Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-12-06
s7supremaoY Of the Prssident.'lD

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yn the United States Senate. on the 4tn
inst, Mr.. CLARK, Abolitloniat, from New
Hampshire, offered joint resolution which
was ordered to be printed, approving the policy
Of the Presidents Abolition proclamation In
setting free slaves in insurrectionary dssricta'
and recommending to him the employment OF
that aud every other means known TO civilized
warfare, to terminate the rebellion and assert
the supremacy Of the President Of the United
States over ts entire territory and people.
The Offering of this resolution is significant
Of one phase of the radical hostility to the
Constitution and the Union. We pass by the
approval Of the President's Abolition policy,
and come to the accommodation to employ
that and every other means known to civilized
warfare. For what purpoaei To terminate
the rebellion How is the rebellion to bc end
ed7 By asserting the supremacy over the
entire territory and people Of the United
States, not Of the Constitution and National
laws, but of the President. c1
"supromacy of the President" This is
new pbrase ia American legislation and politics.
Il ia presented In Senator CLARK's resolution,
As thing absolute. unlimited by any ConGtitu-
tion or law, We knew before that the radicals
had great admiration for the Russian Govern
msn.; but we did not think they would so soon
manifest In the National Senate Hall dlsposl-
tion to make ABRAHAM |. Autocfat OF ell the
Americas.
We have OF late heard Of strange doings in
this country-such as Russian Czlrs have some
times attempted In Poland-out we did not
imagine that an effort would soon be made In
our National Legislature to induce that body
to proclaim ABRAHAM LIEcoLN Supreme Diota.
tor over thirty four States and thirty-one mil
lions Of people in America.
We have heard--it seems like horrid night
mare, but we fear there Ia someatruth in it
that men have been imprisoned, and no chsrges
being brought or proved against them, have
been denied release, except upon condition Of
swearing allegiance to the Government or be-
| ing banished the country. We have been told
tha. this oath of allegiance bound the atlantis
not to fnd fault with, or say or do augb. against
ABRAHAM LINCOLN and bis Administration
The keepers of the BsstiIes In America, 1t is
seriously affirmed, inteTpres the word Govern
ment in the oath 10 mean President LINCOLN
and his subosdinates.
Whether all this be 80 or not, 1t is novel
thing in this country to compel men to swear
to bo loyal and true allegiance bear to the Gov
ernment of the United States. Heretofore, a
simple oath TO support the Constitution has
been deemed sufficient. Never before vac an
oath of allegiance exacted. The term "alle-
glance" itself is of feudal origin, and indicates
the servility of the base born and inferior TO
the high born and superior. After swearing
men to bear allegiance TO the Government, the
next step in order doubtless will be to swear
them to be faithful and true allegiance bear to
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, as the Supreme Ruler over
ell the territory and people of the United
States.
We have learned from our fathers that the
Constitution alono was supreme In this coun-
try. and that only 10 limited sense, while be.
hind IL vas power greater than itself-name-
ly-the American people-in whom alone was
vested absolute sovereignty or supremacy.
But, 1t seems, We must unissrn all that. "The
dogmas of the quiet past says President Lam.
COLIN in bic message, "are inadequate to the
stormy present.! Accordingly, Senator CLARK
gives notice of the intention of the Abolition
lists to make ABRAHAM LINCOLN on large scale
what they have recently attempted 10 make
him on small one--Supreme Lord and Dlcta-
tator over the territory and people Of the Unit
ed States.