The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-11
TIE auPaRMACY or law.

Government to be maintained lnviolato and |
at all hazards than tho complete and perfect |
supremacy Of law. The Inv Is greater than
the Individual, and more sacred untn re-
pealed or set aside by the court as unconsti-
tutlonal than IL generally supposed BY the
community. ....u .|.
Tho nomination and confirmation Of Mr..
A. T. Stewart for Secretary Of the Treasury
raised this question. A statute coeval with
our Government forbade him to qualify, and
though there were many cogcnt reasons in
the minds OF many which created a very
strong desire 10 have Mr.. Stewart at this time
as the chief minister Of finance, In the way
stood a law, good and wholesome act,
founded upon correct principles and de-
siened to work out favorable results In secur-
ing disinterested and honest officials 10 the
collection of the customs; that Is, TO place
men In these positions who could have no
possible temptation to lean towards policy
which would be likely to promote their own
private interests. Such was tho purpose Of
the fathers who framed the law Of 80, and
1t has been the policy OF the Government ever
since in maintaining this statute as neces-
atty Inherent In the very nature Of things.
No one doubts the probity, unimpcarhcd
honesty and the high character of Mr..
Stewart. HIS name stands a tower OF
strength in defence Of all those cardinal vir-
tues, and his business life illustrates all the
great qualities which constitute an honest
man. There Is not, probably, 4 man who
does not believe that Mr. Stewart, though
more largely connected with importing than
any man In this country, would, as secre-
tary of the Treasury, act in all his dealings
with the Government and towards all who
would have business with the Department In
a manner strictly In conformity with his
oath and in perfect accord with all the func-
tlons imposed by the principles and moral
rules Of his high position. Still, there stands
the law, as memorable as fate. It would not
do 10 abrogate u even for moment, nor set
IL aside for any individual; for thereby many
evils might creep into the State, and our en-
tire framework of government might be
corrupted. The President saw this, and Mr..
Stewart himself saw 1t, and our best and
wisest men colncided In this conclusion, and
all bowed to the solemn mandates and TO
the supremacy Of the laws.
Whatever there Is OF personal regrets aud
public disappointment, all feel that q statute
founded on Just and righteous principles,
and q law sound as wise and discreet policy
has been indicated.
When 1t was found on mature reflection
that no change In the law could be made
that would enable Mr.. Stewart to qualify,
all bowed to the inevitable decree, and the
resignation Of Mr.. s. has nobly INDICATED
the supremacy Of law. Had any halfway
measures been adopted, and Mr.. Stewart
accepted the place while the least shadow Of
doubt rested upon the public mind, conf
dence in President Grants administration
would have been materially shaken. All Is
now settled, and settled right, and the law
remains inyiolate.
A Free Trade Meeting In New York.
The Free Trade League Of New York met
in that city on Saturday last, and many Of
the leading merchants and publicists Of the
metropolis were present, and the meeting
was one Of interest. The friends of indus
trial and commercial progress and improve
ment certainly have a deep Interest in move
ments OF this sort, and the questions dis
cussed on this occasion, from whatever
standpoint they may be viewed, possess
matter Of deep and vital moment to the
whole people. Mr.. MInturn, a gentleman
well known in business and monetary cir
Giles, made some interesting remarks. The
New York EvcHiig Post says:
T.. ~, - 49,
citation formed In this city for improving the
condition OF the poor. He stated that the
present condition of the working classes In
New York fully confirmed the conclusions Of
Mr.. Wells In his report, that while the mill
owners are becoming richer the poor, owing
to the high prices OF the necessaries of life,
which is one Of the consequences Of our pres
ent commercial system, are suffering more
and more from destltution. The two last
winters were exceedingly severe; the present
winter has been extremely mild, and II would
necessarily follow that, all other things
being equal, there would be less suffering
and less necessity for administering relief
On the contrary, the distress has been
greater than that OF last winter, although |,
then exceeded the experience Of previous
years. The association has never found the
calls upon Its beneyolence so numerous or sc
pressing, and was never obliged to draw SC
largely on the funds In Its possession. The
distress of last winter exceeded that Of pre-.
vious seasons, and the distress Of the presen,
winter distances that Of the last.
,ho tonr. "aI' Prera ,i 70 sush an extent
creasedTthat is to saw the inducemep, to
take by stealth or by violence what cannot
easily DO obtained BY honest labor; The
which has mad eycr, ~ S.e VI S ,,so doa
and hard to come at have much to answer
for on this score"
We are not prepared 10 embrace free trade
in all its length and breadth, and in all of
Its applications still VIC are firm in the con-
vlction that all class legislation and every.
thing that tends to build up monopoly should
BIO avoided in the enactment of laws. Our
Government must seek BY all of It's legisla.
tion 'fthe greatest good of the greatest num-
bcr." This is the only wise and safe policy.
OF all questions which have bearing upon the
wisest and heat me,bods IN increase nro-
ductIop aud 10 rron,o,o al, ~ tho Inau..ri.,
pursuits Of our nco,Io
Mr.. Mipturn,s statements in rcs,oo, N tho