Smyrna times., 1861-08-29
The Union and its Opponents.


property ie an alarming extent in several
States of our American Union. And yet il
may be recorded as an extraordinary event,
that man should speak thong htfuly aud mod
srately upon any of the questions that agitate
ssr communities. In spite of efforts that were
msde to the contrary, by part of the press,
and amOng large portion of the people, it is
ssseFed that the friends of the Union are a DO.
liiiesl party, opposed TO their opponents as a
section. And by the members of each Of these
parties the most excited feelings are INDUCED,
and language Of bitterest luminosity used
While political parties may exist and operate
ia 4 Government. and divide its interests and
aiseuss it's mes sures. and sustain aud oppose
its measures, it is manifestly wrong that the
Government itself should be regarded as q
great political party in anita gonism with ano,h-
W great political party, aud that the two par
ties should be at war with each other. The
Government sOs,sins itself regardless of all
parties, sOd with the good of the whole coun.
Try, performs oil the service included in its
great agency ior the prosperity and happiAess
Of the people.
II 10 wrong to the Government to erect il
into political party. and open it to the attacks
that may be made { On it from each and all of
the phases Of the opposition. 1.-THE Union were
political party, the question might be admit.
ted whether il should be preserved or not.
Bat whlle it is the Government under the Con.
sIitutiOn. it is ths nsIIonality-;he nationality
10 the dlstlnctiSeEess Of its institutions, and in
The full force of lis authority, responsibility,
aad aSor. And no man can question the pro-
FI'Iy Sfsus'aining and supporting the nation
ali'T OF his government and country.
We have not consented, and cannot consent
that cur Union shall DO lowered TO ths eondi.
tea Of a political party. We claim for i, all
the VsnsrsIion Of patriotism that belongs to .
great nationality, possessing and distributing
the Blessings of human freedom TO its people.
Ia lhis character we wsu.d have il vsnerated
By oil. and ia this veneration we would behold
the loyalty and patriotism of the citizen.
h"aa anomsly in our history that any no.
Utica party should array itself expressly and
PsIHtedly against the Government. II usual
IN partisan contests to enter the issue against
soEe peculiar policy of the Administration, and
to fault the Adm nistration for the manner in
which II administers the Government. The
present crisis Is that ofIhe resistance of num-
Der Of States against the General Government
Ihs Government has its eaemy in the parties
sppssIng IT, but it is nevertheless the Govern
nsn' that Is engaged in the contest, and the
Government is not party because it is obliged
10 resist en- enemy, although the enemy be
rs'elied portion OF its own citizens.
The mistake of the Secessionis,s. savsa m.
temporary, is in their attack upon the Govern.
nent instead Of the Administration, which ,bev
doubtless intended to do, a nd would have found
PARTIES to aid them 10 every State of the Union
and thsF might have carried their point at
some future period, even although amid The
HuelustiOns Oeeasioned by the inconstancy of
perry 'Aey might have been subjected 10 the
lo'' Of heE position in frequent party contests.
re have resisted the Administration thew had
q pe'iect right, but they have learned that re.
sHacss to the Government and attacking the
OniSR. are very different pursuits from the
"u't'hg and fighting the Administration. Had
'he SecessiOnists remained in the Union. thew
~Su'd haVe bad every chance Of success az
political party. Even nov in Congress thew
~os'd hs"e opportunity to push their cause.
i"eJ would at least defend themselves against
~e" political oPponeats in the Union, much
O'"et 'hs1 they can against the Union, in the
I0molne'loa OF It's power. AT this moment, if
'"e seeedIsg States would disband their army
90" resume their place in the Union. and seud
'Hs'f Senators and Representatives to thei,
seats 10 Congress. they would find a msio,;,v
80 81 least one House, and perhaps in both. in
@SOf OF granting any reasonable reoues. they
naT make.
30 return 60 their place IN the Uuion. the
seeeders would find their friends in all tn.
states ready to join with them in their opposi.
tioa TO any oppressive measures, were such in.
'esPosed. And their opportunities for future
prosperity would be much greater ia such reIa-
on 'aan hsT can possibly be in any other.-
'He prospect to prosperity 10 all the States is
:" 'AS Union, where they may assist each olhor
~ 'heIr great enterprise Of freedom and human
progress. The changes aad fluctuations Of
PAfpes should never be SLOWED 10 invade the
'''sll'y Of The Union. and the rights and i'm.
@Saltles Of all, both States and individuals.
mould be sacssd to them in and by the Union.
The INVASION WI party, or sectional oppression.
zach is the compliant Of the seceders, should
sever be tolerated for a moment, nor will i,
be BY any truly loyal citizen or number
= s's''l1snsL Freedom and party and sectional
eppfessien are incompalibles lha, can never bs
hass TO harisoaize. and while the Constitution
sas'a'ns the one it is in immediate eondie,
9Th the olhsr.
Gee PseC Woods Advertisement.
N2fs stt3th4