The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-08-07
Assault Upon the Democracy

secesh conventions, and their candidates
for public trust stigmatized as secesh,
now but another name for traitor Why
we Democrats are required to abandon
party measures when those OF the last
Congress were Of the most ultra, if not
most. odious. partisan character. some OF
them tending to ALLEVIATE loyal people
South (if not North) and to swell the
muster rolls Of the rebel army, such as the
abolition of slavery in the District Of Co.
lumbia, it's exclusion from all the Terrific.
ries, the con6scation of slave property and
Summers measure to reduce the Southern
States to territorial vassalage. g., &? The
writer admits that the paramount duty of
all citizens is to crush the rebellion. but
does not admit that that duty absolves him
from all other duties. He believes that
Democracy is almost synonymous with
loyalty. that it embodies the true genius
and spirit Of our institutions and does not
stitie single patriotic throb, and is in no
wise incompatible with the duties Of a pat
riot. To ask Democrats to say that their
political life is a lie, and their professions
have been piece of hypocrisy, is asking
rather much. Nor can they Subscribe to
the doctrine that they are to be but slavish
echoes to the party in power, with no right
to criticise its policies or to vote their sem
timents in Government where pnblic
sentiment, voted, is lawn other words
to be excluded from particip alton in the
la ws and polity of Government. Democrats
are Joint heirs with Republicans of this
Government, joint guardians of the public
liberties. joint architects of its fortunes and
equally interested in its future destiny, and
il bigotry, intolerance and hatred are to be
shown by the press, by s,igmas of diSloy
atty and prescriptions its fruits will be. l
fear me, such as the Abolitionsts and pro.
slavery radicals are reaping from like
malignant, bitter and intolerant spirit sown
in the past
The war is waged by the Government to
uphold and enforce lsws-laws whose
Office is TO recognize and protect rights
and without which rights and liberties are
but myth-eyery violation of law annuls
it pro tanto. and all who encourage, aid, or
abet in violation of legal rights, are enc
mics to the peace and welfare of society.
And where mobs usurp the judicial func-
tions, and under excitement administer
vengence. they are guilty Of disoyalty,
for loyaltyss but the obedience of law.
The liberty of the press and of speech in
liberal and just criticism. are guaranteed
by the Constitution. To violate this right
is to violate the Constitution To condemn
the ACT is to defend the Constitution.
If thieves rob our Government of her
sinews of power, shall we not condemn
and reform this wasterof wars sinews--if
mbecility in a General endangers our army
is he not as recreant to patriotism who
does not expose it, as if its danger
came from the known treachery of the
command? II Fabian in activity--which
gives stability to rebel Government by
the hosts of civil and military officers it at
taches to it and by an immense debt, diff
fused among its people, perishing if the
Government perishes? Is it treason to urge
vigor to crush it in the bud, as economic
both of treasure and blood? If aayunjust
and partial levy of taxes is made, Is it un-
patriotic to demand justice and reforma-
ton OF the evil? The argument that we
are to pretermit all other duties because
we are in war is idle. All other duties
are as Imperative as ever they were. TIE
war duty may be paramount; but with
which the others need not conflict
If rebel soldier, forced into the army,
sworn TO obey his officers. with the penalty
of death for disobedience, captured as
guerrilla, is threatened. to. be hung when in
our. power, and at our mercy. cannot
christian plead for his life withous being
accused as rebel sympathizer-especi
ly when the laws of modern warfare tole-
rate no wanton or malicious destruction of
human life. or property. and when such
acts will lead to retaliation, until the war
degenerates into mere butcherys
!. 1t seems to me that passions are becom-
ing incarnate. that are wholly unworthy Of
ckeistians, and that labored effort is be-
ing msds to turn out people into Ishmael
ties. -
The end Of war is peace-when peace is
conquered, we want the North an element
osstrength, no: weakness. This is not to be
attained by making their fancied grievan-
ces real-not by bletting ont their consti-
tutional rights. The war should be waged
simply for the Constitution, the enforce
ment of the laws, and the integrity of the