The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-07-03
The cath to Support the Constitution.

Inc Uatn u DuppOit sL0 bOHstitutiOh.
The duty of the citizen in times of ma
tional war, is by no means difficult to define,
says The Patriot and Union. II is his duty
to be obedent to his government. II the
government requires his money for nation
al purposes, he must furnish it. If it re-
quire himself to arm. he must go 10 the
con flct. The nation never did recognize,
and will utterly refuse TO recognize, the
Higher Law doctrine laid down some years
ago by the Republicans, that every man IS
conscience is above the laws and the Con-
stitution. We respect the man who aff1ic.
ted by the power of the Government 10 COM
pei his contributions 10 war purposes when
he believes war 10 be sin, but we do not
justify him in resisting the law or the law
fu authorities in such case.
Al the same time, says the Journal Of
Commerce il is 10 be borne in mind that the
government in America is not the President
of the United States, nor the President and
Congress, nor the respective State Execu-
tive powers, nor all these combined. These
are the channels through which the govern
ment acts, and that government is the will
of The people as defined and expressed in
Constitutions. The respect and obedience
that every man owes, is 10 the Constitution,
from which the President and Congress de-
rive their powers of making and executing
laws. Every attempt TO iniure, TO violate,
to overthrow that Constitution, must neces-
sarly be disIoyaly.
Few men of age and experience have rot,
at ore time or another, taken the oath of al
Iegiance to support the Constitution of the
United States. The oath is solemn where
ever administered, and once taken, leaves
an impression on the mind never 10 be eff
] faced Some have renewed it nore than
once and the administering ofil anew is
strongly urged on all men in official posi-
tions. Naturalized citizens have all taken
il
| 1t is worth while TO remember what the
taking of that oath implies 1t places the
man who takes it under the obligation TO
defend the Constitution always and every
where, in every line and letter. Ii becomes
his duty 10 resist rebellion against the gov
ernment by armed forces, and equally his
J duty TO resist insidious attacks upon il from
individual or private sources. While he is
free at all times TO advocate notifications
of the Constitution. TO favor changes in the
National policy, 10 recommend his fellow
citizens 10 consent TO amendments of the
/ instrument, he is bound 10 sustain its pow
er and enforcement by all the means at his
1 command.
The oath forbids that he should be alb
solved from his solemn duties by any pub
tic camor or storm of popular feeling II
men oppose the iferiy of speech, or of tre
press, or the right of petition, he is sworn
TO resist them. If ''the right of trial by a
Jury Of the State and district in which the
crime was commilied,' be in any manner
infriuged on, he is sworn TO resis: such in.
fringemeGt II any one-President, Cabi-
net, Congress, newspaper editor, or popu
lar mob-shall attempt to search houses
examine private papers without warrant
and due process of law, override the sacred
writ Of habeas corpus, or supersede the Pres.
idenl il any officer or branch of the gov
eminent shall usurp and exercise any o
the powers devolved by the Constitution
upon any other branch of the Executive
power or it any indlvidu ual or body of indi
viduals shall attempt in the form OF com
mittees of vigilance or otherwise 10 usurT
powers of government or judgment, in each
and every of these cases the oath solemnly
requires the citizens resistance.
The day has arri we'd when firm adhe'
renee 10 many OF those requirements of tht
Constitution has been called treason BY
men who advocate the boIdest violation o
its provisions 1t is difficult to take up
paper OF the war party which does not pro
pose some fresh attack on its sacred proyis
ions. But there are men who will remem
her the sacredness o! their oaths-wno viii
never be msIed or dragooned into violalin.
: them-and we believe that the Presiden
himself, who was awhile ago in danger o
: being misled by his ardent partizan friends
is now fully alive 10 the particular meaning
of the words of his own oath 10 "preserve
protect and defend" the Constitution.
FOURTH OF jury IN MmToS.-On Tuesda,
evening last, meeting was held al Acade
my Hall, for the purpose OF making arrange
ments for celebration of the Auniyersar
of American independence. As bills wer
issued and conspicuously posted up in va
rious parts of the borough, it was expecte
IL ~ ha iarn