Year: 1862

The Executive Council.


With some propriety it has been said,
the Commissioners Of Roads and Bridges
arc the best abused and worst paid men
in the whole community. The Executive
Council may expect to share their fate
To suppose any body Of men would al.
ways do right and never be mistaken,
would be to attribute to them divine pre-
negatives. And to view one item in a
series Of plans, and condemn the whole
because you do not perceive the design
of the first, exhibits a degree Of harsh.
ness unbecoming good and true man.


Last summer and fall lavish and bitter
reproaches were heaped upon the Cover.
nor for his extraordinary inefficiency.-
And he complained with equal bitterness
that he was 80 cramped by Constitution
al restrictions that lie could not attain an
efficiency adequate to the times. The
Constitution mainly contemplated tim es
of peace, and if war or any other press.
ing emergency would arise, it was sxpec.
ted some OF its provisions might be tenn.
Porarily suspended to meet existing exi.
gencies. More than three quarters of q
centuey ago, when our country was inva
ded by oppressors from beyond the great
water, John Rutledge was invested with
absolute power over the State. Men, re.
sources and every thing were subjected to
his tias. And the safety Of our State in
that trying emergency was mainly at.
tributable to that extraordinary measure
Following the example Of our Revolution.
ary sires, in our present emergency ex.
traordinary powers have been granted to
five persons. Many wise and good men
thought there was more wisdom and
safety with 6ve than one. These men
were chosen from the upper, middle and
lower sections of the State : so that every
interest is represented. They are men in
whom the State had con6ded. The Leg.
islalure had committed to them the most
dmportant trusts, and they were always
found faithful. Where is the patriot,
who withhods his cordial approval of
their liquor regulations ask the com /.
munity to suspend judgment-to with.
hold condemnation till the scheme is
fully developsd-till the principle con.
templated is tested. If you viN strike,
first hear. Remember what ia just in
time Of peace, may not be wise in time
OF war. The great want Of the present
moment is efficiency, energy, prompt.
ness, concert Of action. / think it is in.
oumbent on our people in the existing
emergency to waive natural rights, and
submit to unusual measures; ; If thereby
our rights can be gained and our indie
pendence established. Perhaps it may be
better to submit to existing evils than fly
to those we know not OF.


1t is alleged, the Council violates the
Constitution by establishing a despotic
instead Of Republican government
would say we have asserted our indspen
dence, but not yet established it. As
soon as our Independence is established
that Constitutional compact will be fuI.
filled. In the mean time each State may
adopt such internal policy as existing exi
gencies may demand: being careful,
however, hot to interfere with the legi.i
mate functions Of the co States, Extreme
necessity must not be subjected to cold
Law.


1t is mistake to suppose the Conven
ton had nothing to do but withdraw the
tate from the old. corrup. federal Union.