Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-10-15

Iue 00Nefumenf, VIZ ihelbtt hto w hNriho'NN
ia the outset but to abdicate itself or TO resist /
the rebelhous movements with oil the forces at
its command. II has no other alternative noV, |
aud the men who urge upon II any other policy |
eau be commended for their loyalty only at the
expense Of their intelligence. The only fault OF
the Government has been in having too long |
pursued a conciliatory policy, in having too long |
delayed the necessary measures to yindicaie us |
own dignity aud authority in adopting timid
and halfway measures. and in having prosecut'
ed the war with too little vgor and with too
great tenderness toward the Rebels But II Is |
no time now to call up its past delinquencies, |
and parade them before it. Nothing remains
for it but TO lot the past 60, and henceforb |
treat Secession as rebellion and the seceders |
aud their aiders and abeItors as traitors. We
wish II to prove that 1t has the courage aud the
disposition to treat them as traitors, wherever it
meets them, or is able TO seize them. We desire
1t TO understand that there is war; real war.
downright earnest war, and war to be con-
ducted not on the principle OF respecting the
feelings OF the enemy, and Of doing him no harm,
but on the principle of striking him where he is
weakest and sorest, and avaiing ourselves Of
every advantage against him allowed by the laws
OF civilized warfare. The Rebels offer no ad-
vantage to us; they avail themselves Of every
advantage against us in their power, respect
none Of our suscephbties, aud take no pains
not to wound our feelings; we must mete them
the measure they mete. They allow in their
States, where they have the power, the utter
ance Of no Union sentiments, of no Union
speeches, or Union harrangues; and they hang
imprison or Danish every Union man they can
lay their hands on, who keeps not bis Union SEN
timenis to himself. We must mete out u like
measure TO every Rebel or Secessionist we fud
in the loyal States, aud silence every voice
raised against the right of the Government TO
vindcate and preserve the Union by force OF
arms. IL is madness to send our sous and broth
ers to fight rebels in Virginia Tennessee, or
Missouri while VIC suffer their friends, aideis
and abettors to spout their treason and disloyal
sentiments here at home. 1t is not only mad
i ness; il is u moral wrong; it is, MS some would
say, worse still-it is blunder.
Do not tell us that this would be contrary TO
the Constitution and the free expression Of
opinion. Traitors and friends Of traitors have
no Constitutional rights, for they are in rebellion
| against the Constitution itself, and no man con
stand on his own wrong. Free expression of
opinion Just as II the question between lawful
authority and rebels were question on which
! there could be two honest opinions Is it
question of opinion, when Il nation is engaged
in struggle for its very existence, whether its
children shall support il or not2 Is it n matter
of opinion whether the nation shall be preserved
or mott Is 1t q matter Of opinion, when am
assaulted by an assassin, whether | have the
right tO resist him or not; whether | shall
quietly submit to be assassinated, or snatch the
4 dagger from his hand, ind plunge it into his own
! heartg Have men lost their senses? Are we
to argue the question whether the sun shines in
!, the heavens or not, when we see it with our
1 own eyes Down with such intolerabe cant
r about "ConstitutiOnal Liberty" and freedom
of speech or opiuiOnl" How, if the Constitution
! is gone, trampled underioot by rebels, do you
expect to maintain constitutional liberty, or any
c other kind Of liberty worth havingl Understand
J ut once that we in war; and u II war for the
preservation of the Constitution, for the preser-
6 vadon of liberty, political, moral, mental, civil
l. and social, and that It is never permitted TO
plead the Constitution and liberty against the
S measures necessary for their maintenance Do
e. understand, il understanding you have that we
Il are in war for the very existence OF the nation,
and that, II the nation goes constitutions and
i liberty 60 with it. 1t is only by preserving the
9 nation in its integrity aud its majesty that the
e Constitution can be msintained and the liberty
r it secures enjoyed Neither the nation nor the
n Constitution can afford protection to those who
would only use their liberty and the Constitution
to destroy them.
The measure we suggest may he severe and
such as In ordinary cases of rebellion ought not
to be resorted to by free government. But
we are engaged in suppressing no ordinary re-
= belion; we are engaged in suppres sing rebellion
of vast proportions, Of vast resources. and
| VI hhNhBth uuAui1 10 tDuL OF the luya
\ States themselves. We can put il down, and
} God helping we shall put it down, but not with
7 out exerting all our strength aud Ayailing eur
selves of all the means TO suppress ii authorized
, we will not say by the Constitution but by the
recognized laws OF war. War has its own laws
and while IL lasts it oyerrides all other laws,
and, il need be, places the Constitution itself so
far as it would be a barrier to its success, in
abeyance. Salas pepui ier suprema est il uni
vers0lly received maxim, aud the safety of the
nation is the only law which can control military
operations or determine the measures necessary
or proper in the prosecution Of the war.
II is all very well for your Breckinridges,
your Burnetts, your Brights, and your Valandg.
hams, Ell ID omne genus, TO prate in Congress and
elsewhere about the unconstitutionality of the
acts Of the President; we know not and care not
whether these acts were unconstitutional or not
SO long we know that they were necessary to
the maintenance of the Union, the majesty of
q law, and our national existence itself How
long must it take the petty political ATTORNEYS 10
learn that the nation is above the Constitution,
and therefore that all acts necessary to maintain
; the integrity Of the nation and its authority are
2 always lawful, authorized by the highest Of all
2 lawsg Only they who uphold the Constitution.
sustain the Union, and labor to save the Consti-
! tutlon can plead the Constitution and laws in
. their favor. They who rebel, or aid and abet
rebels, by their very act of rebellion nut them
= and laws, and cannot demand their protection.
and should not be permitted 20 expect that it
VIII be extended over them The Constitution
and the laws are for the loyal citizens, not for
rebels and traitors. Let, then, the measures
suggested or recommended be severe let them
he such as in peaceful times, when the Constitu-
tlon and laws are unressted and everywhere
cheeriully and respectfully obeyed, would be
unconstitutional and indefensbe, that, in times
ike these, when the very existence of the nation
I 10 at stake is no objection 10 them The frat
law Of nations, as well as Of individuals il self.
preservation. 1t is unconstitutional and illepnl
TO hang innocent and peaceful men; but il is
neither illegal nor unconstitutional to hang
} murderers. Ii is unconstitutional and illegal 10
shoot down innocent and peaceful men arrayed
IN the field before you, even though they have
arms IN their hands; but IL is not unconstitutional
or illegal TO shoot them down ia self defence or
in defence Of the Constitution and laws Let
us. then, hear no more about the constitution.
ally of this or that measure clearly Necessary to
the safety Of the nation, and the preservation of
the Union under The existing Constitution
In state of war everything has to give way
to military necessity; private property, liberty,
and even life itself The State may take, II its
necessities demand it, the private property of
its citizens to the last cent, and it eau command
auy citizen II sees proper to marah TO meet the |
enemy, and, if need be, and the fate of war so
uecIue, TO hy uOWn MS lie, nhd, whnt is denrer |
than life, his liberty, for his country. On this |
principle the Federal Government now calls for
troops, and imposes heavy taxes on our property |
for the support of the war; ane loyal citizens
cheerfully respond TO its call, because they know
it has the right 10 do it, and because they know |
that, if the country be lost, all is lost-hfe, |
liberty, property, and themselves
heavy tax is imposed by the present war on
the citizens of the loyal States, although the
war has been brought about without any fault |
of theirs, or any net of theirs having rendered