New-York tribune., 1869-03-04

Who n few wears ago, In contemplating o"' i''' -
have supposed that III brief periou Vi D,''oi
- -, ooricc would come to be considered
" ao ,nottars Of course That cOnscriphon' cOhhsca
,s of personal liberty the subsection OF states W
,,i,arv rue and disfrHnchisement with the eA'enSo"
% the right OF suffrage merely TO accomplish party eS'
rId receive the passive submission II not acquescenoo
~ the people OF The Republic. 1t has been clearly
tcd bv recent occurrences that encrOachmehts upon
constitution cannot he prevented by the President
hever devoted or determined he may be- That uniess
the people interpose there is power under the consul
on TO check dominant majority OF tWo-tmrds Oh tpo
of the United states An appeal TO the nation
attended with too much delay TO meet emergehey "io
II left free to act the people would correct Ill no
evils as might follow legislative psurpaton' 1nero -
danger that the same power which dsregards the Constr
tuition will deprive them Of the right to change 'nen
rulers except by revolution We have already seen 'no
Jurisdiction OF the Judiciary clrcumscribed when was
annrehended that the Courts would decide against laws
having for their sole object tho supremacy ol parry
while te veto power lodged in the Executive by the Con
sutOn for the interest and protection OF the peoI'
and exercised by Washington and his successors mas
rendered nugatory by partisan majority u
tbirds in each branch OF the National Legislature
The Constitution evidently contemplates that "hen
hill ia returned with the Presidents ogecuohs IL WI" 10
calmly reeonsidered by Congress- Sueh' ho"o'' 10 -
not been the practice under the present parry iuo
has become evident that men VINO pass Dl unu0i P"
,isan influences are likely through patfotc moNcS
,o,it their error and thereby weaken their own or
canizatons by soemny confessng 1t under their ocil
oath Pride of opinion, IL nothing else, has lnterVehed
and prevented q calm and dspassonate recohsderauon
of bill disapproyed by the Executive, huch as Vehe
rate the Constitution 1t must be admitted tha hS co
dtion Of affairs has veOped defect which, uhder INC
aggressive tendency OF the Legislative Department y.
the Government may readily work It's overthrow IL
NAV boweyer DO remedied without disturbing the mar
,nony Of the Instrument. The veto power lS gehe"y
exercised upon constitutional grounds ana whenever
ia so apped ana the bill returned with the EXECUTIVES
for Withholding his signature, 1t ought TO be
Immediately certified 70 Supreme Court OF the Uhteu
states for It's decision II Its consttutionay shal Do
declared by that tribunal It, should then become law
But the decision is otherwise 1t shOud fall without any
mower In Congress reGnact and make tYad III cases
IA which the veto rests upon hasty and
lation and In which constitutional question Is III
VOWED would not change the fundamental lawi ior
IN such cases. no permanent evil can be Incorporated
, Tho Federal system Ii is obvious that without such
an amendment the Government it existed under the
Constitution prior TO the Rebellion may be Whon! SUD
veled and oyerthrown by two-thrds majority III Oon-
press 1t is not therefore, difficult to see how eas ana
how rapidly the people may lose Il DO not say nave o
their liberties by au unchecked and uncomfortable ma
iority in the aw-maklng power And whenever de-
nrved OF their rights how powerless they to regain
,ben IPt us turn for a moment to tho history OF INC
majority in Congress- which has acted In sueh u'er ~
regard OF tho Constitution, while public attention iia9
been carefully and constantly turned to the past ana eA
mated sins OF South and the seryants OF the peoe
in high places have boldly betrayed their trust broken
their oatls OF obedience to the Constitution
and undermined the very foundations OF liberty Justice
and good government. When the Rebellion was Deihg
suppressed by the volunteered services OF patriot SOL
dlers amid the dangers OF the battlefield. these men
crept without question into place and power In the ma
| all
| armed foe remaiued-when penitent people bowed
their heads to the ag renewed their allegiance To
the Government OF the United States then IL was tha
pretended patriots appeared before the nation ana Degh
TO prate about the thousands OF lives ana millions OF
treasure sacrificed In tho suppression OF the Rebellion
They have since persIstently sought TO inname the
preudces engendered the sections to reard the
restoration OF peace and harmony and by every means
10 keep open and exposed TO the poisonous breath OF par
ty passion the terrible wounds OF four years war They
prevented the return Of peace and the restoration
OF the UnOn every way rendered delusive the pur-
moses promises aud pledges by which the Army
marshaed treason rebuked, and rebellion crushed and
made the liberties OF the people, aud the rights
and powers Of the President, objects ot con
staut attacK 1hey have wrested from tho
President hs constitutional power Of supreme command
Of the Army aud Navv they have destroyed the strength
and efficacy OF the Executive Department. by making
subordinate officers Independent Of and able To defy their
Chief they attempted TO place the President under
the power Of bold defiant. and reacherous Cabinet of
cer they have robbed the Executive OF the prerogatve
OF pardon rendered and void acts OF clemency grant
ed 10 thousands persons under the provisions Of the
Constitution and committed gross usurpatOn by legs
atye attempts TO exercise this power IN favor Of party
adherents they have cOnspred to change the system OF
our Government by preerng charges against the Pres
dent the form OF articles OF Impeachment and con-
empating before hearing or trial. that he should be
placed in arrest held in durance, and when IL became
lfa dFiV fr0T
place and power In disgrace; they have time OF peace
increased the National debt by reckless expenditure OF
the public moneys and thus added 20 the burdens which
already weigh upon the peoples they have permitted tho
nation to suffer the evils OF deranged currency 10 the
enhancement IN price OF all the neeessaries OF e they
have maintained alarge standing army for the enforce
of their OF oppresson they have engaged
close legislation and built UP and encouraged mOnopo
es that the few might be enriched at the expense OF
OF the many; they have failed 10 act upon important
treaties thereby endangerDg present peaceful rea
tions with foreign powers. Their course OF usurpation
has not been limited to nroads upon the Executive De-
partment. BY unconstitutional and oppressive enact
uens the people OF ten States Of the have been
duced a condition intolerabe than that from
which the patriots of the Revolution rebelled Millions
OF American citizens can say Of their oppressors
with truth than fathers did OF British tyrants
that they forbidden the Governments pass
OF immediate and pressing Importance unless suspended
until their assent should be obtained" that they have
refused to pass other laws for tho accommodation OF
large districts OF people unless those people would eln
quis the right of representation n the Legsatare"a
right nestabe TO them and formidable to tyrants only
that they have "nade judges dependent upon their will
alone for the tenure OF their Offices, and the amount
and payment Of their salaries" that they have
erected multitude OF new Offices and sent hther swarms
OF officers to harrass people and eat out their sub
stance that they have affected TO render the military
Independent and superior to the civil power combined
with others TO subject TO jurisdiction foreign TO
Constitution and by ourselves: omar.