The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-05-24
VOL. VINO. 81.

eminent IN all constitutional, necessary,
and proper efforts to maintain its safety,
integrity, and constitutional authority;
but at the same time they are infexibly
opposed to waging war against any Of the
States or people Of this Union in any
spirit of oppression, or for any purpose Of
conquest or subjugation, or Of overthrow
ing or interfering with the rights or estab-
lished institutions Of any State. Above
all, the democratic party viii not support
the administration in any thing which
looks or tends to the loss of our political
or personal rights and liberties, or change
of our present demecratieal form Of gov
ernment tr&
But NO, democrats, it is not the support
of the government in restoring the Union
which the party in power requires of you.
You are asked to give up your principles,
your policy and your party, and to stand by
the administration of the party in power, in
all its acts. Above all, it is demanded of
you that you yield at least silent support
to their whole policy and to withhold all
scurtiny into their public conduct of every
kind, lest you should 'embarrass the adj
ministration." You are thus asked to re-
nounce one Of the FIRST principles and the
chief security of a democratic government
the right to hold public servants respon-
sible to their master the people; to render
the representative accountable to the con-
stituent; the ancient and undoubted pre-
rogative of Americans to canvass public
measures and public men. 1t is this
"high constitutional privilege" which
Daniel Webster declared he would ssde-
fend and exercise within the House and
out of the House, and in all places, in
time of war, in time peace, and at all
times wr 1t is right secured by the con.
stitution-a right inestimable to the PEG.
pie, and formidable to tyrants only. - Of
If ever there was time when the exis.
tence and consolidation of the democratic
party upon its principles and policy was
vital necessity to public and private liber-
! ty, it is now. ..
Unquestionably the constitution gives
ample power to the several Departments Of
the government to carry on war, strictly
subject to its provisions, and in case Of
civil war, with perfect security to citizens
of the loyal States. Every act necessary
for the safety and efficiency of the govern
rnent, and for complete and most vigor-
GUS trial ofits strength, is yet wholly con-
sistent with the observance of every pro-
vision Of that instrument, and of the laws
infpursuance Of it, If the sole motives Of
those in power were the suppression of the
rebellion" and no more And yet the
history of the administration for the twelve
months past has been and continues TO be
q history of repeated usurpations Of power
and of violations of the constitution, and
Of the public and private rights Of the cit
liens. For the proof we appeal to facts
too recentto need recital here, and too fa-
grant and heinous for the calm narrative
which we propose. Similar acts were
done and a like policy pursued in the
threatened war with France in the time of
John Adams, and with the same ultimate
purpose. But in two or three years the
people forced them into an honorable peace
with France, rebuked the excesses and
abuses Of power, vindicated the constitus
tioh, and iturned over the Federal govern
ment to the principles and policy of the
democratic party. Tothe '.sober second
thought of the people" therefore, and 10
1.-THE ballot-box, we now appeal when again
In like peril with our fathers. iia
| But ifsevery democrat concurred in the
policy of prosecuting the war 10 the utter
4 subjngation Of the South and the subver.
sion Of her State Governments with her
4 institutions, without d Convention of the
Estates, and without an Overture for peace,
I've should just as resolutely resist the dis
slsbaRdin9 IL. The Democratic party. It -
Tho only party capable of carrying ona
.lWar; it's the only party which has ever
\ conducted i war to d successful issue, and
4 the only party which has done itwithoutt
4 abuse az power, wiahont rnolestation to
4 the rights Of any class Of citizens, and with
4 due regard tos economy Allthis Il has
done; al this, IL need be, it il Able 20 dos
again. If success, then, Ia military
point Of view, bs required, che damooratio
i party alone can command IT, II
H 4 70 conclude: Inviting ID men without
i distinction of State, seetion, or pattg, who
llare for the Constellation II il isand the
Il Union - itWas, To unite With ass ii this
I great work I'VE insist thas-7ss sl IN
The reatorasion If The Union, whether
i through peace of by war, demands tho