Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-10-04

tain specified cases. Yet Mr.. Lincoln, without any
regard to Congress or the temptations Of the Con-
stitution usurps that great power to himself and
even delegates 1t to his subordinate military officers,
to be exercised by them according to their discre
tion or according to their prSudices,
He has abridged "the freedom Of speech and Of
the press'--'the right of the people to keep and
bear arms" He has 'quartered soldiers in the hou-
of vtizens wi'hdnt the consent of the owners"
He has violated "the right of the people to be Sc
cure in their persons houses, papers and effects,
against unreasonable searches and seizures" He
has, upon mere suspicion, and without warrant or
accusation, arrested peaceable and uhofIendng cit-
zens engaged in their ordinary daily business and
hurrying them off TO a distant State has them con-
fined in dungeon, excluding all communication
with friends or consultation with counsel; and
fusing, though called on, to inform his own sub
mssive Congress where they what is the cause
Of their imprisonment / will not further enumer-
ate or classify his usurpations. But, ask, what
power does he DESIRE that he does not instantly
sume2 What clause Of the Constitution is so sa-
cred as not to be profaned by him What right of
many participants with Mr. Dincoln, in his plan
and purpose, know not nor of these how many
are influenced by the promise or hope of Office or
station or by intimidation, or by other less COM
mendable or more commendable motives but this
do know that he is supported in his movements
by a large number of partizans in Congress, and
that these partizans and supporters have sought to
.do 4kae
ent exposure by sweeping ratification and appro-
val Of all these usurpations What else could have
been the purpose of these ratification resolutions
If these acts of Mr. Lincoln are done in observance
of the Constitution, what need had they of ratfca-
tion 2 Is it the custom of Congress to "ratfy and
approve the lawful acts of the President Ger
tainly not. Then why did Mr.. Lincoln and his
friends deem it necessary to have his acts ratified
Clearly because it could not be denied that they
were unlawful; because they were usurpations of
power that did not belong to him; because they
were 80 many breaches of the Constitution. 1t was
for this he would have them ratified and himself
absolved from the penalty, if not the guilt of vio-
lating the Constitution he had sworn to 'preserve,
protect and defend"
But did any one of these Congressmen believe,
really believe that they could mend the broken
Constitution by ratifying and approving the acts
that broke it2 To "ratfy" means to confirm. To
ratify and approve the acts which broke the Con-
stituton was, therefore, to approve and confirm the
breaking of the Constitution. And that, in truth
is what these accomplices of Mr.. Lincoln, in their
heart of hearts, sought to accomplish
They did not intend however, at present to be SO
understood. They would have the people believe
that their ratification was q sort of plaster that
would heal the wounds of the Constitution, or
sort of cement that would hold together the broken
fragments and make it as ''good as new" Some
signs had been exhibited in quarters of star
tied public feeling. They desired to soothe these
feelings-to quiet the incpient agitations of the
popular mind-to throw a cloak over the broken
Constitution, and hide it from too much inspection.
The time had not yet come for the public under
standing of these things. The popular sentiment
had not yet been prepared for it. Nor had full pre-
paration yet been made for keeping down any ebul-
lition Of popular indignation nor for suppressng
by force, if need be- any outbreak of patriotic
IulSuts lhC s'ouuluR Luusb Dc luNItdstu W
10000 regulars. The naval force must be quite
doubled. An army of volunteers must be raised,
such as Mr.. Lincoln will accept equal to 50OO 900
men. They must be drilled and trained for his
service; must be commanded by officers of his ap-
pointment, (for Congress has just given him the
extraordinary power of removing military officers
at pleasure and appointing others.) These officers
must be taught the duty of unqualified submission
to authority; must be disciplined to unquestioniEe
obedience to superiors; must be made to feel and
know that "disobedence is DEATH Then Mr.. Lin
coin must also have $500, 900 at his disposal
When all these and these and other arrangements
provided for by Mr.. Lincoln and his sccomplces il
Congress shall be perfected, and when the public
mind shall become familiarized to governmental re-
srants on the freedom of speech and the press; t.
searches of houses and seizures of persons paper
and effects, and to the imprisonment of those wht
may be suspcioned of dsanection to the govern
ment what ask, in the name of all that is dea
to freemen, will then prevent Mr. Lincoln framres
tablishng any form of government he may desire
even thee most despotic that ever existed on tn
face of the earth2
= know the pretext sent forth by Mr.. Lincoln an,
his accomplices for setting aside the Constitution
his monstrous usurpations of power and for the i'm
mense aggregation of men and money under hi
command and at his disposal. / know that it is al
legged that all these things necessary to preserv
: the Union.
On this plea of necessity wish to make the fol
= lowing remarks
l. That necessity has been the plea of tyrants i
all ages and in all countries. / do not know tina
history furnishes an exception. 1t seems to be tn
q natural excuse for usurpations of power and tn
most plausible pretext for quietng the minds of tn
people, while arrangements are made and mean
s prepared TO enslave them.
i 2. That no such necessity existed. twas nc
y necessary to carry out the alleged purpose Of MI
Lincoln, or any lawful purpose, that he shoul
usurp the powers he did violate the Constitution