The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-09-12
ADDRESS To THE PEOPLE
ny
ihe democracy of Wisconsin.
adopted In State Conuention at MI
naukes, Sept Sd, 1862.

by our fathers in the several states. We
do so with solemn sense Of the respon.
slbllitles resting upon Us in common with
the whole American people. We do SC
with the single design Of contributing all
our aid to the preservation Of the Union,
the constitution and the liberties of the
states. And We propose to do so, accord
ing 10 our rights, fearlessly and openly,
whatever new power frowns upon the an
cient American birthright OF freedom 0,
speech.
Our state constitution, asserting The in
violable right Of liberty or political dis
cussions, adopts an Al erican maxim as
old as American independence, when it de,
clares that the blessings of free gov
eminent can only be maintained by fire.
quent recurrence to fundamental princi-
pies" And whosoevcr, in whatsoever DO
sition, asserts that there has come a time
in American history, when freedom Of
speech should be suppressed, when the
safeguard Of political opposition should be
abandoned and the voice of all parties ey-
cept one, should be silenced, when the ad-
ministration Of the government should pass
uncensured and unquestioned, when low
atty TO the institutions Of our country
should give way to passive submission to
our rules, the liberty won by the valors Of
our fathers, or of the free institutions
established by their wisdom. In free
country, the freedom of the people abides
IN peace and war, in domestic tranquility
and civil discord. The constitution Of the
United States and the constitutions of the
severas states provide alike for all the ex
igencies of peace at home and abroad, of
foreign war and Of domestic insurrection
The constitution OF the United States and
the laws enacted in pursuance Of it, are
the supreme law Of the land in all condi-
tions Of the country. The constitution is
lnviolate in all circumstances of the peo
pie and the government State necessit,
has no power to suspend the constitution
or ab'idgo the freedom Of the people
State necessity, as an excuse for invading
popular liberty, has been in all history the
tyrant's plea. When popular liberty sue
cumbs to the cry Of state necessity, the
land has already ceased 10 be free.
Loyalty, in America, /. the franchise of
no office or officer American LOYALTY is
due to the Constitution alone. Fidelity
TO the Constitution Is loyalty to the Union.
There Is no Union outside the Constitu>
tlon. The Constitution is the Union
and whatever man, officer or party as
snmes to be true to the Union and not to
the Constitution as our forefathers made
1t and our fathers enjoyed it, is disloval to
both. Blind submission to the Admins
tration Of the government, is not devotion
to the country or the Constitution. The
Administration is not the government
The government is established by the Con
shtutlon, and rests in its provisions. The
Administration is as subject to the Cons
sttutlon and as responsible for its advance,
as the people. The Administration NAV
err, but the Constitution does not change.
And when the Administration violates
the Constitution, loyalty to the Admins
tration may become dis'oyalty 20 the
Union. Devotion to the Constitution is
the only American loyalty.
In times Of peace and prosperity. there
is little danger oF the loyalty Of the people
forsaking the constitution for the prInci.
pies Of a party On the policy Of an Ad
mnistration. RG. in daYs of civil discord
and conyulsion, there is danper Of patriot.
ism bIindfoded, mistaking the object Of
its faith and transferring to the servant OF
the altar the devotion due only to the al.
tar itself. And in such days it is the duty
of all parties to consider well their posi-
ton, ard to determine how far their loyal
ty to the constitution is consistent with
their support Of the Administration Of the
s''e'n.l.ti.. ,I :,
:, -f''.loss 40 o''. ~ '"e mon, founded IN
;ae-,;e.I 'lo GIa' Inc PC u '"o cohs'iInuon'
af 1ra:,.i ,'' =, "'s PgsP7'ous history
- ~ i'0i''oo' a'Ic par
I-.,- - ~ onun''"Ie' 10
f-'o'. A"' away
oeen, q Z. Is, tho party Of Tue couo'.tu'loh.
10 al its caicer, the constitution has been
us ohiy pace oi worship 1t Is human,
anu mas erred II mas been depressed by
ce'eat ana e'"'e.l 0y success, and has at
tifhe. i'iI7'''Ne" '"9 'rue pain OF duly
pu' y uas never 'os1 S'Sht OF tue cohstltu-
tioh OF wandered rom lis ways. Its his
Tory ch'on'c'e' d "eEouoh TO the consti-