The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-08-01

OF the CONSTITUTION Neelf. Tho COnstitu-
lion provides that tho President shall, before
entering on tho duties Of bis office, solompIy
swear that ito tho best Of bis ability he viii
preserve, protect, and defend the Constitu.
ton Of the Uuirod States" II further pro.
vides that, by virtue Of his office, he "sbal!
be Commander. in. Chief Of the Army aud
Navy Of tho United States, and OF the militia
of the several States when called into the
actual service Of the Uuitcd States; and
that the President "Shsll take caro- that the
laws be faithfully executed"
That thcso powers conferred and dutios
enJoined upon the President might not fail
for want of tho just authority of law, and
that tho people might DO secure in thor
rights, oil the powers essential to tho en-.
actmont OF laws for these ends are, bv tho
Constitution, expressly conferred upon Con.
gross. These grants of power TO Cougross
are in these words,
The Congress shall havo powor to Law
and collect taxes, duties, imports aud excl
SOS, to pay tho dob;s and provide for the
common defense and welfare of the UuitOd
States.
ITO defuo and punish pirates and foonies
committed on the high seas aud offences
against tho law of nations.
To declare war, grant lettors Of marque
and reprisal, and make rules concerning cap
lures on land and water
ITO raise and support armies.
ITO provide aud maintain a navy.
ITO make rules for tho government and
regulation of tho land and naval forces.
ITO provide for calling forth tho militia
to execute tho laws OF tho Uuion, suppress
Instructions and repel invasions.
"To provide for organizing. arming and
disciplining tho militia, and for governing
such part Of thcm as may be employed 10
the service Of the United States
ITO make all laws which shall bo necossa-
ry and proper for carrying into execution
the foregoing powers aud oil other power
vested by this Constitution 10 the Govern.
ment of tho United States. or in any depart.
ment or officers thereof"
We uoed not stop to say that these pow.
ers, sayo in tho manuer Of their exercise,
are unlimited. Under all well.rogulatod
Governments tho powers for tho common
defense" are only limited by tho common
dsnger-the public necessity and the re-.
qui,ements of natural Justice. When the
people by thoir representatives enact the
lave necessary and proper as expressly
authorized by their Constitution for tho
exercise a right inherent alike in men and
nations--the right of self.preservation.--
Tho Republic has the right to livo--the Re-
public has tho right, therefore, to enact all
laws needful and consonant with justice to
suppress an instruction which strikes at
and imperils life. Upon this groat question
Of the right Of tho people to provide By
law, and TO do BY forco, undor the sanction
of ther laws, whatever may be just and
necessary for the maintenance of their na-
tionality, and the assertion of their rightful
authority. tho people spoke thus through
two Of the trainers of the Constitution when
thoy ordained IL:
Hamilton, speaking to the people, and Of
tho people, said:
"Tho circumstances which endanger the
safety of nations arc infinite; and for this
reason no constitutional shackles can wisely
be imposed on the power to which the care
of II is committed" (Fed. No. 23.)
And Madison, speaking in the same spirit,
and by tho approval of the white people,
declared at Is 10 vain to oppose consti-
tu,ional barriers to tho impulse of self
preservation" (Fed. Az
1t may be improper to notice that the
sympathizors with rebellion, who seek to
discredit the Chiof Magistrate, and to pre-
vent the duo execut on of the laws, have
here and elsewhere appealed to the prcju.
dico rather than tho reason of our follow
citizons touching the law which gives FREQ
dom to the slaves of rebels, and offers thom
the privilege of contributing to tho defeuse
of their naiivo land. An imperiled country
is entitled to the services of all her children.
The slave who comes in the hour of her
trial to tho rescue of his country that forgot
him In his bonds, is surely entitled to higher
considerations than the traitor who, while
he enslavcs him, strikes also the liberty and
life of his country.
Under the control of these rebels in arms
are four millions of Slaves--Datiyes of the
land-by whose unpaid toll the rebellion is
sustained. The question on what principle
can the people break up this relation of
seryitude established by State laws and
command the services of these Slaves for
the common defense" may be answered
as was the question in 1888: On what
principle could tho people of nine States,
by ratifying the Constitution, break up the
compact undor the articles of confederation
solemnly entered into by tbirtooD States
Said Madison, "Tho question 10 answered at
once by recurring to the absolute necessity
of tho case /; to the great principle Of self
preservation to tho transcendent law OF
Nature and Of Natures God--wbich declares
that tho safety and happiness of society are
tho objects at which all the political insti'
tutions aim, and to which all such ibstitu.
tions must be sacrificed"
Foreseeing the great crime now attempt.
ed upon the Government in these rebel
States, with the preseuce of the soer this
patriotic statesman spoke of slaves as ian
unhappy species o! population aboundine
in SOME OF THE STATES, who, during the
calm of regular government, arc sunk below
the level of men, but who, In the tempest
uous scenes of civil violence, may emerge
into tho human character, and give supe'
riority of strength to any party with whict
they msy associate themselves" This sun
happy species" even in their chains, are the
strength of this rebellion. 6hiver the fet
tors that bind them, and they will rise from
the dogredation of slaves to the dignity o.
freemen, and render faithful service to you
country. Washington deemed these on
shaved men fit TO fight the battles Of thu
Revolution. Jackson deemed them fl Il
fight in the second war for independence
Neither would consent that they should d,
baltic for their country In chains. Can W
not, in this deadly conflict with this giganti
revolt, initiate the example of these trioc
{, patriots Can you not, shall you not, obe
the voice of duty, and by your imperia
mandate declare that even the slave ma
: defend hiE native land and to that end 6hal