The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-07-15
ra. c.r.,,,~,,cn and the war.


national existence. II Il the title. deed OF
our nationality, guaranteed by the people 70
/ themselves as . nation. 1t 10 the common
exponent, charter, and guardian OF rights,
whether national, state, or PERSONAL IL
/ was the product OF our early historical ex-
perienoe, the dictate OF pure and vice and
earnest patriotism. "The people OF the
United States, in order TO form . moro per-
feet union, establish justice, ensure domestic
tranquility, and secure the blessings OF lib
srty to themselves and their posterity," or
dsined and established it. They agreed to
pronounce this instrument and the laws
made in pursuance thereof to be "the gu
preme law Of the land" and to require the
judiciary Of every State to execute It, :" any
thing in the constitution or laws Of any
State to the contrary Notwithstanding p
They bound every legislative, executive, and
judicial officer OF tho General Government,
and Of each Of the State governments, nm
der the sanctions OF On oath, to support it
I and required Of Zach President cfect, upon
assuming his high trust, to swear that sto
the best Of HE ability, he will preserve, pro
| teot, and defend Il"
This Constitution, thus sanctioned and in
augurAted, assumed sovereignty for the Ma
tion ~ such, and required, that " no State
shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or CON-
federation" and that !" the eitSens OF each
State shall DO entitled to all privileges and
immunities Of cisiEens 10 the several States"
1t recognised, az popular rights throughout
the land, "freedom Of speech and OF the
press," trial BY jury, and also the privilege
OF habeos corpus, unless s. in cases Of rebel.
lion and invasion.''
Government grows out Of a people, ~ ito
shell out Of q mollusk yet it is, and so most
truly, divine institution. The people,
through the Constitution, gave themselves :
government. And this Constitution and
government have won the sdniratiop, and
| influenced the action Of the world. They
have rallied TO their calculation and defence
some Of the nobless intellscts, the richest
natures, and the stoutest souls, in our coun.
| try and IN cbristendom-the mind OF Web
sser, the eloquenoe OF Clay, and the sword
OF jackson. Champions they have alwsys
found 10 the hour Of peril. And nov how
sublime the spscsaots-Gn army Of TWO hun
dred and fifty thoussnd citizen soldiers,
backed BY the toll and treasures Of twenty
millions Of patriots, rising to defend and
| preserve the Constitution, and the Union
based upon it. The war they accept a. vir-
tually . war for the Constitution, and for
Constitution underlies and secures.
But this precious instrument has another
special and very peculiar set of champions
They assume its defense rs their special pre-
rogative. They mediate with slecpless an
Ruish over the violations and indignities
which it suffers, and breathe out their dis
trs-s 10 smothered groans and vengeful de.
nunciations. And yet there is something
very mysterious and onesided in their anguish
When "Secession" plots, and robs, Ant
arms itself, and strikcs.-its whole soul in
tent 90 giving the death blow to the Consti
tuition; when Statcs enter into . treaty
alliance, and confederation. - not only uncon
titutional, but, in intent, destructive OF th
Constitution when all liberty Of speech an
Of the press 10 exsinguishcd 10 the seoede
States; when : word favorable to the Unto
: 10 made treason by State Law; when 10 Sc
I ccssondom any friend Of this very Consti
. tuition can find protection neither in habes
corpus. nor in trial by jury, nor in an
other right, against confescation, pre-
;. scripticn, improvement, vanishment, Q
death !; when " the moral suasion
: the lasso, Of head shaving, duckinj
kicking and such processes" are used ,
- compel volunteers" to armed rebellion
when men, and seven British SUBJECTS hay
have been siesed, knocked down, carried d
% from their labor, and forced by violence
. serve in the volunteer ranks" and that 81
: tens and twenties !" when these and simila
:. acts are atsested by hundreds OF refugees
20 by such authority as the London Times sp.
= cial correspondent, and tho Convention
10 East Tennessee--deeds Of usurping, III
scrupuloas " slave holding oligsrohy," dee,
done in the interest and for the perpetuatie
!. Of American slavery, and which carried Of
y, would reduce the whole free, lsboring Nor
& TO subserviency and vassalage; these se
Or selt-conrtituted, peculiar champions Of Il
Constitution, are ~ silent ~ your robb
he guest, when his accomplice in robbery
ut piliaging your house mute A. silent par
+ ner, when his firm 10 perpetratng some gre
'ir rascalty. But, when the Chief Execute
10 suspends tho privilege Of hsbeas corpu
r. (constitutionnily) sin Case Of rebellion
l. INVASION" whom the North does any thi
III that indicates back bone, thsn these shAl