Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1861-06-28
THE DUTY.
DEMOCRAT.

to past political ASSOCIATIONS, 10 give the Fed
eral government loyal support during the
present rebellion. 1t Is not The admluIstra-
tIon, as an al tnIuIstratIou, bat as the mbod-
Iment OF our institutions, winch Is eutItled 10
obedience. " ho Is or Is not President. or
secretary oi Il department, during the next
four years, of very little Consequence Ia
the present attitude OF events. In the grand
schemes OF American nationality Mr. LIN
coin regime Will be mere punt-of great
IusIguIhcance - to time but OF IucOuceIv-
able Importance as testing the patuotIsn OF
the people AND the strength OF the national
Institutions. 1t Is aDs ms polIcy the nation
are reQtIred To puraue-In no sense the inter-
ests I his party that they 10 subserye-
lie neither LEAFS nor originates, the popular
sentiment lie certainly IS not tie author OF
The popular duty. Loyalty to the govern
men' Is loyalty 10 ourselves; and il the con-
sJItutIon, which Is over all. ami belongs to
all, do tiud the measure OF our duty.
The war must be fought 70 a victorious con
clusion ii Mr. Lincoln does not do 1t, the
people Will. Ii TINS generation leaves 1t IN.
done, the next wIll fly to arms and accom-
/ isiIsh 1t. The idea uf American nationality
OF the Union under the coustuutlou-Is es-
/ abI9hed forever. Abandon to-day and to-
morrow a GatIbaldI viii lead the popular
/ heart to restore II. Such Ideas never die. -
/ They become the motive power Of nations,
and until the memory Of the Revolution, and
OF the glory aud prosperity OF the country an
der the cunsJI utlOD, shall have been forgotten
! by mankind, tie American heart vail cling
10 Ihe large destiny winch bounds tie Union
/ by the oceans, and which has made the Mis-
sIs>i ppl oars from lis source To the Gull.
I II matters not, then, vino Is the leader IN
this var. So long a. ne holds tbs office by
virtue OF the constitution, lie must be sustain
cd IN ali vigorous efforts 10 IN .lntaIn the Uu-
lon,--opposed only W en- he talters hest
tales IN pursuing that end.
" e do not propose 10 argue that the safety
OF the country, Ia such u crisis, Is not party
matter. No man can argue IL, unless he as
sumeS that there Is 10 be u separation at Ma
son aud Dixons line. winch Is impossible, ~
long the Mississippi. stretching with II,
branches into the heart OF the continent, shall
bear the SHOWS of the y orth TO the sunshine
OF the SUuth,--so long as the great works OF
public intercourse shall exist between the
secuons,--and 50 long as the products Of the
states vary IN character, and the people are
of one lineage and tongue. The complete
circle Of commercial, manufacturing, indus
rial interes 5, whIcn the Union has present
ed, Is not the result OF Chance 1t Is : sed
upon fundamental laws OF ia2u : happiness
aud prosperity. II is part Of the economy OF
creation. aud Viii sustain Itself ia spite OF
governments or IcbellOn5. IL may be retard-
ed BY the TRIES OF the times huL never de
stroyed When we comprehend this--when
We behold IN rivers. lakes ana mountains, III
varying forms Of Industry aud production.
the physical unity which nature has imprint
ed upon TIE continent, from the Great Lakes
To the Gull ct MeXIco,--we cannot resist the
IconYIctIon that Tins IS designed for one nation,
and that the question before the people is not
zone OF territorial unity, but Of a form Of gov
eminent. Under some polIcy must forever
toe unit. The great material interests OF the
country demand lt--demOnsLrate II. 1t Is 1.
destiny winch cannot avoid, If we would.
Iu this strife, then, are to decide the
governmental Institutions which shall be over
US and our children In the future. The strong
ambitions which have chated at the m!deSt
RESTRAINTS OF the Constitution, AMI plunged
without cause, into conspiracy and revolution.
cannot protfer any hope of liberty to wise
men. Indeed. the Montgomery constitution
bears upon It's face the evidence that IL Is IA
temporary eXpedicnI ami Is only the forerun-
ucr of stronger and, uudou bjedly, i despotic
form Of government. The secession movement.
at every step. has been marked by the Secre-
6 aud eXCluslvcness OF men who have UltI-i
mate designs whlch they dare not dtsclosc.-|
but, above all. of men who are determined 10
govern they please. The closed doors OF
legislatures and convc. toms.--thc oyerawIng
OF expression OF opinion against the movement,
of popular suffrage resorted to,--the re-
!usal 10 submit the Montgomery constitution
u the people, and the Weaknesses Of the con-
situation Itself, are all evidence that Il de>p-t-
Iotu Is impending over tie revo!ted SJu.eS
| which may spread over the country, If We do
NOT sustain the constitution and enforce the
laws. ii the ouoFirators triumph. the
con 'tItu I)n l. 4. an ent. tor what con-
ndcpce can We have IN an Instrument which
tails at the first trial ? BesIies, the recoynI-
ton of the southern Confectionery, whether
to-day, or after Il long war, i the recognition
ot the legality OF secession, and, of course,
forever precedent TO the dIstutegrttlon al
The Union. Al tue same time, secession j.
the corncr-stone of the Montgomery ins,ru.
meut. The machinery OF national dlsorganl-
zttion J. national institution. To-day a
State may be independenl.--to- morrow at
! tached to tue Eorth or South. and the next
day subject ~ England. The folly OF such :.
system - apparent, bu; IL /, rs weaknes,--
/ the dangerous facility with which IL eau Gre
a;e prctex' for usurpation. revolution, despot
ism---which Is prominent. Certain powers
| are necessary for the vigorous government OF
a nation, aud the abseuce OF them is positive
proof that there IL no true national idca-ro
| reliable national strength. The necessities.
I OF people VIII arise above such shallow con
srIyances To preserve n Stale, soveicighty.-
/ Tn popular voice Will Sustain an energetic
! ruler II USurpin1 powers withheld. because
/ SONS exIgcncy demanded i. and theuccflrjh
u,urpatI"n wall have no limit, save the pleas
OF The ruler.
The choice before the coautry now Is, - re-
! main united under The present free cons Itu-
"a. or L. hc compelled 10 mite N the future
4nder some foru OF institution. The nature al
which, We may apprehend. but do nor know i
Need We argue 10 American ei lzens tha. .
ireemeu are only secure when they cling 10
al. = 3