National Republican., 1879-07-03

nullify the laws, disarm the Executive, or
starve the Government and to effect those
ends the last Congress unloaded its duties
and responsibilities upon the Forty-sixth,
which is Democratic in both branches.
Under this exigency of Democratic creation
the President called Congress together in
extra session. It met, and the Executive
communicated to IL the business that had
made its convocation necessary. Then fol-
lowed n strange and novel transformation
of parliamentary jurisdiction and power.
The majority of both Houses resolved itself
into caucus or junta, that, In its primary
action in secret, virtually declared in prin-
ciple and effect that Congress is the Govern
ment, thus ignoring the constitutional power
and prerogatives of the Executive. Its de-
clared policy was notification Of existing
laws necessary to good government, OF n
starvation of the Government itself That
we do not misstate this proposition we ap-
peal to the accredited organ Of the Demo-
cratic party ut the National Capital for veri-
iication. Yesterday morning it made this
distinct and unequivocal admission of tile
facts as we state them, in the following
terms
Two courses to be pursued presented them
selves to the Democratic Congress. One was
to starve the hostile Executive into submis-
sion the other TO practically nulify the laws
they were not allowed to repeal by refusing
appropriations necessary TO carry them into
effect.
This was the clear and avowed purpose
of the majority at the outset, and it has
been followed to the end with pertinacity
worthy n better cause. Congress was not
permitted to consider any measure relating
to the work it had in hand until the junta
had considered and formulated it so that it
would subserve the ends of Notification or
starvation. The history of this session is
too fresh in the public mind to need cir
cumstantial recapitulation of all its acts
and ii will not be forgotten that they
pointed constantly TO notification or starva-
ton. Mr.. BLACKBURN took carly occasion
IN the House to warn the country in this
emphatic manner: awe will not stop until
we have wiped the last vestige Of your war
measures from the statute book" while
Senator BECK INDUCED in kindred warm
ing ut the other end of the Capitol. Under
this menace the minority struggled hero
ically to defeat the scheme of null
LITIGATION, but were overpowcred by
numbers. Tile several measures went to
the Executive with their obnoxious "riders"
for his approval, and the result WIS that
five vetoes were sent to Congress for consid-
Grafton. We are satisfied now that two
| 81, hny Ia1 tn fhp utn
logue. The President should not have ap-
proved the act which in any degree paral-
lied his power apd prcrOgative AZ Com
mander-in-Chief of the army of the United
: States, and of that fact lie will yet become
sorrowlully convinced. Neither should he
have approved the judicial appropriation
bill with so much latent poison rs was con-
cealed in that measure, for its mischief will
be constantly met until the people shall
provide against it through q future Con-
gress The Nullifers have succeeded when
they should not have been allowed to dC
so, in nullilying two important laws. One
relating to the use of troops under an abso
lutte necessity to preserve the peace ut thu
polls as an aid TO the civil police in case i
proved inadequate TO accomplish that end
The other the repeal of the test oath viii
certain insidious provisions which aim {
blow at the power of the Government t
enforce its own authority This much ha
, been gained; but the advantag, thu
secured will be only temporary, and very
expensive to the party which has i
under the circumstances 1t is to b.
|. regretted that even this advantage has beer
e secured, but it is useless to cry for spilled
: milk. The President has consented to thi
abnegation, and we have no quarrel witt
: him on that account, though we are salts
= fed that lie will yet be convinced that h
= has committed an error
G The sacrifice of the supervisors law as a
= active agency in preserving the purity o
+ the Federal elections, is great wrong t
d the country, and so great wrong that tn
v President would have been justified in re
c convening Congress when il assumed tn
e great outrage of nullifying the law unde
n the process of starvation. That law WA
e made necessary by Democratic outragcs Il
y the North by which the popular voice ha
VI | DttH Stiiicu NY NUN tOiiupbioh ~ AhS pNl
: lot-box. So long rs the law is operativ,
y honest elections can be secured. Withou
e it, such condition of things is not possbl,
&c and for this reason the Democrats have de
Il termined to nullify the law by starving on
n its executive officers, and leaving th
e elective franchise of the country open
o rank fraud, outrage and corruption.
te This is the case as presented in Demt
m cratic history. The people understand il
= and though the outrage is akin to sccessio
d and rebellion in its effect upon its welfar
,, the country must endure its dcplonble col
i sequences until the power of the populi
20 voice applies the corrective, as ii will
I'd another year as certainly as time endure
WAR INNIpERS1KLES.
ld Pc; ;tinent Extracts from the Chronology