Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-11-29

ioenUuVh VI heighporinB government, lying
along side Of our own are swayed by either a |
pueIile AMI slavish lear OF meeting the real
issues involved, or by the most unwarranted |
prejudice and political pariizansbip. No no /
my friends this cannot, will not be-. If il was
once predicted that within given period, "ali |
Europe would either be Republican or Co.sack,
well may we assume that America will continue az
ii is, Republican, or become Vorse than Cossaek. |
II we would be faithful to the trusts sacredly
committed to us, and preserve the integrity Of
our country, we must proceed upon the ground
that our national life turns upon preserving this
Union OF States MS it lie. " Destruction" and
e" reconstruction" are idle words, banded by
Jemagogues, and for sinister ends. Suffer this
light to be quenched, and " know not where
IS that Promethean heat" that shall relume il -
We ought TO feel that our commission is one; We
are ono people; our welfare is Identical. and this
identity Of interest should never for moment
be lost from view When this unnatural and un
necessary war in the intereSt OF slave oigatchy
is terminated, we shall be as we always have
been under the Constitution, one Union Of States,
or we shall not be at all. Like some conslella-
tious laid down on the charts OF Chaldean as
tronomers, but long since swept from the field
Of vision, we snail have passed forever from the
lirmament of nations, and in fragmentary por-
tions be scattered through the fields of space,
spoken of as among the nations that were but
are no more.
But it may be doubtingly asked, how can peo-
Pile live together in the sisterhOud Of tates
whose views of government and human rights
are so exactly opposite? Will there not be- end
less ilrrings, discords and feudsg Let this
question be answered by putting another:-IlOw
could two such peoples cooperate in the begin
ming in adopting common bond Of government?
How was the Union upon the Constitution effect
ed And how is it that these same two classes
have lived under the original compact for the past
eighty years aud grown to greatness? We've they
honest and sincere in the original agreement? We
assume tive have right thus to assume
Will it be affirmed that during the lapse of three
cr four score years, such radical changes of
opinion and views of government have grown up
III the different parts Of the UniJn as TO render il
impossible longer to maintain il? But how
should such things be among people, loyal to
the Constitution and laws Of their free and vol
unary adoption? II such changes have taken
place, and any portion of this great people have
Outgrown good and righteous government. let
the responsibility of it rest upon those to whom
it properly belongs But let not that cause us
to yield one ot or title of the Constitution or
the Union, until all be strictly fulfilled. Tho
men who formed this government and entered
into this great compact for themselves and their
posterity, were not engaged in the play of chill
dren, aud it is too late in the history of the
world to warrant us in commencing these child
]
blood and treasure to defend this benefcent
government against the attacks of armed rebels
without, and Judas.like traitors Within but il
can never cost us more to maintain and nerpetn.
nte this Union than it did our fathers to estab-
lish III | have known those who we're so prod
| igal in their liberality, to bo left at length
| penniess. So may il he with u.s. In our large
hearted literality and benevolent desire for
| peace, We may compromise, and Weld aud
| Ue hnv hnf
TO eat, and our children 60 beggared all their
days. Division is sometimes not only proper
bit christian and necessary; but in reference to
our country our Union, and government. we
must have the whole from sea 10 sen, from lakes
to gulf or we shall have none at ul and like
the wandering Tartars, find ourselves moving
from place to place, destitute Of shelter and Of
home. Let us hold then with firm hand. the
Union one and indivisible.
H. We MUST TAKE HIGHER GROUND ON THE
SUBJECT OF GOVERNMENT AND THE SUPREMACY or
The LAWS. Nowhere are matters SO unsafe nud
unsteady as in country where liberty becomes
a synonym for centiousness, aud freedom ia
measured by the unframed will of cash ndiyd.
ual. free aud liberal government is Doubtless
among the highest gifts of heaven to any people;
but when perverted may become the most dread.
ful scourge. There is no government. perhop, .
in the world, that needs more careful guards and
checks than our own, as there is none more
easily perverted by the wiles Of evil aud design
ing men In the beginning great cure was Oh
served on this point. "Dsobedience OF lawful
commands of government may be punished in
Two ways or prevented. 1t may be done by the
application of military power, with Adjudication.
or it may be done through the agency OF n ,ri-
bunnl which adjudicates, Ascertaius tho guilty
parllcs aud applies 10 them the coercion Of the
civil power. IL is essential to the supremacy of
government that il should adIudcate on il.
own powers aud enforce its own laws"# This
was the method adopted in tue framing Of the
Federal Constitution. But whatever be the
method, one thing is settled, that there can he
no safety nor long continuance in u country
where the sovereign supremacy of the govern
lnent aud laws is neither acknowledged nor
honOred.
:" As there are certain hollow blasts of wind
aud secret swelliugs OF seas before a TEMPEST. so
are there in Stnies. Lbels and licentious dis
courses against the State when they are frequent
and open and in like sort fase news rnining
up and down to the disadvantage Of the State
anu hastily embraced, are among the signs of
trouble. Also, when dscOrds, aud quarrels. and
factions are carried openly aud audacously. il
IS sign that reverence for government is lost
for the motions Of the greatest persons in n qoy
ernment ought to be motions of the planets
under the '.primHm mO6iien according to The old
opinion, which is, that every of them is carried
own motion, aud therefore, when Rreat onos in
their own particular motion move violently and
as Iacltus has it, more freely than is consistent
with remembering the rulers it is a sign that
the orbs are out Of frame, for reverence is that
wherewith princes are girt FROM God, who
threateneth the dssolving thereof"i
VI the soundness of these principles there oan
ue no question And If in this direction VIC are
TO look for trouble in u monarchy where IL ia
naturally supposed that the government ia
strongest and most rigid, what are We TO expeot
ln Tree democratic republican government.
where the sovereign authority is dshonored and
each integral part Of the whole casting off the
restraints of the central power, essays the SOW.
ereignty in its own person? How can anv qoy
efnment long survive, so ieebly bound together
by respect for the supremacy and majesty of
law Let me assure you thai the strensth and
stability Of our nation turns upon this yerv
point--the sincerity and honesty with which the
states and the people regard the great compaet.
the general government and supreme law Of the
land.
BY our present bitter experience we are being
taught some severe yet wholesome and essential
lessons for the future Many Of the controlling
men OF our nation long since outgrew the sim
plciiy aud political honesty of their fathers
Parties and factions, and rival interests have
grown up and been nursed into vigorous life and |
energy ia the very bosom of the Republic. But
this venomous brood, thus warmed and cherish.
ed, are already striking their poisonous aud |
deadly fangs into the very heart Of the nation
Disloyaty to aud disrespect for the general
government, have been part and parcel of the
regular programme in some Of the States Of this
fraternity. Reckless statesmen have proclaimed
tleir disloyalty ia the Supreme government, on |
the floors OF Congress, and triumphantly naupt-
ed their treason in the face of the whole couu-
try. For more than the third of q century have |
these things been growing, Strengthening and
coming to their iruitage. The people, assured |