The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-06-18

men to Congress, opened their territories
to our troops and placed themselves in
our power--then, first, we heard that
slavery being the cause of war, slavery
must be destroyed, It is notorious that
at this day large portion (to say the
least) of the Republican party repudiates
these pledges and tramples even on their
own Chicago platform. They are open
advocates of the abolition of slavery in
the States, and of measures of confscation
so sweeping and relentless that their like
has not been known since the days of
William the Conqueror. They have the
ories, several theories. Some of them
maintain that the seeded States are out
of the Union, and therefore have no
rights. They adopt the doctrine of Sc
cession, attaching to it a consequence that
enhances its absurdity The States, they
say, are gone as States, but remain as ter
ritories subject to absolute power. This
is the theory of Mr.. Sumner. 1t is the
theory adopted by great meeting in the
city of New York, over which son of
Alexander Hamilton presided. Others
derive the power 70 abolish slavery from
different source It may be done, they
say, by the war power-in other words,
by despotie power. Who can bound the
war power? And to what miserable
state must that country be reduced, where
it shall be thought justification of every
violation of constitutional law to say that
it may be done by the war power?
l know that all these gentlemen claim
to be prominently even) the friends of
the Union. They would sooner abolish
slavery than that the Union should per-
ish. They would exert military despot-
ism in the South for the sake Of the
Union. They are so passionate in their
love that they would sacrifice law, liber-
ty, the Constitution itself, to save the
Union Well, the Union to which they
are SO devoted, is one for which l cenfess
i have no respect or attachment. know
no Union but our Constitutional Union of
free and equal States. It is an abuse of
words to call anything else the Union.
Upon the new platform, Phillips, who de-
clares that for twenty years he has been
the enemy of the Union, and Garrison,
who formerly stigmatized it as a compact
with hell, are both Union men. 1t is the
opinion of the law of God and the Con-
stitution of the United States arc at vari-
ance with each other, and therefore they
have sought the overthrow of the Union,
but they have become converted since it
has been discovered that one may be an
enemy OF the Constitution, and yet a
friend of the Union. So, Mr.. Gerrit
Smith, who sat in seat of honor at the
New York meeting, informs us in his cir
cular, though he hates the Constitution,
he loves the Union.
The legislative address invites to the
proposed Enion Convention, call Repub-
licans, Union Democrats and other loyal
citizens" This implies that all Repub-
licans are loyal; that disloyalty may be
found among Democrats and other citi-
zens, but nowhere else. Such is not my
opinion. We arc in arms against the dis
loyal men OF the South, and none here
now oppose the war. believe that inii.
viduals may be found in the North who
sympathize with the rebels and with theil
success. But it would be absurd to or
ganixc political party against persons SC
few and insignificant, and who dare only
speak in whispers The disloyal men o
the North, from whom danger is to be ap
pretended, are they who seek to conver
the war into war for the emancipation
Of the black race by means Of the over
throw Of the Constitution. Where ar
the men to be found? Sumner is one o
them: Wade is another; Thaddeus Steven
third Ii there are Democrats or othe
citizens among them, think they will b.
found to fraternize with the Republicans
or rather to be in transformation state
Is it not plain that if we need a Uniol
! party at the North, it is in order to de
feat the schemes of these men? But hoy
can that be if they are invited to tax
part in the movement?
/ There is no resemblance between thi
movement and that which resulted in tn
nomination of the Union ticket in thi
State last fall. There was then show 0
opposition to the war at the North, bu
no diHerenc as to its purpose. We al
then were, or proposed to be, Constitu
tional Union men. Now all opposition t.
the war has disappeared, but controyer
lsy has arisen as to the object for which
shall be prosecuted: whether to establisl
the Constitution or to overthrow it, AM
treQuce Tue OOutu 10 the cOnulUlOn OF
conquered province. Upon this question
the only political question that really di
vides the people of the North, tru
Union party cannot be neutral or silent
| For twelve years past I have though
/ that there was necessity for a Constitu
tional Union party. | wished that such
party might be formed in 1850. 1 hope
for it again in 1860. l think that loya
Democrats, loyal Republicans and all 9th
or loyal men ought to unite and forr
such party now. The basis of such a
Organization (Which might be temporary
, leaving present parties to resume thei
former relations when the Union shall b
restored, may be found in the resolution
adopted by the committee of conservativ
members of Congress, of which Critter
/ den was chairman But look in vain fo
any such declaration as the times deman
| lin the address and resolutions adopted b
, the ESQ called) Union members of ou
State Legislature. There is no declar;
tion against abolition or general confsc;
f tion; no assurance to loyal Southern me
that their rights shall be respected: n