The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-05-22

cept cppOsitton 10 the South D0e5
honor require them to remain imprisoned
in tort, surrounded by troops hostile to
their flag, and dependant on the personal
kindness of those, against whom their
guns are pointed {; and which is daily in'
suited by military preparations for their
destruction Does honor require that
they shall depend for Reinforcement. aud
supplies upon deceitful stratage.n That
the commandsnt Of fort shall see "the
flag of his government fred upon." and
the signal Of the vessel that bears it an,
answered, until il is either shot away, or
a,nbiguously hauled down in disgrace g?
That this dsbonor should be piadicated
by dsingenious explanation, which
IinA itself be explained, or forever blot
the fair name Of its author2 That both
he, aud the commander in chief of the
army, should stultify themselves before
the whole world, and insult magnani'
nous and forbearing people, by their
puerile talk of "an unarmed vessel"
which was filed with soldiers and mum,
tons Of ,war2 That this subterfuge
should be accompanied with threat,
whose defiance was met bg reference to
the government, which withdrew it
We are anxious to find excuse for
gallant officer, aud we will not condemn,
without candid hearing, one whose life
has been that Of brave soldier, under
the perplexng trials to which he is expor
sed. VT What confdencs, can he, or any
honorable man, have iu government
which has thus abused the fidelity of its
officers ? The commapdant Of a post,
with the weighty responsibility Of an en-.
orrnous amount of public property under
his charge, is entitled to much charitable
considerations and if he canIot extr-
cate himself from the fetters Of artificial
habit or if he is seduced by the praise,
which in his soul he must despise, be.
cause his own conscience is uneasy there
are not many in his peculiar situation.
He could not resign his trust, until he
had determined how to secure that prop.
erty and as the question was a novel
one, he might need time, and counsel,
.and deliberation. to make a right decis
ion. The other officers may resign and
IT their designations are refused, they, and
the men under their command, are bound
are unlawful. They should appea', each
to their own sovereign; and in the last
resort. claim the protection of all those
sovereigns, who have Withdrawn from
the federal compact, and whore action
has embarrassed the question OF aiegi |
ance. Let one such officer or soldier be |
sacrificed, under the forms of martial law,
and the whole nation will blaze with war
The most awful, merciess retaliation ~ill
be duty Of sacred justice.
They will find it less difficult to deter.
mine where that true honor, which is nev,
er inconsistent with duty, should lead
them. They know that their relation to
the government is peculiar. Their organ.
ization remains firm aud entire, however
the administration may huctuate. They
are kept aloof from the political contests,
for lis powers and Donors. All the civil
officers Of the Federal Government were
required 10 swear "ip preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution Of the United
States" But every officer, and non com
missioned officer, and private. Of the ar.
my Of the United States. has taken an
oath of more solemn obligation and deep
er significance. The army is expected to
recognize its sovereigns, to whom 1t is i'm
mediately responsible. It's members are
not required TO consider constitutional
questions. nor TO interpret either the fun
damental law, or ordinary legislation
From them is exac,ed an oath Of ALE.
GLANCE TO the United States.
They are expected TO know who and
what the United States are; and If they
forget their history, and the language of
:he dag that floats over them, as the On
sign Of sovereignty they are each one
reminded by the very terms Of their oath.
that the United States are not regarded
AS unit. Let them turn to the oath, in
the articles Of war, Art. x and see there,
that they are not required to swear allie, |
glance to the Government OF the Union,
or to the Republic (; but they have sworn |
to "bear true allegiance 10 the United |
States Of America" and 10 serve THEM,
honestly and faithfully. against all their
enemies or opposers whomsoever," and
"to observe and obey the orders OF the
President of the United States, and the
orders Of the officers appointed over them,
according to the rules and articles for the
government Of the armies OF the United
States
Has the English language lost its mea
ming, under the insidious influence of The
false Union Have the army forgot the
OF the word ALLEGIANCE
Does not every man know shat it is the |
very word that expresses the relation of |
man to sovereignty Homage is given
to the feudsl lord /; obedience to the Law
fut superior, that is, the officer who is
clothed with legal authority but aIIegi,
ance is due TO the sovereign who is su.
prone, who is above law, which flows
from sovereignty as its source. Sover
eighty Is the creator Of the law. II claims
allegiance and as it derives its power
from Almighty God. so it appeals to its
author. He is invoked to viodicate its
right to the paramount obligation Of al.
legisnce. That is never to be questioned. |
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