New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1861-12-20

port against the assaults of every fanat:cal
ism
THE GALENA COURIER on THE QUESTIONS oFTnF
! DAY.
lie who refuses to stand by the Con
stitution, and to faithfully carry ont its
provisions. is pcriurer and 4 traitor.
What may be said of individuals, III
this respect, may also be said otStates.
Those States whose legislators have
enacted "pcrsonal Liberty Laws, the
purpose Of which is to render null and
void that provision of the Constitution
which requires the rendition Of tugl-
tives slaves, are guilty of treason. Up
on the statue books of Vermont, Mas
sachusctts. Michigan. Wisconsin, and
two or three other northern States,
such personal liberty enactments eN-
ist to day, when it is h7,otpn that they
arc contrary to the Constitution and
laws of the United States. 1t is such
laws that have cxasperatcd the South,
and FASTENED on the present deplcrable
state Of affairs. Yet the same Repub-
Iican legislators whose influence and
votes were necessary 70 the enactment
Of these laws. are just as strenuous IN
their efforts to carry them out, WreSpec-
lire of the requirements Of the Fede-
rat Consultation. as thew were when
those laws we're tirstmade. They have
been IN the habit Of slisresariing and
even opposing the Constitution if it
happened to clash with their precon-
ceived notions; and now, because certain
men at the South have taken the same
liberty with it, they deny them the
right, aud oppose it by resort to
arms.
What have a mans peculiar moral
notions or sentiments to do with the
obligations which the Constitution and
laws impose on him! can he decide for
himself which he will obey, and which
he will violate! When he takes SOL
emn oath to support the Constitution
of the United States, and obey the
laws" can he, without perjuring him
self, as we'll as becoming traitor, re-
fuse to observe his OATH Or, rather, i.
it not his deity, as an American citizen,
to respect the law, and to render strict
obe,li fence to it! Can he be self-con-
stitutel Judge OF the lava selt-appoin
ted expounler Of the Constitution, and
to costrue its obligations to suit his
own notions. and define the extent OIL!
his perso nal obedience, or disobedience!
We regret to say that such has been
and Is the case with the Republic; par
ty Of Vermont, Massachusetts,, Rhode
Island. Michigan aud Wisconsin. They
have ignored the decisions of the Su-
preme Court of the United States-re-
pudiated the acts of Congress in refer
ence to the fugitive slaves, and boldly
violated the Constitution. What bet
ter are they than therebels Of the South
and why should they be admitted into
the sanctum sa1.ctorum of the Presi-
dents confidence any more than the
;, leaders Of the Southern Rebellion! If
the Federal Constitution is to be made
mere matter of caprice only to be
obeyed so far as it meets the pce-con-
ce,ved views of an individual, if the
laws enacted by Congress are no bet
ter than parchmentwhen mans erring
Judgment is opposed to them,-i the
decisions of the Supreme Court Of the
United States-the highest authority
under the CONSTITUTIONAL to be trea
ted as if they had never been gwen,
then may We dispair Of maintaining a
Democratic form Of governmental
government in which the people rule.
The abolitionists Of the North and
the rebels of the South are a amt in
, their dlsobedience to the laws-their
violations of the Constitution and
their disrespect to the decisions Of the
Supreme Court But wherein have
true Democrats ever violated the laws
of their country? When have they
=, attempted to subyert the Government,
2 or destroy the Union, which abolition