Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-06-04


it consequence that enhances its absurdity
The States, they say, are gone as States, but
remain as Territories, subject to absolute
power. This is the theory Of Mr.. Sumner
1t is :he theory adopted by great meeting
In the city OF New York, over which son
of Alexander Hamilton presided. Others
derive the power to abolish slavery from a
different source. 1t may be done, they say,
by the war power-in other words, by des>
potic power. Who can bound the war
power2 And to what a miserable state
must the country be reduced, where it shall
be thought a justification Of every violation
of constitutional law to say that it may be
done by the war power.
know that all these gentlemen claim 70
. be prominently even) the friends of the
Union. They would sooner abolish slavery
than that Tie Laion should perish. They
would exert a military despotism IN the
South for tie sake Of the UnioH. They are
50 passionate in their love that they would
sacrifice law, liberty, the Constitution itself,
10 Sare the Union. Well, the Union To
which they are so devoted, is one for which
| confess / have No respect OF attachment
| know no Union but cur constitutional
Union of free and equal States. II Is an
abuse Of words to call anything else The
/ LIioR.-Upon the new platform, Phillips,
who declares that for twenty years lie has
been the enemy of the Union, and Garrison
who formerly stigmatised it as a compact
with He'll, are both Union men. Ii Is the
! opinion Of these gentlemen tha: the law Of
God and the Constitution Of the United
! States are at varience with each other. and
therefore they have sought the overthrow Of
! the Union, but they have become converted
since it has been discovered that one mag
be an euemy of the Constitution. and yet
friend Of the Union. Sc, Mr.. GerIit Smith,
who sat in a seat of honor at the New York
meeting, informs us in his circular though
| he hates the Constitution he IortS TIE LisioH.
The legislative address invites 20 the pro
posed Union convention "aii Republicans,
Union Democrats and other loyal citizens
This implies that all Republicans are loyal:
that dfsloyalty may b. found among Demo
Gratis and other citizens, but nowhere else
Such is not my opinion. We are in arms
against the di=loyal men of the South, and
none here now oppose the war. l believe
that individuals may be found in the North
who sympathise with the rebels and wish
them success. But'it would be absurd to
organize political party against persons 50
I 1 1
speak in whispers. The disloyal men of the
North, from whom danger Is to be appre>
hended, are they who seek 10 convert the
war into war for the emancipation of the
| black race by means of the overthrow of the
Constitution. Where are these men 10 be
| found? Sumner Is one ol them; Wade
another; Thaddeus Stevens a third. II there
are Democrats or other citizens among them,
think they will be found 10 irater lise with
the Republicans, or rather to De in a trans
formation state. Is it not PLAIN that if We
need Union party at the North, it is in
order to defeat the schemes of these men?
But how can that be if they are invited to
take part in the movement?
There is no resemblance between this
movement and that which resulted IN the
nomination of the Union ticket In this State
last fall. There was then a show Of cpposi-
ton to the war at the North, but no differ
ence as to its purpose. We all then were or
proposed to be Constitutional Union men.
Now all opposition to the war has disappear
I ed, but controversy has arisen as 10 the
/ object for which it shall lie prosecuted;
/ whether to establish the Constitution or 10
overthrow it, and REFUGE the South to the
( condition of conquered province. Upon
/ this question, the only political question
| really divides the people of t;:e North, a true
! Union party cannot be neutral or silent.
! For twelve years past have thought that
there was necessity for a Constitutional
Union party. l wished that such a party
might be formed in 1850. l hoped for it
again in 1860. l think that loyal Demo
Gratis, loyal Republicans, and all other loyal
men ought to unite and form such party
now, The basis Of such al organization
(Which might be temporary, leaving present
parties to resume their former relations when
the Union shall be restOred) may be found
in the resolutions adopted by the committee
of conservative members cf Congress OF
which Crit;endeu was Chairman. But
look in vain for any such declaration as tae