The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-11-12
Ths WAR Necessity Doctrine.


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One sef thebmest peTnicious doctrines
thst hassgrown up since the commence
medt Of the present rebellion, and which
tho people have SO emphatically con-
dcmnsd at the recent elections is the new
tangled principle that the President has
the right to make use of any measure he
my see proper, whether Constitutional or
not, IN tie Suppression of the existing
rebellion. This is an act performed under
q War necessity power and is a doc
trine psenliar to the Republican party.
" Whenevsr any act of the President or
Of Congress is Constitutional of course no
ono objects to it, and since the commence
ment of the War no one has made any
oppoaifion to it. This is matter of his
tory.
TT Is alss matter Of history that all
the measures which Democrats have OBJ
jscted to are not only unconstitutional,
Bat in nsarly every instancea have been
concsdsd to be in violation of the funda-
mental law Of the land, and only sustained
by HE. advocates of ths same under and
By sirtss, of the :. War necessity doc
tfiAssor Is ssome.te 1.-THE g War power 2 !,
And herr then has been distinct issue
made bstween the Democratic and Repub-
lieAa parties Which party is in the
rightf Now let us examine the exact
position Of the Republican party. They
claim that the Rebellion must be sup
pressed BY any and all means. Therefore
the President should and has the right to
make use of all constitutional means to
suppress the present insurrection, and
dEdar. the !" War power has the right to
use al the necessary Unconstitutional means
to put down the rebellion. IF the posi-
tim Of the party is misstated it is certainly
tSintentfonal, and it is difficult to under
stand what powers they do claim the
President has the right to exercise in time
Of War. Then the President having the
right TO use unconstitutional measures, as
sa1aatter of course, must have the power
10 determine to what extent he may use
those means, and also what measures 1t
shall :bo necessary to make use of under
siziss War power doctrine. 1t follows
further that the President being unre-
ettietod by any written law he may die
hte my measure he may see proper while
ths War Lasts and the ariU of the Prcsi.
aeat beconss the law of the land. In
ssssds Of being the servant of the people,
he becomes DICTATOR, invested with all
TIE powers for good or for evil which the
lRzopLE .undor the Constitution had re-.
eessed to themselves.
= In opposition to this most pcrnicious
dqetrine the Democratic party together
iEith = large number of ether conserva-
.tisa men deposited their votes in the bal
'l1ta box at the late elections This party
IN always be found in opposition to all
,Neasprea and idoctrines which seek to
ltrsnsforma this Government from Gov
ernment of the people to the rule of a
Military Dictator. Fhe Democratic par
viii always oppt 8, all violations of the
Cops stption, no matter how specious or
sesmingly splausable the reasons may be
51rEthe violation, Knowing that it is the
safeguard Of the liberties of the people,
and that the violation of it will lead to
ineyitahle anarchy and ruin.
1fthe President and his official advisers
eannot-supprcss the rebellion without
everleapihg the barriers of the Constitu-
Zion and tiedsring Military Dictator,
let them deliver over the management of
the Old Ship of State to the Democrats
will bring the Country out of its
present difficulties with the Constitution
intact and with the same old flag with not
a star. erased from its proud folds. This
party can ,restore the Unien as it was,
without resorting to illegal and foolish
proclamstiohs, but by the strong arm of
the law enforced by the bayonets of loyal
and brave white men. They will bring