Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-07-16
CLEARFIELD PA. WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1862
THE CONSTITUTION

LIE
The war has been raging more than year
ana no one can see the end of it, People are
longing for peace to return. Every one has
an opinion peculiarly his own about what
would be the best course to pursue. One has
| faith in gentle means, another would carry
on the war with barbarious crueity-one would
give the entire management of the to the
/ war power of the Government, another would
have Congress control every military opera
| tion-One would have Congress regard the
/ United States one and inseparable, the other
would treat the rebels, and recognize them as
a foreign belligerent power-one would have
| Congress legislIte in constitutional way for
| tie whole country, recognizing no division,
/ another would have it entirely disregard all
! constitutional limitations, and yet all are sin
| cerely honest in their convictions, and honest
/ iy believe that their peculiar notions are what
| should be adopted by the Government.
4 We are of those who are for maintaining
the Constitution in its purity, because we be-
/ lleve the war TO have been inaugurated for the
nalntenan ce of the Government, the support
of the Constitution, and the enforcement Of
the laws We believe that it is only by virtue
OF the Constitution that we have right to war
against the rebellion. If we set the Constitu-
! tion at dtfiance and ignore all its Limitations
we have no longer any bond by which TO hold
the Southern States, and the war becomes
war OF conquest, and not a war for the right.
If we treat thcConSttution as a nullily we free
| the South from all It's obligations to the Union
and hereby acknowledge its right to form an
independent Government of its liking.
Many IN the South differ from us. Bishop
Pope may have thought he is doing right in
taking mp arms in favor OF Secession, and
Bishop Mead may have thought he was doing
rIght when he commended to God the rebels
cause which he styled a s.righteUuS cause.'
We do not agree with them, because we main
tain that under the Constitution they owed
.
anu had 10 right TO secede. But If We disre-
gard the Constitution, and, because the rebels
violate 1t too, IL becomes worthless as funda-
mental system of Government. and is not
worth the parchment on which it is written.
w Ithout the Constitution what right is there
TO prevent the country from being torn into
two or twenty pieces or independent States
If there is nothing stronger to hold the North
and the South together than mere matters of
opinion, why should they trouble each other
why this terrible war
1t is by virtue of the Constitution that the
Government claims the support of the South
as OF more Importance than the principles of
States Rights, and State Sovereignty. When
the South said ''Let us alone'' we said ssNo,
you are bouud by the bonds OF the ConStitu-
ton TO remain in the Union, and the whole
power OF the Government will be employed, il
necessary. to keep you in it, But without
the Constitution what right have we TO keep
a single State in the Union
When we hear OF the rebel cruelties inflict-
ed upon our soldiers, our Indignation gets the
better of our judgment, and we feel as being
justified in recognizing no law but the ier |
taiiOHis and no right but the right of might. |
But in calm reflections we think different |
ly. We expect the war to end and we want |
to continue to enjoy the blessings of our noble |
Constitution. What will it profit US if we
Conquer the rebellion and have no system of /
Government left after the war is over ? Shall |
it be said that the war was carried on only for |
the love of carnage and slaughter. God for |
bid We believe it was inaugurated and is |
carried on for a higher and better purpose. |
We believe the Constitution will pass through |
the ordeal uninjured and unpoluted. We be- |
lieve the rebellion be crushed without |
sacrificing the very foundation of our political |
liberty.
Separationists and SecesSionSts are the |
twin enemies TO the Constitution and both la |
Dor for its destruction. We have repeatedly |
declared our purpose TO support the Constitu- |
tion and we intend doing it against all the |
combinations that can be made against it. |
To anathamatize the rebel because he violates |
the Constitution he vowed to support, and |
wink at the AbOlitionist who is guilty of the |
same offence is a system of ethics we wont en-
dorSe. If the Constitution is wrong amend it |
as is provided for, but until it be amended let |
US support it as it is.-IadtGna Register.