The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-20


forts, or letter The loyal men OF any portion o'
the lnsurreciionaIy districts from asserting '"'
maintaining their loyalty to the old Govern
ment
1t isnot grea. many weeks since the Legs
lature of Mary land, lawfully elected ana law
fully and consitutionaliy holding Office weie'
by the military power OF the United States IN
effect prorogncd and dispersed. Wlsome learned
constitutional critic give US the section and ar
ticle of the fundamental law that warranted that
proceeding? Yet loyal men all over the coun-
try appauled and justified the act, because 1t
aided in the great work of restoring the author
ty of the Government, and prevented Knot OF
traitors in Maryland from giving the least color
of authority to those who were plotting to carry
that State over to the kingdom of jeff DAVIS.
Again the Constitution provides that - no
preference shall be given by any regulation OF
commerce or revenue to the ports OF one state
over those of another Notwithstanding this
provision the ports of every rebelllous State
have been bockaied by United States vessels,
and some Of them have been destroyed entireiy
by the Stone fleet and the vessels Of all nations
have been shut out Of their harb0rs, Tor many
months. while the ports OF the loyal States have
been left open to the commerce Of the Norld.-
The South dcnounco this as one OF the unconstI-
tu,jonal acts Of the Lincoln Government, and
under Mtr version OF the Constitution, suaran-
teeing to rebels the same rights under the Fed
eral Constitution which belong to loya! citizens
and loyal States, they are unqucstionab'y hight
in their criticisms and denuncatione. Nor can
it be said in justification Of this regulation q
the commerce Of the lls!oyai States, that rebels
only suffer by it, lur its evil effects are visited
upon all the inhabitants Of the reyvlted States,
and fall alike upon the innocent AM the guilty.
Yet who Of all thos, who are fighting or the
Government and wishing and working for its
speedy and SURF triumph against its enemies at
home charge that it is tho less war for the
Constitution, because OF such acts as the
blockade, and the sinking Of vessels freig;ited
with stone at the entrance of Charleston har
Dor, and destroying, perhaps forever, the com-
mercial value OF that port and sweeping with
one blow oul Of existence the valuable property
Of that city
Congress at the extra session passed an act of
forfeiture Of the property of rebels actually used
In aid 0: the reb elton, ia. President signed the
act, and it has since b3en treated Us the law Of
the land, without objection CT cav! Yet that
of did 4
by jury, and how can it be rcc0nciled will! that
provision Of the Constitution which declares
that no person shall Dc deprived Of pro perty
without due process Of law 1t cannot be
and there is no need that it should be, fer the
common consent Of the civilized world agrees
that IN times OF instruction and revolution like
those upon which this Country has fallen,
! laws and constitutions that shelter treason and
stand In the way OF the speedy and efficient
vindlcAtlon OF tn authority of the Government
must yield to the necessities Of the situation
and give place TO that higher law which has for
its foundation the safety Of the people. .Sai,s
popnh suprema lee.
There certainly can DC lo lesl Of citing fur
|
tier instances Of acts OF the Government which
according to the strict letter of the Constitution
ind no warrant IN that instrument. 70 ss,sf,
any lair and unrrejudced mind that it IS now.
at least quite too late in the progress Of the re
beillon to bring the Constitution to tie helm of
traitors, anu cite what are called is guarantees
OF slavery as reason why that vckcd and erin.
inal institution should be shieldc! from the
chances and the perils, and even the direct no.
ssnlts OF the war. The right of any citizen of
this Government whether loyal or disoval to his
slaves is I'D higher or more sacred than his rich.
to the peaceful enjoyment of his houses and
lands, his fruit aud shade trees. his stores
wharves' and merchant ships, bis grain or hi.
cattle; ana war for the ConstituIon,and the
Union Will no more lie perverted Or turned from
Its true purpose by destroying one than anotl er
OF these articles OF property. \ proclamation
declaring every slave in Charleston .res would
have worked less injury even to the rebels, and
Infinitely less to what loyal men there NAV Ia !,
that doomed city than the si,k.rg Of the Stone
i!set in its haroor, aud why, looking ~ the war
rs one only Tor The Constitution aud the Uni,,
IS one act app!auded, while h. who hints NJ III,
other as blow which might weaken the rebnls
is al once condemned rs u .'radcal and im,,,o
'icaD!a adviser, who would pelycrt the war
RON It's true purpose into IL crusade against