The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-09-01
For the Clarion.
Letter from an Old Line E5hi.
NUMBER VII.

NUMBER
10 my last paper l said that the Radical
party had either rjured themselves by the
passage of acts which they knew to be I'M
constitutional or established preceJents and
conferred powers TO the subversion of the
government and the overthrow of every
tsound principle of constitutional li5eit Is, /
propose now. 10 make good that assertion.
As 60 the perjury we might leave. thar 80
their coHseieHces. but she conscience OF
Thaadcus Stephens seemed no way disturbed
nor did any Of his co-WorIlcrs contradict
him when. from his place. in the face OF the
whole nation ne declared himself and them
a working outside of the Constitution.
how mild We're the terms used. what an in
famous viliainous act they cover Why did
he not say we are traitors, false to our con-
/ stituents, false 10 God-foresw periurcd.
This Is all that men are who work outside OF
a Constitution they have sworn 70
support II they justify their acts upon
the ground of necessity. forced bY the re-
bellion, tiIen | ask upon what principle OF
Z ethics VIII the oIiense Of one man Justify
another IN the preparation OF crime. How
] could the rebellion of Mississippi Justify
/ them for usurpation and periuy. Did Der
/ rebellion release them from the obligation
/ OF their 0aths TO support the Constitution,
and did it absolye them from the duty they
owed posterity to guard and protect the
fundamental principles of constitutional
/ liberty: No, rebellion was the pretext the
qualification OF their lust for power, and
gold could stif'le conscience and heal the
/ tongues blistered with perjury.
/ Not pcriared party. Then you hold
the acts OF reconstruction as constitutional
and rightfIil acts. Congress rightfuliy pos
sesses the power it has exercised. Then let
US see if they do not subvcrt the govern
ment aud overthrow constitutional liberty.
/ what are these powers: Congress may at
/ its pleasure exclude any State ofthe Union
from representation in the national council.
/ May tax the people of that State 10 whom
/ they deny representation. They may at
their pleasure abolish and remodllc STATE
governments so rs to make them conform TO
;he views Of; the dominant party as regards
republican government. To this end they
may place the states under Military satra-
PIES declare tie civil government subor-
dinate 70 the despotic power they have eS-
tablished. They may suspend the writ of
Habeas Corpus-abolish the right of trial
by Jury and empower Military Commits
siOns to try and execute the people. They
may regulate for the people OF the States
the right OF suffrage, and exclude all who
may differ politically from the majority
from the suffrage by test oaths and acts Of
acknowledgements. To sum up. the States
a..
cy of the Congress and affect >laYes.
Are there no principles of constitutional
liberty subverted here: Why the whole
system of free or popular government is
overturned. The theory upon which iC i
built is exploded. The servants and agents
are Eiade masters and tyrants, and the mas
tiers and rulers are made servants and slaves.
From whom does the government derive its
just powers but from the people, and who
are they that are entrusted " it'll the powers
of government but the agents of the people
/ holding their powers in trust tor ends bene-
fetal 10 the whole political society? The
representatives are only tie servants Of the
people, and Senators are the servants or
agents of the State in its political or SOW
erign capacity, Yet these servants and ageHts
a
the States and people superior 10 that OF
the Russian Gar \ Gespotism Tore
complete than that Of Gen2is Khan.
because his slaves were slaves from force
we are hereditary slaves by virtue Of oar
own fundamental law.
The smallest OF these acts of oppression,
taxation without representation, was
thouhstby the men of1776 suficienttyranny
to Justify rebellion and the dismember-
ment of the British empire But started
out with the proposition that they have
either perjureG themselves or subyerted the
government | confess my mistake. Twas
incorrect: the proof shows that they have
done both.
VIII they dare say to the people that Con-
gress possesses these extraordinary powers
of oppression and tyranny, or viii they dare
assert that they favor such change in the
fundamental laws as will constitute Con-
gress a despotism Ifnot, what can they an-
swer but confess the perjury and seek pro-
lection from the just Indignation Of every
honest man under cover Of the shameless
preteNt that this desp0tiSm is only 70 be eX-
ertad by Congress under similar circum-
stances ? 1t is only a precedent to be followed
in similar cases of State rebellions? So be
it. | have not space in this paper to discuss
it, In truth would it not be a waste Of time
to discuss the nature effect and probable
consequences of precedent which subverts
the government. sanctions perjury. over
throws the Constitution, and destroys the
liberties of the peopleS
Old LINE WHI6.