Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-26
From the New York Observer
The Constitution ReDeaIed.

In the Senate of the United States, when the
arrest and Imprisonment. of Gen. Stone were
under discussion, Senator Wade's reply to the
argument that Gen. Stones rights, under the
Constitution, the common law and the military
law of the country, had been violated, was that
the Government, in this great exigency, is bound
to protect itself and that the Constitution is vr-
tually repealed until the Government has become
able to restore its authority in the rebellious
States.
We find this in the report Of the debates in
Congress. 1t has been before the public for a
week or more without contradiction; we copy IL
to fasten the eyes of the nation upon it, the
highest avowal yet made of doctrine that is
working radical change in the theory of our
Government, and rapidly transforming it into
despotism of the worst possible type and form.
If this doctrine so distinctly set forth by Senator
Wade, and which has been with equal holiness
avowed by Senator Sumner and other distn-
guished abolition leaders, becomes the policy and
creed of the country, our Government, like "the
baseless fabric o. dream" Is gone, and only a
miserable wreck is left behind.
Before this theory of Senator Wade is sub
mitted to, we would do well to try the question
before the Supreme Court, and if that judicatory
affirms it as the law of the land, it will be our
privilege to choose between submission to it and
voluntary exile to Siberia or Japan We frankly
confess that we would prefer the despotism of a
Pagan prince to that of mob. If Mr.. " ade s
doctrine is sound we have no Government but
the will of the man who yields the army and ma
W. regardless of the Constitution which he is set
and sworn to uphold by those powers.
Mr.. Thomas, of Massachusetts,, has ably and
molly risen up, in the spirit and with much of the
power of Webster, to throttle this heresy. He
| has maintained the supremacy of the Consttu-
ton and the subordination of the Government;
and with equal elOquence and truth he signi6-
cantly points to the authors of this new revou.
tionary doctrine and declares: "In seeking to
change the Constitution by force of arms, we be-
come the rebels we are striving to subdue."
The Constitution was not made for fair weather
only. 1t is good for time of peace and better
still for time of war There is little need of law
when men are willing to obey; but when war
breaks the peace and security of society, when
the passions of men are dashed into rage, and
the nation is suddenly plunged into the vortex OF
civil strife, then the rights of communities and
individuals are in danger, and the only protection
which the loyal citizen enjoys is the Constitution
of his country. 1t is a grand mistake, which
even good men sometimes make, that the appar-
ent necessity of the hour justifes ruler in the
usurpaton of illegal power. This fallacy is the
universal apology which tyrapts plead By this
abuse of power the liberties of nations have
been blotted out, and the lives of thousands sac
riiced.
What we want now in Congress is spirit Of
devotion to the laws and principles of the Gov
| ernment-a spirit of patriotism rising far above
the behests of party or prejudice, and ignoring
utterly all schemes of President making un-
ma king, while the energies of mind and the ma
terial resources of the country are summoned to
the single purpose OF restoring the Union to the
basis of the Constitution.
If Senator Wade's theory becomes the theory
Of the war, there will be no more constitutional
liberty in the Republic of the West.