St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1862-05-22

10 Which 10 IL Duet
II W. may risk the doubtful justice
of excepting the French Revolution. We
kaow If 10 instance In the history Of
saoderu civilization in which passion aud
5"lly have 80 signally triumphed over
e.nservasisG aud the law. as in the
present stage If our national existence.
The Wars oflhs Roses had their extern
sn.ing conconlissuts and the u.ur2ation
oil Cromwell has its defenders in history.
In the former case. the dc t,cso and the
Dr. javs were generally at issue. and in
the latter, the ruler dcthroned was ty-
rant aud law-Lrcaker. How far there
can be Justification for either. is mat
ter to DO settled between those who JUS
tify revolution when inspired by inj Is
tics or oppression and the votaries Of
the Don-j Jurors that figured in the reign Of
the Prince Of Orange.
il would seem to be the accepted the
cry Of our Government. however. to be
diamssrically ansagonistic to this non
juror dogma. Haldiug to the principle,
that the right Of Government vests at
any aud all tiues in tie people. and
shat the right 10 govern emanstes solely
from them. it would seem. that any form
Of Government that becomes Obnoxious
or oppressive might be At auy time dis
ssrded. without any violation OF she car
Giual mAxims upon which our Govern
meut Is based. A change Of Govern
ment. based upon right. unquestionably
carries allegiance with thence. this
non-juror dogma. when applied to our the
Org Of Government. becomes heresy.
Now. what is the position We hold and
which, We believe, is the true theory Of
the State Right democracy? The Con-
stitution Of the United States We regard
~ "a compact into which our forefathers
entered, after a mature aud solemn con-
sideratiua Of its every section and arti.
Gle, and We would gladly live under and
sustain it, We wish no frecr existence
or more enlarged liberty than it guar
antses to W, nor would We with ruth
less or violent hand invade SO sacred n
s'emorisl Of the rcnerated past. But.
whilst re hold it to be eur duty to sup
port tho Constitution and laws Of our
country. We can BY no means consent.
that he. who rules under that Constitu-
zion. yet daily violates its every article
aud letter. has any claim upon our allegiance.
He may have been constitutionaiiy cleo
ted aud may have been installed into
Office by legal. il not by customary pro-
cess. but. when he avails himself of his
Official position to visit oppression and
wrong upon US. in contravention of the
lag and the accepted and adjudicated
construction Of the Con.titutiOn. ne hold,
that hs is no longer entitled to oar sup
part. To the Constitution. and not the
Government when administered IN open
violation Of that Constitution. We owe an
allegiance and. when Mr.. Lincoln un-
dertakes to swear Us to support his ne
farious schemes Of subjugation aud eanan.
We should be traitors to our
principles did We not give m emphatic
ssfasal. The fro~niag walls Of Laf.y-
cite. aided By the murky dungeons Of
Fort Warren, can coerce us into no such
submission. nor will q continuation Of
his Fast policy ss<ards our people add
= little 70 Mr.. IiucolL's strength in his
State. he may gain over the craven
few Inst are iss;irsd BY avarice or COW.
ardiee. aad other brave spirits may share
the fate Of Wharton and Stewart. but
where one craven is gained. OF one mar
tyr suffers. hundreds become confirmed
in their opposition to oppreaaian, and
thousands become sancti6ed in their cause
through the shedding ofthe innocent llood
u their murdered countrymen.
But. let Us return to this question Of a.
legianee. Mr.. Lincoln says. we shall
swear to support the Government. whilst
che eustsn Of his predecessors was. that
We should swear TO support only the Con-
ssitatioa and the laws. Now. what is
.eant BY the Government. unless it be the
sets and policy Of Mr.. Lincoln. and. in sup.
porting the Government. what arc We cal
led upon to support? We are to support the
war be has levied upon our brethren at the
liberation Of the slaves in the
District Of Co!u,atia-his Wholesale emanci-
patton Of the slaves in South Carolina, Geor-
gia and Florida-his arnsing Of the slaves 10
the Southern Ststes-his violation of the
Fugitive Slave Law-his suspension of
the writ Of HaIeas Corpus arrest
aud