The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-09-15
For the Clarion.
Letter from AN Old Lime Wing.
NUMBER TX.

When under our form OF government it il
asserted that the majority must Of necessity
rule, we are simply 10 understand that the
| voice OF the majority is to control in the
administration of the government. The
right to administer implies an obligation
imposed by superior and is very dicer-
ent thing from the power to change, to
abolish or sUbvert. This latter right belongs
only TO the people. A party though in the
majority is not the people, still less can
partisan majority in Congress presume that
their wishes reflects the will of the people
Ii may or it msy not. 1t as frequently rep
| resents the will of the minority as is evident
| from the manner in which they are chosen.
To make this perfectly clear, we will take
| four Congressional Districts; three of these
Districts give each majority of from one
! to ten votes, the remaining District gives
to the opposing candidate a majority Of
from five to ten thousand. The delegation
l.: Congress will be three to one and yet
| representing minority of from five TO ten
thousand. This illustration will serve to
explode the absurd idea that the majorities
in Congress represent the will fthe nation.
They represent the will of a party. a crea-
tnre, which though severely felt by the gov
eminent, is unknown TO the Constitution.
How dare they then, usurping the rights OF
the people, touch the fundamental law. a
law which was ordain ed by the people for
the express purpose of securing their liber-
ties against the usurpatons of those who
should administer the government. They
may nle, but by virtue of, and subject to
the limitations imposed by the Constitution.
Now the Radical party assuming to be the
people, and Congress the government, it
follows that they may rightfully do all acts
that thee people and government may right
fully do, and as consequence of this prin-
ciple, We have seen encroachment, tyranny
and all the powers Of the people uSurped
and when it finally breaks down the last
barrierby engrossing to itselfall the powers
of the Judiciary, not vestige will remain
to the people of civil liberty, its light is ex-
tinguished and over its ruins spreads the
pail of long dark night of despOtism.
Already have they undermined and sapped
this citadel. They have asserted and in all
their acts have assumed that Congress was
the only proper judge of constitutional
questions. Trum5ulrs bill fully embodied
the party creed when il declared that courts
should have no power to decide political
questions and that Congress was to deter
mine what were political questions. They
have not only assaulted its powers but have
actually invA led its provence and usurped
its jurisdiction. Causes pending on appeal |
have been dismissed at the dictation of
Congress. The independence of the judici- |
airy, without which it is worthless as a |
shield for the protection of the liberties of
the people. has been wantOhly attacked. |
During the administration of President |
johnson vacancies were not permitted to be |
filled. The plumber of Judges were dimin- |
ished and a paralysis of the judiciary arm |
was preferable to incumbents appointed by |
the then Executive, lest decision should !
arrest their unconstitutional legislation, but |
the butcher Captain Grant coming into |
office, we find the vacancies filled, the num- |
Der increased with plant tools ready to |
pronounce as law every despotic mandate OF I
the perjured usurpers.
Better that this bulwark of liberty had |
been torn down and shattered than that it |
should revive the days of the bloody assizes
aud be rendered the most formidable and
dangerous enemy to those rights and liber-
ties it was intended to protect. Is this also
only precedent to be followed in similar
csses,of State rebellion. Out upon the ours
who can thus barter their liberties when
the liberties of a gallant people are wrested
from their grasp by the overwhelming
power of surrounding monarchists as was
PolSnd; they may retain the respect and
admiration of mankind, but when they
basely traffic it for place and pelf they de-
serve and will receive the contempt of all
living men and the eXecration of posterity.
What is precedent but an example to be
followed. One creates another; they accu-
mulate and constitute law; what yesterday
was doubtful to-day is certain; tomorrow
cannot be undone. Does the Legislature
pass law depriving US of life, liberty or
property without procedure or trial? If the
courts are Invested of their powers or made
instruments to the party that
Expresses, where will we look for safety to
what will we resort to shield MS from their
tyranny, Could servility, or corruption,
or lust for power, do more than this party
of progress are doing to rivet upon the
people the chains ofslavery?
OLD LINE WING.
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