Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-02-22
1.-THE aITrATION.n
It's CompIIeatIsRs-Th origin and
ISOLATION.


tue legitimate results OF tne Ieooihony On
HANGED by the different staudpolnts occupied
By the President on the one side and BY the
Congress on the other, under the adminls-
tration which followed close upon lie terml-
nation.
These anita Soulstic relations between the
executive aud legislative branches Of the
Government were more fully Disseminated,
and made mole prominently positive by the
action of the recent national conventions,
so-called, In the construction OF their re-
spcctive platforms, and the nomination OF
their respective candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency Of the United States.
The issues which were thus presented be-
fore the people were, many Of them, real
and fundamental they involved the pre-.
servation or destruction Of the national life,
and the national life being gone, all that
pertains to and upholds the rights Of human
nature, on this great continent, perohAnce
throughout the world, is gone also.
Could we have united the two opposing
parties, or q majority Of them on the Issues
which, In each, were fundamental, dis
severed from those aims aud Issues which,
In each, were merely partisan or sectional,
the preservation OF the national life, and
the security Of the rights Of human nature
under II, would have been placed beyond all
peril.
1t Is still to be hoped, now that the contest
and strife Of parties lie ended, that there will
be hearty cooperation Of all right-minded
men TO sustain the existing Administration
in the great work Of restoring peace to the
land and goodwill between all Us lnhab.
itantG. With this view the writer ventures
to submit TO the consideration Of the
thoughtful statesman aud student the fol-
lowing suggestions as bearing upon the fun
damental Issues to be determined under the
new Administration.
All through our revolutionary struggle
the fathers declared, emphaIlcally and on,
that their grand aim was to establish, pro-
tect aud defend, for themselves and their
posterity, the rights Of human nature. This
was their fayorito phraseology. With II
they gave answer whenever their motives or
aims were questioned, and with II they
commended the Justice Of their cause to all
the peoples Of the earth.
Their labOrs eliminated In the production
and adoption of the Federal Constitution,
so-called. The governmental organism pre-
scribed by that covenant they regarded as
securing the ultimate contamination Of all
their far-reaehing hopes and aims. In IL
they defined and disseminated with an ac-
curacy, business and wisdom unparalleled In
the annals Of nations, the rights, duties aud
powers ofthe people, the States and the nation
which were TO be established and perpetuated
under this paramount charter and guaran-
tee of an lndlssoluble national Union. And
all the complications and perils which to-
day environ the national peace and life
have had their origin In early and later In
Judgements OF and departures from cove
nants contained in this Magma Chdrtd OF
national, State and individual rights in the
United States Of America.
It's declared aim and purposes are 'to
form more perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defence, promote she general vel.
fare, and secure the blessings Of liberty 10
ourselves and our posterity."
Every article, every section, every para
graph, and every line aye, aud every word
In every line In Il, from this preamble to the
close Of II, had these great objects 10 view.
Hence, nothing In conflict or inconsistent
with the attainment Of all or any one OF
these objects was considered by them to be
In harmony with Its provisions, and they
made II the great cllmacterlc Of national aud
State life BY giving II the seal OF their conti-
dence and their faith, and closing II with,
and subscribing their names to that memo
rable affirmation.
"This Constitution, and the laws Of the
United States which shall be made In pur-
suance thereof, aud all treaties made, or
which shall be made, under the authority Of
the United States, shall be the supreme law
OF the land, and tho judges in every State
shall be bound thereby, anything In the con-
stitutlon or laws Of any State to the contrary
notwithstanding"
Nor was this all. "The Senators aud Rep
resentatiyes, before mentioned, and the
members Of the several State Legislatures,
and all executive and judicial officers, both
of the United States and OF the several
States, IhdH be bound, by oath or affirmation,
10 support hiI COnStitEtIon."
Nor was this all. "The President (elect)
of the United States, before he enters on the
duties OF his office, shall take an oath or af-
hrmatlon that he will faithfully execute the
office OF President Of the United States, and
will, TO the best Of his ability, preserve, pro-
tect, and defend this CORSliiutioH Of he URi-
ted States"
Why all these oaths and aflrmatlons so
carefully surrounding this constitution, bat
because in II is the affirmation Of all national
lawi Not the law Of nations; not the law
Of England, or OF France, or Of Russia, or
Of any Of the Kingdoms Of the Old World;
nor yet the law OF nature or of nations, as
laid down or expounded byany Of the sages,
essAyists or commentators OF ancient or
modern times, but TUE NATIONAL LAW OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
This new national law 10 announced IN
three several and distinct afirmatlons of II,
viz; l. The law of the Constitution itself.
2. The law 40 enacted by the Congress 10
pursuance OF the Constitution. 3. The law
as established by the treaty making power
OF the United States, pursuant TO authority
derived under the Constitution.
The first and great affirmation Is, THIS
CONSTITUTION shall BE- The supreme lao Of TIE
land paramount above all, u shall be the
supreme law. By itself, In itself, OF itself,
in all its parts and provisions 1t is declared
and ordained to be law, supreme law and
that too prior to, and independently Of, any
enactment OF the legislative branch, or any
decree of the judicial branch, or any action
Of the executive branch Of the Government
which 1t ordains and establishes. All these
are but Its agents and administrators, not
It's creators, and all its utterAnces are the
primal and supreme law to and over them.
Think then, reader, Of this Constitution as
Rw, supreme law.
Suprems, as comprehendinE and guaran-
.eeing the fundamental essence and the law
Of the national life.
Supreme, as comprehending, developing
and guaranteeing the fundamental ossoucs
and the law Of State life, without which It
could have had no origin.
Supreme, dlIo, as comprehendlnE the fun
damental conditions and the guarantee Of
tho Union In the law Of both national and
State life.
And Furthermore supreme, as containing
and developing the essence and the law OF
civil and religious liberty, justice, and equity
TO the comprehension OF all the people and
States Of the Union, whose governmental
u haS consolidated.
Hence, contrary to, or In conflict with,
his supreme law of the land, there can be
no law. All that may be or Is called law In
al places, all over the land, anywhere and
not in accordance with its para
mount Jurisdiction, Is no law. For this con-
3tltution TecogniEes no legislation affecting
10 domestic administration as law, unless
made pursuant to It's proVlsionsj and none
rs affecting Its foreign relations, unless made
under he authority which establishes.
In fine, u alone Is he lao which limits and
leAnes to the comprehension and observance
Of all the people ofthe land, the relations, du-
les, powers and prerogatiysS OF the several
Departments OF the Government which 1t
Ilone ordRins aud establishes, whether EK-
,cutiVe, Legislative or Judicial. H.. B.
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