Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-07-11

Jefferson, they omit the Horus ail men
are created equal Why? They have
adopted a temporary National Constitu-
ton, in the preamble of which, unlike
our good one signed by Washington,
they omit "We, the people" and sub
stitute 1--WE, the Deputies of the sovcr-
eign and Independent States" Why /
Why this deliberate pressing out of view
the rights of men and the authority Of
the people? This is essentially peo-
pies contest. On the side of the Union
it is struggle for maintaining in the
world that form and substance of Gov.
ernment whose leading object is to ele-
vate the condition of men; to lift artif
cial weights from all shoulders; to clear
the paths of laudable pursuit for all; to
afford all an unfettered start and fair
chance in the race of life. Yielding to
partial and temporary departures. from
necessity, this is the leading object Of
the Government for whose existence we
contend.
am most happy to believe that the
PLAIN people appreciate this. 1t is wor-
thy of note that while in this, the Gov
ernment's hour of trial, large numbers
of those in the army and navy who have
been favored with the offices have re-
signed and proved false to :he hand
which had pampered them. not one COM
mon soldier or common sailor is known
to have deserted his flag. Great honor
is due to those officers who remained
true despite the example of their treach-
erous associates. But the greatest hone
and the most important fact of all is the
unanimous firmness of the common SOL
diers and common sailors. TO the last
man, so far as known, they have success
fully resisted the traitorous efforts OF
those whose commands but an hour be-
fore they obeyed as absolute law.
This is the patriotic instinct of plain
people. They understand, without an
argument, that the destroying the Gov
erDment which was made by Washing
ton means no good to them
Our popular Government has often
been called an experiment. Two points
in it our people have already settled -,
The successful establishing and the sue
cessful administering of it. One still
remains: Its successful maintenance
against formidable internal attempt to
overthrow it. 1t is now for them to de-
monstrate to the world that those who
can fairly carry an election can also
suppress rebellion. That ballots are
the rightful and peaceful successors of
bullets; and that when ballots have fair
ly and constitutionally decided, there
can be no successful appeal back to bull
lets; that there can be no successful APP
peal except to ballots themselves at sue
ceeding elections Such will be grsa.
lesson of peace, teaching men that what
they cannot take by an election. neither
can they take it by war; teaching all
tho folly of being the beginners Of II
war.
Lest there be some uncasiness in the
minds Of candid men us to what is to
be the course of the Government toward
the Southern States after the rebellion
shall have been suppressed, the Execu-
tive deems it proper to say At ,cM be his
purpose then as erer to be guided by the
Constitution aud the ilWs; and that he
probably will have no different UNDER
standing of the powers and duties of the
Federal Government relatively to the
rights of the States and the people under
the Constitution, than that expressed in
the Inaugural Address.
He desires to preserve tho Government
that it may be administered for all as il.
was administered by the men who made
it, Loyal citizens everywhere have the
right to claim this of their Government,
and the Government has no right to
withhold or neglect it. 1t is not per-
ceived that in giving it there is any coer-
clon, any conquest, or any subjugatiop,
in any just sense of those terms.
The Constitution provides, and all the
State have accepted the provision, that
the United States shall guarantee to
every State in this Union q Republican
form of Government. But if 4 State
may lawfully 60 out Of the Union, hav-
ing done so it may also discard the Re-
publican form of Government, SO that
to prevent its going out is an indispen-
sable means to the end OF maintaining
the guarantee mentioned; and when an
end is lawful and obligatory. the indis-
pcnsable means to it arc also lawful and
obligatory.
1t was with the deepest regret that the
Executive found the duty Of employing the
war power in defence OF the Government
forced upon him. He could but perform
this duty or surrender the existence of the
Government.
No compromise by public servonts could
in this case be cure; not that compromises
are not often proper, but that no popular
government can long survive n marked pre-
cedent that those who carry an election can
only save the Government from immediate
destruction by giving up the main point upon
which the people gave the election.
The people themselves, and not their SER
wants, can safely reverse their own deliberate
decisions
As a private citizen. the Executive could
not have consented that these institutions
shall perish, much less could he in betrayal
of So vast and 50 sacred trust as these free
people had confided TO him. lie felt that he
had no moral right to shrink nor even to
count the chances Of his own life in what
might follow. In full view of his great res
possibility, he has so far done what he has
deemed his duty. You will now, according
to your own Judgment, perform yours.
Hosincerely hopes that your views and your
action may so accord with his as to assure all
faithful citizens who have been disturbed in
their rights of 4 certain and speedy restoration
to them under the Constitution and the laws,
And, having thus chosen our course without