Year: 1868




who insist upon public men living up to, aud
acting in accordance with, the strict letter
of the Constitution. Many honest aud we'll
intentioned, though unreAecting, men have
been disposed to wink at fragrant violations
of the Constitution, on the part of its sworn
Tenders, believing, as they did, that the safety
Of the Nation depended upon disregarding
particular portions of that instrument. Gun
ming and designing politicians have not been
slow to encourage this feeling on the part of
the people, because none better than they
understand that when the people begin to
look with favor upon the violation and dis
regard of certain constitutional provisions and
requirements, they are in a fair way Of get
ting into condition where they will enter.
tain no respect for any constitutional pro-
vision, and then it will be comparatively an
easy matter for designing men to overthrow
the Constitution altogether, and establish in
the place of our republic an oligarchy or
monarchy. A republic is never in greater
danger than when any considerable portion
of its citizens are disposed to look with favor
upon frequent disregard of the provisions
of the Constitution established for the pur-
pose OF its government, and the protection
of the rights and privileges of its citizens.
And republic has no more dangerous enc.
mics than those citizens and representatives,
of the people who, under the plea of politi.
cal necessity, or other pretext, counsel dis
regard of any portion of its Constitution, and
cast ridicule upon those who strive to mains
tain that instrument in all its integrity. A
constitution may be defective, and on trial
come short of what it should be but it can
not be safely changed or amended, except
through the means and fornalities prescrib-
ed by itself Constitutional governments
are established for the protection of minors
ties only. Majorities need no protection !;
they ore always able TO protect themselves.
As in republics the people are inevitably
divided into changeable political parties, and
as those who are with the majority party to-
day may be In the minority Tomorrow, it
behoOves all to insist upon strict conform
ance with The letter, as we'll as the spirit, of
the Constitution. No one can tell before
the election whether he belongs 10 the mas
jority or not. II the democratic party, when
in power and the majority, should systema-
tically violate the Constitution of the Nation,
and thus trample upon and disregard the
rights of its minority opponents, it would
improperly set an example which the latter,
should they come into power, could follow
with damaging effect upon the interests Of
the Nation at large, and the personal rights
of every citizen. In fact, the country would
be left without any Constitution, and the
people would be subject 10 the whims and
caprices of the faction which, for the time
being, might have control of the machinery
of Government. Mexico owes much of its
present misfortuDes to the habitual disre-
gard of constitutional provisions by its lead
ing men when in power Those in our
country who wink at violations of our Con-
stitution, who advise a disregard of its pro
visions, and who scof at those who insist
upon living up to the requirements of that
instrument, are lending all their aid and in
luence to bring about condition of affairs
similar to that which has prevailed in our
neighbor republic for the last fifteen or twen-
ty years....As we said before, the only pro.
lection the citizen has is that guaranteed by
the Constitution. If that instrument is dis
regarded by the people, or their representa>
tives, it will not be worth the paper upon
which it is written hence, every citizen will
be left without any protection whatever, and
dependant wholly upon the unbridled whims
and caprices of those who may, for the time
being; by fraud, force, or chicanery, grasp
the reins Of power. Thus the personal in
terest of every man demands that he should
insist upon rigid compliance with every
provision of the Constitution, and mstrust
and set aside those who scoff at that iustru-
ment and counsel its violation.-S. T. Call