The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1877-01-04
Our Federal Constitution.

Our Federal Constitution.
That some important changes are needed
in our Federal Constitution must be appa-
rent to the most careless observer. And
that such notifications are urgently de-
manded nou is equally true. The more
closely we examine the philosophy of our
civil polity, the more We scrutinize the
powers OF the Federal compact, analyze the
forces in the field, and the tendencies OF onr
system of Government, the more shall ve
see the wisdom of the resolution offered N
the Senate Of the United States by HIM.
J. ]. Ingalls, looking 10 an early convention
Of the people Of the States to revise, amer d,
or make q new Constitution. Organized
power is cumulative in its character. And
the effect of this tendency demands the Wig
Hence Of every patriot. Capitalization Of
power may precipitate a Republic into
monarchy or may plunge it into despotism.
But the best and freeest Republic in the
world may be torn asunder, and utterly
overthro~n by . widely extended system Of
Federal patronage, lodged in the hands of
one executive officer, no matter
how pure and wise that officer
may be. The wider the circle, the greater
the number of States included, the more
diversified and antaginous to the interests,
the greater danger. Hence, in . country
like our, the system of checks and balan-
ces can not too perfect; and our Constitu-
ton should be % modified that no Danger
Gus accunulation of power can ever imper-
ril it for . moment.
Have We such Constitution Have We
such Government? The crowned heads
of Europe smile At American complications,
while our wisest statesmen wonder what q
Pandoras box of mischief has sprung from
our electoral system." The severe test TO
which our institutions are to-day subjected
in the struggle for place and power, the
war between the "ouis" and "inns," affords
thought for the most considerable reflection.
The question whether "Mr. Hayes" or "Mr.
Tilden" shall be inaugurated on the 4th of
March, looses almost, if not quite all, of its
dangerous significance, the moment
the vast patronage OF the Presi-
dent il wisely distributed among other
powers, State, Federal or Executive depart
ments Of the Government The extent of
our country, the present and increas.
ing number of the States in
the Union, with the vast
interests involved, indicate but too plainly,
that whatever might have been the wisdom
Of the fathers Who devised our system, one
thing IL certain, that We are to-day in dan
ger from "oficia strangulation." The
army Of Federal officers. while quite a. |
worthy - the "outA," are not one-fourth - |
numerous, yet they form IN important sle-
ment in tie great struggle Of the hour. |
The safety Of our institutions and the wis
dom of our legislation alike demand that
both our President and our members of |
Congress should be freed from the care and |
Of very large share of the |
Federal sppointment. Had We . man At |
the helm lee wise and less firm than Cen
eral Grant, az this hour, it Is simply impos-
uible 70 tell how far this experiment. of selt-
might gain it, eccentric orbit
Our spacs. will not permit - 10 call At
lsntioa 70 othsg evils IN our sysos0 q eov-