The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-08-28
AGAINST the Government.


/ Against the Government.
The evidences are multiplying in va
rious quarters, day after day, that large
proportion at least of the Democratic
leaders are preparing to take bold posi-
ton against the further prosecution of the
war, and that they are resolved to drag
the Democratic party after them, if pos
sibie, Into that false attitude. Hitherto
they have confined themselves to assaults
upon the Administration of Mr.. LINCOLN,
and to denouncing the mea, ures it has
adopted for crushing out the rebellion,
charging it (John G. Breckinridge-like)
with exercising unauthorized and uncon-
stitutional power. But it can readily be
perceived that the design is only to pave
the way for opposition to the Government
itself. The course of these unprincipled
leaders in Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio,
end New York, leaves no doubt on this
point. We apprehend that we shall soon
witness like action in Pennsylvania. The
indications are unmistakeable.
1t would be we'll for these men, before
they irrevocably commit themselves and
their party to a reasonable policy, to study
the teachings Of the Father of Democracy
and Of the most trusted expounders of
its principles, upon the duty of the Co.
vernment in such an emergency as the
present, They will hardly question the
authority of JEFFERSON and DOUGLAS
on these points. The former in a letter
dated Sept. 10, 1901, in reply to the ques-
ton, "Uhetter " circumstances do not some
times occur achich make ii DUTY IN
OFFICERS OF HIGH TRUST to assume
authorities beyond the law," said =" a
strict observance of the written law is,
doubtless, one of the high duties of good
citizen, but IT is NOT the HIGHEST! The
laws of necessity, Of <elf;preserzation, Of
SERVING our country when IN danger, ARE
OF HIGHER OBLIGATION To lose our
country by a ScrUpu}0uS adherence to writ-
ten ldac, would be to lose the tar itself,
with life, liberty, property, and all those
who are enjoying them with us thus ABB
sURDLY Sacrifcing the ends to fhe means"
/ This must be deemed by every honest
Democrat, and every minded citizen,
a complete repl ly to the charge of usurpa,
ton made against the a Administration be-
cause it adopted the course imperativey
demanded by the necessities of the Co
vernment when the rebellion first mani
tested itself in open war. And in regard
to the character and objects of rebellion,
which these same Democratic leaders are
/ beginning to assert, more or less boldly,
/ is only an attempt to resist Northern en-
croachments, ard to recover lost rights,
the authority of the lamented DOUGLAS
will hardly be questioned. He declared
! that the Secession movement was "an
attempt to blot out the United States
from the map of christendom )" a war
for defence op our part; war in defence
of our oaon Just rights: in defence of the
Government which we have inherited as
priceless legacy from our patriotic ia.
theirs in defence Of the great rights of
the freedom of trade, commerce, transit,
and intercourse from the centre to the
circumference of our great continent"
That the great mass of the Democratic
party in the North will follow self elected
leaders into the reasonable paths they
have marked out, we do not believe The
rank and file are true and loyal, as proved
by their conduct here and elsewhere in
joining the armies Of the Government,
and supporting the policy which contem-
plates the putting down Of the Southern
conspiracy y.-Erie Gazette.