Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-03-12


step on the part of those who inaugurated
it. was an error which now only time can
cure, and which, even at this late date, we
should endeavor to palliate. Experience
ing, moreover, as all have done, the fright
full cost of the arbitrament of the sword,
let us in the future cling closer than ever
to the Constitution as our only safeguard.
1t is to be hoped that not until the burdens
now pressing upon US with such fearful
weight are removed, will our people for
get the lessons of the war; and that, re-
membering them from whatever cause,
peace between sections and States may
be perpetual.
The history oflate eventsin our country
as well as Of the greatest governments OF
ancient and modern times, teaches that we
have everything to fear from departure
from the letter and spirit of the Constltu-
ton, and the undue ascendency of men
allowed to assume powers in what are con-
sidered desperate emergencies. Sylla, on
becoming master of Rome, at once adopted
measures to crush his enemies, and to con
solidate the power of his party. He estab-
lished military colonies throughout Italy :
deprived of the full Roman franchise the;
inhabitants of the Italian towns who had
opposed his usurpation, confscated their
lands, and gave them to his soldiers, and
conferred citizenship upon great number
Of slaves belonging to those who had pro-
scribed him, thus creating at 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 the legions, his terri
BILE instruments of wrong, Sylla could yet
feel safe in laying down the ensigns of
power so dreadfully abused, and in ming
ling freely with the families and friends of
his myriad victims. The fear he had
inspired continued after his voluntary alb
dication, and on retirement left his law,
to people who had permitted themselves
to be enslaved. What but subtle knowl-
edge and conviction that the Roman peo-
pie had become changed, discouraged, and
utterly broken in spirit, could have In
duced this daring assumption. What but
public Indifference to consequences so ter
rible, as to leave Rome open to every Ca
lamity, which subsequently visited her
could have justified the conclusions of the
dictator and tyrant in his startling expert
ments? We find that in the time which
has since elapsed, human nature and
exigencles in governments have not
greatly changed. Who, a few years ago,
supposed that in brief period of bitter
experience, everything demanded in the
name of military emergency, or dictated
by caprice, would have come to be con-
sidered as mere matters of course? That
CONSUMPTION, confscation, loss of personal
liberty, the subsection of States to mill
tary rule and Acknowledgement, with the
extension of the right of suffrage merely
N Iioh
the passive submission if not acquiescence
of the people of the:Republic. 1t has been
clearly demonstrated by recent occur
rences, that encroachments upon the Con-
stitution cannot be prevented by the Presi-
dent, however devoted or determined he
may be; that unless the people interpose,
there is no power under the Constitution
to check dominant majority of two
thirds of the Congress of the United
States. An appeal to the nation is at
tended with too much delay to meet the
emergency, while, if left free to act, the
people would correct in time, such evils
as might follow legislative usurpation.
There is danger that the same power
which disregards the Constitution will de-
prive them of the right to change their
rulers, except by revolution. We have
already seen the jurisdiction of the Judi
ciary circumscribed, when it was appre-
hended that the courts would decide
against the laws having for their sole OBJ
ject the supremacy of party, while the
veto power lodged in the Executive, by
the Constitution, for the interest and pro-
lection of the people, and exercised by
Washington and his successors, has been
rendered nugatory by partisan majority
of two-thirds in each branch of the Ma
tional Legislature.
The Constitution evidently contem-
plated that when bill is returned with
the Presidents objections, it will be calmly
reconsidered by Congress. Such, how
ever, has not been the practice under the
present party rules. 1t has become evil
dent that men who pass bills under par
tisan influence are not likely through patri-
otto motives to admit their error, and there
by weaken their own organizations, by
solemnly confessing it under official oath.
Pride of opinion, if nothing else, has pre-
vented calm and dispassionate reconsid-
Grafton of bill disapproved by the Ex-
ecutive. Much as / venerate the Consti-
tuition, it must be admitted this condition
of affairs has developed defect which,
under the aggressive tendency of the
Legislative Department of the Govern
ment, may readily work its overthrow It
may, however, be remedied without dis
turbing the harmony of the instrument
The veto power is generally exercised
upon constitutional grounds, and, when
ever it is so applied and 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
United States for its decision If its con-
stitutionality shall be declared by that
tribunal, it should then become law, but
| if the decision is otherwise, it should fail.
without power in Congress to re.enact.
In cases where 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 in the federal system. 1t is
obvious that without such amendment,
the Government as it existed under the
Constitution, prior to the rebellion, NAV
be wholly subverted and overthrow by
two-thirds majority in Congress. It is
no: therefore difficult to see how
easily and rapidly the people mar
lose, shall l not say have lost; their
liberties by an unchecked and I'M
comfortable majority in the law-maz King
power, and whenever deprived of their
rights, how powerless they are to regain
them. Let us turn for moment to his
tory OF the majority in Congress, which has
acted In such utter disregard of the Consti-
tuition, while public attention has been
carefully and constantly turned to the
past and expiated sins of the South, and
the servants of the people in high places
have boldly outraged their trust. broken