The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-03-11

Willie ifEleff' free to act, the people I
would correct in fine such evils as
might folio W Legislative. .hsurpatioh.Aff {
There is danger that the same power
which ilisregafas the Constitution viii !
deprive them of the right TO change
their rulers except by revolution. We
have already Seen the Jurisdiction of
the Judiciary circhn1scribed when it !
was apprehended that the courts
would decide against laws having for
then. sole object the supremacy of
party, While the veto power lodged III
the Executive by tke Constitution for
the interest and protection of thepeogI
pie and exercised by Washington and
his successors has Been rendered nu-
gatorEsbyoa partizarf majority oftwo-
thirds in each branch Of tile national
majorityao Of two-thirds in each branch
of the national legislature. The Con-
stitutioazeVidepu uyseentemplates that
when a. bill is geturneds with the
Presidents objections it, will be ealm-r
ly reconsidered by Congress. Suchsi
however, has not been the practice
under the present party frules:d Ithas
become evident that men who pass "a Z
bill under fpartizzsan 1T "a influences. lars not
likely through patriotic motives. to-
admit their error and thereby weaken
their own organizations by tsolemnlyiI
confessing, it under the official OATH
Pride, of opinion, if nothing else,a has.
interviewed, and prevented a. calm and
idispassionate consideration Of q bill,
!disapproved by the Executive. Much
ASH venerate the Constitution, it
must be, admitted that, this condition
of affairs has developed a detect, which
under the aggressive tendency of, the
Legislative department of the, govern
ment, may readily work it's overthrow.
1t may. however, be remedied without
disturbing, the harmony OF the instru7
ment. The veto power is generally
exercised upon constitutional grounds
and whenever it is SO. applied and the.
bill returned with the Executives rear
sons for withholding his signature, it
ought TO, be immediately certified, to
the > Supreme, Court of the United
States for its decision If its, consti1
tutionality, shall be declared by that
Tribunal, it.should then become law;
Iifthe decision iss otherwise it should
fail without power in Congress to, re-
ENACT il. In eases in, which the vote
rests upon, hasty and ineonsideratl leg
iilah ons and in which no constitutions. u
al question is involved, I5Would not
change the fundameptalf law, for in
such cases, no ipeermanentl evil can be
incorporated into the federal system.
1t is, obYious that without such an
amendment to the government; as it
l'existedinnders the constitution prior
to the rebellion may be wholly sub
verted and .oyerthrown byatwo-thirds
majority in Congress, 1t is not otheIe-
fore, diff cut to see how easily and
rapidly the people may lose-shall i
1 not. sayahaYe slost-their= liberties by
al. unchecked and pneontrolable9 ma
1 jority In the law making power;l and.
Whenever, deprived Of their nights how
] powerless they are to regain them.
Diet us turn forsa moment too the
history of the majority in Congress
| which Fllas iactedgih such utter disreI
gard flthe constitution. While pub
! lie. fattenfion has been carefullvuahd
constantly turned to the lpast, and ex-
plated sins of j the South, 9the servants
of the people in high places have
beIdly8 outraged their trust, ,Ssbroken
! their oatlls ofsobetliences and uiIder+
| Iniaedi the very foundation Of liberty,
Justice and good government. FL When
| thelrebellion was being suppressed by
the golunteeredsserNic of patriot sol
! dierss amid the dangers of the battle-
4 field, these men crept without ques-
tioip into places and power in the ma
I tional councils After all danger had
| passed, hen no armed foe remained,
! and Swfeh q lpenitent people bowed
their head to the flag, and renewed
tlIeir allegiance to the Government
/ Of The United States, then it was that
pretended patriots appeared before the
nation and began to prate about the
! thou sands Of lives and millions of
treasure sacrificed III the suppression
of the rebellion. They have Since per-
sistently sought to infiame the preju-
dice sengendered Between the sections
/ to retafd tile restoration of peace and
!, ,hafmons. ana by every MEANS to keep
open and exposed to the poisonous
/ breath. of party passion tie terrible
wounds of four years war; They
have prevented the return of peace,
and, the, restoration of the, Union in
lleyery way, rendered .delusive the pur-
poses, premises and pledges by which
the army, was marshalled, and treason
4 lrebuked,l and rebellion crushed and
made the liberties of the people and
the, rights and powers Of the the Pres
!, ident objects Of senstapt. attack. They.
!, have wrested from the President his
constitutional power of the supreme
command of the army and navy. They
have destroyed the strength Of the ex-
| ecptiYe department by making 4spbor-
| dinatc officers independent Of Of an and able
4 to defy, their chief eh magistrate, They
have attempted to place the President
under the, ptowen Of q beld, defiant Q t
\ and treaeheroqs cabinet officer. They
haYes robbed the sfxe.ccutiYe Of the prer
rogative Of pardon rendered null y Ian and
j void ACTS Of elemency granted to thpYyI-
4 sands of persons under the proyitsioeFns
i of7the CONSTITUTIONS and committed