebellion. They have since persis~
tently sought to infame the prejudices engen-
dered between the sections, to retard the resto-
ration Of peace and harmony, and by every
means to keep open and exposed to the poison
Gus breath OF party passion the terrible wounds
Of four-years' war. They have prevented the
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