The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-09-20
From the Journal of Commerce.
THE CONSTITUTION.

effort is used on the part of the "progres-
sives" to destroy it, The plan of attack
is not bold nor is it courageous. 1t con-
sists in plots and tricks to undermine the
popular love and respect for it, deprive it
of defenders, and expose it to the malice
Of its enemies. Those who maintain the
cause of the Constitution are pronounced
traitors. Tits not uncommon to hear
radical men declare every man traitor
who talks about the Constitution in these
times. IF the Constitution stands in the
way of a yet radical project, the old say
ing is revived that it is league with death
and covenant with hell. If loyal
. man opposes fanatical scheme because it
is unconstitutional, the walls of ridicuIe
are poured out on him. The New York
Tribune gives notable instance of its en-
nifty to the Constitution by an elaborate
article proving that though it may be un-
constitutional to kill Southern blood
hounds, still circumstances may justi-
fly it, and therefrom derives the moral
that slaves of the Southerners may be
set free in spite of the Constitution. Per-
haps no one sees the connection, but that
is the Tri5une's business and not ours,
and if this is not the moral Of the argu-
ment it has none at all. ..... ...,
The efforts of the radical branch of the
last Congress, to ullify the plainest pre-
cepts Of the Constitution present SORROW
full picture in our history. Every effort
was made which ingenuity could devise to
entrap the Government into attacking it
and setting it at defiance. The people
were misled by thousand sophistries, the
boldest Of which was that the rebels had no
rights under the Constitution. This no.
ton is still iterated and reiterated by
radical newspapers, in face of the plain
fact that we have no right to punish them
as rebels except under aud by virtue of
the Constitution. But argument awaited
nothing against the tempest of the pro-
gressive shakers of the country, and they
pursued their work of destruction with
varying prospects of success, up to the
hour of the adjournment of Com
spreadingin all directions the pestilent doc
trine that the Constitution itself was treas
enable because it stood in the way Of their
plans Of emancipation and anarchy
There is now no radical man who processes
to have respect for the Constitution. It
is a bye-word and reproach in their
mouths. The Tribune ridicules the idea
that man should be tried by jury before
heis hung, or that his property should be
held inviolate SO long as he is unconvic-
ted, and therefore possibly an innocent
man. The programme of radicalism is to
introduce the French Revolution plan at
once, and establish commissions and gull
lotines in the North and in the South.
Let us regard for one instant the state
of our country under radical rule. l. No
trials by jury for any one suspected Of trea-.
son, but short rope and sudden execu-
ton for every one who shall be denoun-
ced by a newspaper or a citizen. 2. No
protection to the property of any one sus-
pected, nor any defence of his wife and
children against marauders, but when any
one says Of any one else that he is rebel,
descend like whirlwind on the mans
house, burn. kill, and destroy, so as to
strike terror into other mems hearts. 8.
Proclaim freedom to slaves, place arms in
their hands, inform them that no rebel
house or man or woman is protected by
any law or order, and send them out on
mission Of "subduing the rebellion
Every one of these three propositions is
deliberately urged by a radical newspapers,
and opposition to these plans Of blood and
rapine is ridiculed as kid glove manage
ment
We have no space to speak Of their
plans for the North. The church is to be
reformed by the halter, the State to be
governed by the saints Of the Adolf
tion school. Every man who defends the
Constitution is to be declared sympa-
thizer with the rebellion, and every State
which claims any relics Of State sovereign
ty is to be regarded as contumacious, and
reduced to territorial condition.
Long distant be the day of the Abolition
millennium
In contrast with these mad schemes,
the vast majority Of the Amevican people
are determined to stand by the Constitu-
ton and defend it, with blood and treas
ure, agaipst Northern and Southern foes.
They are determined that the victory in
this war shall be the victory of the Con-
stitution and the laws, and to that end
they are determined that the Consultation
shall be respected, as Washington taught,
and as all the long line Of patriots down