Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-28
cause OF THE CONSTITUTION

There are certain journals in the northern
states which at the outset defended the JEFF Da-
Wis conspiracy against those who proposed to
crush it. These journals apolOgized for the
traitors, excused their atrocious proceedings,
and iusisteds that ;hev had ample cause for
what they did, and they pursued this course
until compelled to change it by unnlistakeable
manifestations of popular indignation. 1t will
be remembered that the conversion" of the
New York Herald to patriotic professions was
surprisingly and rather ludicrously sudden.
That newspaper had openly advocated tie
southern contederacy, insisting that the
JEFF Davis constitution was an improve
ment on that under which we have lived, -
that all the northern states should adopt it at
once, as the only means of sharing 'the nigh
ty destiny" of the Southern contederacy,"
and that the "masses" of New York city
"should take the lead in endorsing that con-
stitution, and signifying their willingness 10
acquiesce in the same" The Herald present
ly had an interview with the masses" thus
invoked, and the effect was miraculous. In
single half hour of one pleasant evening, the
conductors of that sheet underwent grea
change. They found it necessary to drop
such reasonable talk, dismiss FROM their Office
the secession flags in which it was draped,
and try to advocate patriotism. OF course
there was no change OF sympathy in the case
and now the Herald is diligently at work in
behalf of the secessionsts, in another style.
There were some other Journals whose ut
terances were nearly atrocious those of
the Herald, who had similar experiences of
conversion. They had all maintained that the
secession conspiracy was quite excusable, and
that the federal constitution should be at ONCE
remodeled to any extent that might be neces
sary to satisfy the demands of treason. One
of these journals, published in Boston, and
very malignant though of not much i'm
portance, had very effective visitation,
one night, and was brought to mend its
phrase if not its temper. Since that night it
has used language more carefully, and for the
most part limited the expression of its friend
ship for the secession conspirators 10 cautious
ly expressed apologies for their great crime,
and to declarations that the chief responsible.
ty for this crime belongs to those who objected
to their schemes for spreading and nationalis-
ing slavery, That journal is never more We
hement than when it denounces those who op-
posed all propositions to buy off the secession
isis from their wicked purpose, by reconstruct
ing the federal constitution in favor OF the mad
propagandism OF their barbarous institution
And yet, men and journals of this class
while SO eager to make the secession traitors
superior to the FEDERAL constitution, and to al
ter that instrument in whatever manner may
be necessary to suit their aims and induce
them to return and "act in concert" with
"their old political allies" have the face to
talk as if they had in charge 'the cause of the
constitution, they WHO carry N a perpetual
agitation to make it secondary to the slave
power They, who make it clearly under
stood that they would eagerly advocate any
change or repeal of the constitution that jeff
Davis and his associates might prescribe as
the condition on which they would return
to their old places in congress, and around
the White House! Was it "the cause
of the constitution" that led them to de.
nounce coercion" when troops were called for
to defend Washington and put down rebel
lion? Was it "the cause OF the constitution"
that led them to criticise and rebuke the Just
Indignation of the loyal states against the re-
belon Is it "the cause of the constitution
that leads them to agitate the slavery question
in hope of rallying party in the north 10 fra
ternize with the secession conspirators when
ever they seek to return on their own terms?
1t does not require much time or study to
answer these questions. 1t is satisfaction to
know that the loyal men Of the country can
not be won to the purposes OF these aDeuors
of treason.