Smyrna times., 1861-09-12
The Enemies of the Government and
the Constitution.

York, is dealing heavy blows upon the heads OF
che enemies of the government. We make
the following extract from speech delivered
lac. week in Cortland CO.. the perusal of which
will better pay the reader than anything else
occupying the same space:
Our fathers planted this Government. They
Sad but a faint and feeble idea of what they
ware doing. They looked forward TO the day
star of their hope for Gov ernment of freedom,
hut had no conception that this great and
mighty Government would rise up from their
beginning. Now we have far greater duty
10 discharge than our fathers had. They fought
for an experiment-they fought for hope. But
here this rich inheritance is spread out before
~. and all we have to do is to preserve it. No
mhching bare foot over frozen ground, amidst
poverty, sickness and starvation. No toll and
iabsr such as our fathers endured. All we
have to do is to employ the mighty elements
that they under Providence furnished US, and
We deserve the most sbject slavery five do
not preserve such institutions when they have
been vOuchsated 10 Us.
But there is such an attempt going on now
in order that scurvy politicians may ride into
sti:e upon it, or have an organization that
they can manage. 1t is not the Democratic
pa ". L TepOuIdle II up anO
do W, and round about. and dIagOnally, and in
sV ~ other sense ; but it is a set OF sef.cOnsti-
tut ID meddIers, Mrs. Cunninghams of the Dem
ocr,lic party. VINO are in labor with their bogus
baby, that they may claim the Democralic In
he lance.
But there is such thing as a war power,
and that seems 10 have been overlooked. mis-
derstood by some and entirely ignored by
atho [ hnv M dnuht nv dpcInO HhaU roll
you that the President has no power to do
c-rtain things. He is a usurper and tyrunt.
and it occasions these patriots exceeding pain
to fnt the President going against the Consti-
taIon. II has not touched their tender hearts
to see Jeff Davis & Co. erect Government
within the bounds OF the United States. 1t
has not hurt them to see them firing on Sumter
and the Stars and Stripes. and commit treason
10 the face of the Government. but they are
afraid that IN putting that rebellion down, the
President of the United States wont 90 exactly
according to the Constitution, for they would
dislike to see the rebellion put down unless it
was put down according to the lines of the
Constitution, secundem artem.
There seems to be an idea that the President
can do nothing except what s written in the
Constitution. For instance, if he is going to
have an army to put down rebellion, they must
march right and left, as the military phrase is,
according to the direction of the Constitution,
or stand still. The Constitution is a great
landmark, and not bill Of particulars. Every
power given by the Constitution directing q
thing to be dons always implies the power to
do II. lfthe Constitution erecis q Government,
u presuppOses the me inlainance Of that Gov
eminent by all the usual and ordinary means
within the reach of the Government; and in
times OF war, and in times of rebellion, there
Is power arising from the very necessity OF
the case that controls the whole question, and
when you hear the small-be politician pra.
ting on the idea of uncoastilutionality, ask him
10 the first place whether he thinks it exactly
Constitutional for men to go into the United
States Senate, and ia the House Of Represen.
tstIves. and in the army and navy, and one
day swear, d" do swear. in the presence OIL
Almighty God, that | will observe the Consti-
ton Of the United States, and will discharge
The office Or duty Of Senator, according to the
best fmy ability" ask him it, after having
taken that cath, and while it is yet warm on
his lips, il it is unconstitutional for him TO try
to raise rebellion; and when he has answered
that, tell him that if there is perjury in hell, il
Is that kind Of perjury. | say that the Admin
lslraiion-any Administration, don't care
~
sItion-has the right 10 do everything by impli
cation. according to the laws Of war, for th,
maintenance of our Government; and IL the;
DO not do it, will be one for dealing witt
Them. aud calling them traitors themselves.
Away with all your stuff about the necessit,
OF haVInga written guarantee for everything
'he President may do to preserve the Govern
ment. say 1t is a part of his oath to stand b.
And save the country, aud employ such mea n
ss ne believes will do it; ADD if he does not d
he deserves to be impeached. This lie III
law OF all nations, and always has been. Blu
taere 10 the lay OF the habeas corpus, and tina
mas been invaded, and the President has viola
Ied 1t and has not allowed some traitor to b
released, and has suspended the writ. He ha
none exactly right; and did say, awile age
'hat 10 some cases, if | could not have arres,e
tne treaehery ] would have suspended the in
nFidual with II, and have not changed 10
opinion much since. What an idea il woul
oe: Here Is a rebellion in Baltimore or
missouri, and traitor in league with the enc
my aud BY his conduct he is about to caus
osrarmIes to be sacrifced-our very Govern
Iaent 10 danger, its existence is mpeFied-
we lives OF large number of persons saerfce,
ne sknown TO be a traitor--moTally know
ne mas been tracked out and ascertained, an
ye' ne must be brought up before a Judge an
examined, and if there is no legal technics
evidence against him, he must be discha 70 ed
ana u the Government don't like it they mn
appeal aud get it up before court at some fulu
.'m. that they may sit and may not, and e.
e.uPon litigation as pFotracted as the Cha
Seiy suit 10 " Bleak House."
nut TO suspend the /" LIbetty Of the Press.
On! how bad that is-to haye the Press gu
pended (Laughter.) The Liberty OF the Pres
lou say anything 10 them on the subject
me 1overnmenl-" Liberty of the Press"
me nrst thing you hear. The Press mas Iiber
eaough-and here let US shake the wrinkl
Sa. Of thIs befogged and pettifogged question
nule. The liberty of the press is great a,
sacred right and blessing. But the liberty
sns press is no greater right than indiyidu
nSeuy. and than thousand other rights. II
u;esny ofthe press is TO be enjoyed so long
y aoes bot aid in the destruction of the Go
ssnmsni; 80 loag as ii 10 az engine for 90
Ana mol Tor evil: SO long as il is an eIeme