The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-02-14
The Bugbear Of "Going out of and
away from the Constitution"


The Bugbear Of "Going out Of and
away from the Constitution"
II The Cleveland Herald will not pub.
lish Mr.. Riddles speech, justice would
dictate tha, |. remain silent in regard TO
it, or, at least, refrain fiom misrepresent-
ing il. But its editors do not seem 10
so understand the matter. Mr.. Riddle
says:
"Tbesc rebels have gone GU, Of and
away from the Constitution, and, if you
would deal with them, you must go out
after them" .-.Hs...s-,-a. ..-aa
The Herald quotes this sentence, dis
connected from the context, and grsvely
declares that the doctrine il announces is
hercsy. aud would lead to anarchy and
ruin. 1, is really fat,ering TO Mr.. Rid
dies speech that the Herdid has. thus
far, found in il nothing else TO srIicise.
Who ever heard Of such bugbear as
this ? We have searched Mr.. Riddles
speech in vain, 10 find that he proposes
any violation Of the Constitution, or the
adoption Of a single measure that even
the conservative Herald, in its intervals
Of radicslism, would disapprove. 1t is
true he freely criiicises the conduct Of
the war, and so does the Herald, which, il
is well known, Gov. Tod deems il
patriotic duty as far as possible to sup.
press. He is in favor OF Gen. Fremont's
proclamation and a vigorous prosecution
Of the war, and so has the Herald repeat.
edly protested TO be. But we are told he
would disregard the Constitution. Now,
II we understand the language above
quoted, and upon which this absurd
charge is predica,ed, it means nothing
more nor less than this The country
must be saved at all hazards and any
cost. even though the Constitution may
not in terms provide, as no Constitution
can provide, for every emergency that
may arise in the progress Of rebellion and
civil war. And what loyal man questions
the doctrine ? Pray tell us where would
be the Constitution, with its sacred guar
antees, il, in this struggle, the country
should be lost 2 Why, there is not a
legal tyro who does not know that, as
no Government, 10 its OF ganic law, makes
provision against its own destruction,
or c"ntemplates such an event as possible,
a terrible crisis like the present must de.
mand expedients which would be intolera.
BILE in time OF peace.
Able men have p-ofesssed TO doubt
the authority Of President Lincoln to call
out great army TO defend the Capital
and restore the Union, but patriotic men
have applauded him for SO doing. and
would have condemned him as traitor,
had be failed TO perform the imperative
duty. Where, but in the demands Of this
un-hearG-of emergency. does he find
authority to abridge the freedom OF speech
uhu VI thC ptOoo WuSu ~ idNOln tne Itts
bellon, or 10 arrest and imprisou men
suspected Of reasonable sentiments 4? II
his duty had not called him away from the
narrow letter Of the Constitution, why
did he ask Congress TO legalize certain
Just and necessary acts Of his by making
them its own ? n.FH afs lH .r'
$50 out Of and swav from the Con.
stitution." for what? To bring all the
rebelious States back into the Union, tha,
the Constitution may once more be su.
preme over them, and the harmony ol
our complex system Of Government fully
restored. And who but Breckenridge.
vallandigham, Bright. and other like
spirits. that have talked so glibly about
the Constitution, while attempting to
oppose its letter to It's spirit in order TO
paralyze the Nation, can be horrifed a.
the idea ...s .a.. .....,..... .........r