Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-03-24

Ind this simple fact and ia con-
1 Clusions been kept in view, all
that was needed was accomplished by the
acknowledgement Of the terrible wrong
and the expressed bitter feeling Tocrush
his enemies and 10 consolidate the power
of his party Syla established initintory
colonies throughout Italy deprived OF the
full Roman franchise, tho inhabitants OF
stated towns who had opposed his usurpa-
tions, confscatsd their lands and gave
them to his soldiers, and conferred citizen
ship upon great number of Hlavos belong
ing 10 those who had prescribed him, thus
creating ut Rome kind of body guard for
his protection. After having given Rome
over to slaughter and tyrannized beyond all
example over those opposed to him and
to his lo6iOnS, this terrible instrument
of wrong, Sylla, oould got full safe
ty in laying down the ensign of power
so dreadiully absurd, and in ming
ling freely with the families and friends of
his myriad of victims The fear which he
had inspired continued after his voluntary
abdicaton, and on retirement hsword was
law to people who had permitted them
selves to be enslaved. What but subtle
knowledge and conviction that the Ro-
man people had become changed, discour-
aged and utterly broken in spirit, could
have induced this daring assumption.
What but public indifference to conao-
auences so terrible as to leave Rome open
to every calamity, which subsequently,
lett her, could have Justified the con
clusions of the dictator and tyrant i'll
his startling experiment, We find that in
the time which has since elapsed, human
nature and exigencies in governments have
not greatly changed Whoa few years ago,
in contemplating our future, could have
supposed that in q brief period of bitter
experience, everything demended in the
name of military emergency or dictated by
caprice, would have come to be considered
as mere matters of course; that con-
scription, loss of personal liberty
tho subsection of states to military
rule and Acknowledgement, with the
extension of the right of suffrage merely to
the accomplishment of party ends, would
receive the passive submission II not the
acaniescence OF the people of the country
II has been clearly demonstrated by re-
cent occurrences, that encroachments
upon the constitution cannot be pre-
vented by the President, however de-
voted or determined he may be, that
unless the people interfere, there IS no
power under the constitution to check the
dominant majority of n two-thirds OF con-
gress of the United States An appeal to the
nation is attended with too much delay to
meet emergency. While, II LETT free to
act the people would correct In time such
evils MS would follow Legislative usurpa-
ton, there is danger thatsome power which
disregards the Constitution will deprive
| them of their right to change their rulers
except by revolution. We have already
seen the jurisdiction OF the Judiciary cir
cumscribed when it was apprehended that
the courts would decide against laws hNv-
ing 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
ors, has been rendered nugatory 10y partl-
san vote of two-thrds i'll each branch OF
| the National Legislature.
The constitution evidently cOntem-
plates that when bill is returned with the
Presidents objections, it will be calmly re-
considered by Congress. Such, however,
| hns not been the practice under the present
party rules 1t has become evident that
men who pass bill under partisan in
hnence are not likely through patriotic
motives to admit their error, and thereby
weaken their own organizations 10y solemn
" confessing it under the official oath
Pride of opinion, if nothing else, has in
tervened and prevented a calm and DIS
passionate reconsideration of bill dis
approved by the Executive. Much as |
venerate the constitution, 1t must
be admitted that this condition of affairs
has developed defect which under theag-
gressive tendency of the Legislative depart
ment of the government may readily work
its overthrow II may, however, be RENE
died without disturbing the harmony ofthe
instrument. The veto power Is generally
exercised upon constitutional grounds, and
whenever it is 80 applied, the bill returned
with the executives reasons for Withhold
ing his signature, it ought to be immedi-
ately certified to the supreme court OF the
Z. s. for its decision Ifit is constitutional 1t
should be 30 declared by that tribunal, and
it should then become law-but II the
decision is otherwise, it should fail without
power in Congress to re enact 1t. In cases
IN which the veto rests upon hasty and in
considerate legislation, nnd in which no
constitutional question is involled, could
not change the fundamental law, for in
such cases the permanent evil can be in,
corporated in the federal system. tits OBJ.
vious that without such an amendment
the government, aB it existed under the
Constitution pIior to the rebellion, may be
wholly subverted and ovelthrown by two
thirds majority in Congress. 1t is not
therefore difficult to SEQ how easily and rap
idly the people may lose-shall not Say
have lost their liberties by an unchecked
and uncomfortable majority in the law
making power, and whenever deprived o.
their rights how powerless they are to re-
A., gain them. Let us tumfor moment TO the
history ofthemaj joity in Congress which haf
, acted in such utter disregard Of the consti
tuition. While public icattenton has been care
: fully and constantly turned TO the past anC
, expiated sins of the South, the servants
OF the people in high places have outraged
, their trusts, broken their oath Of obedi
> ence and undermined the very foundation
of liberty, justice and good government. :
, When the rebellion was being suppressed
by the VOLUNTEERED services Of patriot sol
a diers amid the dangers of the battle field
these men crept without question into plac
and power in the national councils. Afte
, all danger had passed, when no armed fo
: remained, when penitent people bowet
! their heads to the flag and renewed
a their allegiance to the government o
a the United States then IL was that thes
i pretended patriots appeared before the ma
4 ton and began toprate about the thousand
n of lives and millions Of treasure Bacrificet
. in the suppression Of the rebellion. The
have since persistently sought to inham
the preiudices engendered between the sec
e tons to retard the restoration ofpeNce an
harmony, and by every means to keep ope
+ and exposed to the poisonous breath Q
Y party passion the terrible wounds of fou
Q years war. They have prevented the re
J. turn OF peace and the restoration OF tn
0 Union, and in everyway rendered delusiv
e the purposes, promises and pledges b
e which the army was marshaled, treason n
n buked and the rebellion crushed and mad