Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-07-05

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of the Declaration Of Independence, To realize
this idea, the delegates of the people Of the
several States met in convention in the city of
Philadelphia on the l4th day Of May, 1887. and
on the 25th Of the same month they organized by
the choice Of George Washington as their presi-
dent. The result Of that convention, Of the pro-
found wisdom and patriotism of the country,
wss the Federal Constitution. In the preamble
to that document they thus declared their pur-
pose:
owe, the people of the United States. in order
to torm more perfect union, establish justice,
ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the com
mon defence, promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings Of liberty 10 ourselves and
our posierity, do ordain and establish this Con-
stitution for the United States of America"
The leading elementary principle of this con-
stitution was, that the affairs OF the people of
tho United States were thenceforth to be- ad-
ministered not by confederacy or q mere league
Of friendship between the several sovereign
States, but by government distributed into the
three great departments, Legislative, Judicial
and Executive"
MIR. Madison, whose doctrines are now held in
contempt by rebels, 10 writing to his friend Ed
mund Randolph just before the assembling of the
convention, says; " l hold il as a fundamental
point that an individual indepen ence Of the States
is utterly rrtoonclable with the idea of an aggre-
gate sovereignty" This was just what every
patriotic eye saw, and hence to form more
perfect Union and cement these States into one
sovereign republic, this glorious constitution was
adopted. venture to say that in this imperfect
condition Of human nature, it combines more
political wisdom, more sagacious craftsmanship,
aud more simple devotion TO national welfare
than any political paper ever written. 1t was
the work Of one people, it was designed to
consolidate these States into one government and
cement them perpelualy by the strong, indis-
soluble bonds of one great civil fraternity.
We, the people of this State have more than
once rejolced, as we do this day, that our an
ce-tors took so prominent part in framing
this Constitution, and that Delaware was the first
to niopt it, Dec 9Th, 1887. Then and there
this State cheeriully yielded its boosted indie
pendent sovereignty to the sovereignty Of q
general government Let that epoch in our
State history be sacred forever. Let no IN
worthy sou ever attempt TO exhume from its ap-
prcprlate sepulchre this wretched doctrine of
State sovereignty the foul parent of all the
momrntous evils that now Gtilict our country.
"lf We" in the language Of our great statesman,
"or our posterity violate the rules of eternal JUS
tice triAe with the injunctons of morality, aud
rccklessly destroy the political constitution
which holds us together, no man can tell how
suddenly n catastrophe may overwhem us that
shall bury I'LL our glory in profound Obscuriiy.
\
history. Let the horrible narrative never be
written, let its fate be like the lost books of
OF Livy which no human eye shall ever read ;
or the missing Pleiad, OF which no man shall
ever know more than that II is lost aud lost
fMS5er.
Aud yet it is idle for us to conceal from our
selves the fact that just such catastrophe is
impending over us to day. After more than 70
years OF unexAmpled prosperity under the brOai
shield of this Constitution, reckless aud unprin-
ciplcd men have lifted unholy hands against a
just and bcneicent government and threaten to
rule or ruin. They deny the principles OF the
Constitution, pour out the, vinls Of contempt
upon the Declaration Of Independence ard de-
clare their relentless purpose TO wrest violently
from us liberty such as Pym and John lamp
den and Algernon Sydney sought, but ney,r
found. They have assumed the right to seeedefrom
the United States, right disayowed by the De.
claration u right too 'absurd for argument aud
too odious for discussion" They have shame.
fully repuliated the rights Of man US set forth
in the charter of our liberties and founded a
so-called "Confederacy," the corner stone of
which they boldly declare to the world, is the
revolving doctrine Of human bondage.
Without the shadow Of a reason for any al
lodged grievance they have made war upon the
general government, they have seized our forts
and aisenNls and stolen our mnts and Other
public property, they have infested the seas with
pirates TO prey upon our peaceful commerce.
They have hunted with more than savage fero-
city, peacoable citizens from their midst for nj
other crime than attachment TO the United States
They have threatened the sack of the Capitol
and laying prOiane and Vandal hands upon tn,
pillars OF the Republic, they would fain pull
it down, crashing over the heads of hapless mil
lions and extinguish at stroke the last anl
greatest hope Of liberty and free government fol
- sU..lna 1 -
truly without cause as without precedent Ia the
history of the world, Let no one dignity it will
the name of revolution, nor name it in oonnec c.
tOn with the revolution Of our patriot fathers
II is neither impelled by the motives nor con-
trollcd by the spirit of rightful revolution. Il
is the dark product of barbarOus institution
md is only worthy of barbarous people in q
harharous age Of the world,
Friends, fellOw-citzens, people of Delaware
from this hurried resume Of our national origin
aud history, you can see something Of the cost
of our civil and religious privileges under tht
protection of the Constitution Of these States
The foundations Of great Republic were placet
and the arch cemented with the toll and suffer
ings and blood of some of the noblest Of III,
sons of men but the cost was not counted tee
great by those glorious old heroes anu martyrs
who have gone TO their reward. They tough
and bled, aud died, that they might btqueath Il
/ Nuell culluItug Auu lutlT CnlluIenh Cntlufen,
fair mud mntchless country, and wise and bene
ilcent government, such as the sun had never
before shone upon. Shall we their descendant
clunt the sacrifice too dear to defend the ont
and mnintain the other at all hazards?
Eighty four years ago, where we arc nov
gathered, was heard the booming of the cannon
MS with sulen roar those sounds Of carnag,
came down the peaceful valley of the Brandy
wine. They told of war which was being waget
to retain us as the slaves of British tyranny
We can now again almost catch the note Of wal
waged to destroy the government aud deprive
us of the civil privileges so dearly won oil
! many bloody field. have no terms in which
to express the scorn and adherence which
! | hold toward the men who causelessly cal
lift their rebel hands against such q government
, to establish in its place despotsm for the per
a petuity of the worst system Of human SLAYER,
i OH the records of the race. God is surel,
against it, our highest nature cries out agains
y it, aud universal humanity lifts one long, loud
+ piercing supplcation to us to save the Republi
from such fate. Too many and precious hope
> are linked with it. too many sacred trusts at
> enshIned in it, to permit patriotism to faltel
Let no one shrink from the responsibility; Il
no one hesitate to declare himself, and fly hi
= colors to the breeze. There are but two partiC
in this country to-day one is for and the othC
is against his government, md the man OF me
NuO III the lhVe VI opcu hhT uBalnst thls covert
a ment, endeavors TO get in between these tw
parties under the name of "peace," 'icompro
= mise, or anti-cocrcon," will surely be groun
r to powder, as he deserves to be- between tw
= such mill stones
;, Depend upon it my fellow citizens, notwitl
Q standing all the sickly whine and cant of part
G 2ens and demagogues, our very life as nation
our integrity as government, turn upon th
n unconditional determination of this vile rebe
lion. The veriest school boy, with spark {
q unadulterated patriotism in his soul can see thi
/. 1t is government or no government life or dealt
n To acknowledge this miserable abortion Of