New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-10

COMMENTARIES on TIE CONSTITUTION OF THE United IT'D
STATES By Jos5FT sTSa! III oo ESSh h 9o ov T Lac S9
Brown, & Co
The first edition of this standard work was
published just forty years ago when the author was in
the fullness Of his fame by his judicial position and his
legal authorship. 1t has since that time passed through
two editions aud been accepted the leading authority
on American constitutional law both in Europe and this
country The profound juridical learning which
hbited in its pages its lucid exposition OF principles,
and It's auence Of illustration justly entitled 1t to that
distinction and made it noble monument 70 the zeal
and energy of the author The present edition left
without any essential change in the original text.
But the new relations Of the Federal government
since the close Of the civil have given ample scope
10 the present editor for the exercise Of soundness Of
Judgment and thoroughness of learning in the addition
Of new matter the statements Of the author This he
has done partly the form o. foot notes appended TO
the text and partly in original chapters, completing the
body Of the work. Judge Cooley's notes usually
brief often impressive by their sententous conciseness
and always apt and informing. His new chapters
treat of the recent amendments to the Constitution,
discussing their anecedents in the civil history Of the
United States, their grounds in the exigencies Of the
situation and their bearing the political condition OF
the country The tone Of the discussion il perfectly
judicial and temperate The argument is free from all
color Of partisan bias 1t may be read with equal salts
faction by persons Of precisely opposite views on the
questions at Issue. On the SUBJECT OF universal
suffrage Judge Cooley expresses himself with equal
dignity and decision in a chapter from which we
take single paragraph. 1.-THE question may be raised
whether IT be not possible chat have plunged into
dangers laying thus broadly the base OF RESPONSE
BILE citizenship There those who fOresee only evil
and who prophesy only calamity. But evil is always
prOphesed when concession is made TO democracy.
when kings are aside when hereditary privileges
are abolished restricted when the press f. uumnz
zed when the conscience set free 1t was prOphesed
in England when liberation extended TO dissenters
from the established church. and again when the CathO
lies emancipated and again when political rights
were extended 10 the Jews. Every attempt in that
country towards making the parliament truly represen
tave body OF the whole nation, every Acknowledgement
Of decayed corrupt boroughs and every extension
Of the franchise 10 the people, has been earnestly
opposed as fraught with danger to the State
Every step in America in the same direction,
has met with the like opposition The rulers,
whether they be kings, lords privileged classes
always believe they rule by right divine Power is safe
in their hands, but 1T would be dangerous In the hands
Of the people at large this is the assumption always
when the demands Of classes for voice in the gov
eminent are to be resisted The American people have
wisest safest and they trust time and experience
justify their confidence. 1t is beyond question that
many unfit persons will demand exercise the right
Of suffrage, but test that could be prescribed
whether Of education, property experience, race or
coOr-coud be completely efeotual In separating out
the At from the unit, the yrtuous from tho vicious the
patriotic and pubcspirited from the SELFISH mercenary
and mean"