, 1862-05-07
:Gbe Grih1&me.
WEDNESDAY, MAY z, 1862!
TIE WAR DEMOCRATS And THE
NEW CON8TITUT10Ns

Of that party. In this state especially the
contrast Is strongly marked. While the
,.Essh patriotic portion of the party-the
aadhenaats uf the lsse Senator Douglas, have
buekted on the sword or skonbdered the
mneket, and have ;essza,d fa1nosta1 honor
On every Wasten battle hezd1;; ;shhaaseceasion
nousing politicians, many ofthem knights
Of the Golden Circle, managed to pet
themselves elected. to the Constitutional
convention where they concentrated
their 1illaiHcus cunning i they can further
Cheat the people into an endorsements of
their work, to legislate themselves ;pto
power and control the destinics Of Illinois
fr the next quarter Of q century. The
WEI Democrats and the Republicans who
are fighting the battles of freedom against
the most detestahle treason that ever dis
gfaced humanity, are thus to be made to
stand aside while the secession wing, ever
The apologists Of traitors are to rule the
Empire State Of the Mississippi Valley.
Whether this very pretty scheme is to be
realized will depend upon the excrtions Of
the war Democrats at home and in the
11ele to defeat it. and Of the Republicans,
who OF course should leave nothing un-
done that can have tendency to bury the
1ntamy out Of sight forever.
IN treating Of this subject, in common
with large portion Of the press Of the
State, we have not been careful enough to
the distinction between the war and make
the secession wings Of the Democracy. In
Southern Illinois especially the
feud is wide and increasing and
by the time tile day Of election
arrives the war Democrats will make
themselves felt to the confusion of the Sc
cessionists and Gold Circle Knights and
the qualification Of all true loyal patriots,
The Wne-pulling gentry In this city are
making desperate efforts to bring Southern
Illinois in solid phalanx to the
polls to santion the iniquity Of their hatch
ing; but the cheat is toe glaring. The eff
forts Of their prppet Josh. Allen and his
hackers to grasp the positions Of such men
as Gen. McClernand and Gen. Logan orc
too transparent to deceive the most
careless observer. The scheme won't
work. The old Constitution, defec-
tive as it confessedly is in some
particulars is far better than the iniqultous
bantling that the late Convention hal pre-
sented 10 the people for adoption. Under
the old constitution the State has pros-
pered beyond all former precedent; our
people understand its workings, and will
only change it when better eau be
adopted
The Republicans Of the State, it is be-
heyed, are almost to man opposed to it;
but so many Of them are away, fighting
the battles Of their country, that without
the efficient aid Of the War Democrats the
new Constitution may be imposed upon us.
The secessIonists are actively and earnestly
atTork to deceive and hoodwink the people.
Their hope to seize the power and the
patronage Of the State, gives efficiency to
their organization, and unless met BY cor
responding energy, it may prove success
full. Let therefore the friends of law and
order, those who want good loyal
administration Of the Government, lose
not an opportunity nor a moment in pcr-
tecting their arrangements to defeat the
schemes Of the secessionists They are
working with an energy worthy of a better
cause to impose upon Illinois the worst
constitution that ever cursed free loyal
people. Our ad7ices from the Southern
and central sections of the State are en-
couraging. The North will do its duty,
and if all work together as patriots should,
the new Constitution will meet the fate due
to the schemes Of all enemies Of freedom.
FACTS WHICH ARE ARGUMENTS.
1t is fact not generally known, that
the first pamphlet Of any note written in
1aFor of American independence, con
talned an impassioncd protest against the
spread Of slavery, and 3 vigorous attack
On it's existence in the Colonies. Hatred
to slavery went hand-in-hand with hatred
to the British Government; stirred to its
very depths the innate democracy Of the
humane heart; made every enthusiastic
republican in Europe, willing to shed his
blood IN defense Of the glorious cause;
brought to OUT shores some of the noblest
patriots that ever drew the sword for the
rights OF man. and paralyzed the terrible
arm OF the oppresser. Without the life
giving cooperation OF this anti-slayery
sentiment, undefled by mental reserya-
hons-as breathed forth in the immortal
declaration, as thundered from the pulpit,
rs proclaimed by the press-the martyr
spirit Of Valley Forge would have deecn
Grated into mutiny; the long, dubious,
and unequal contest could not have been
sustained; and independence could not
have been achieved.
After the restoration Of peace, an ins;di-
Gus reaction set in, and the generous enthu-
s1asm Of universal liberty began gradually
10 recede before sort Of political msteri-
allsm; but such momentum had the cause
gained during the heroic period, that it
overthrew slavery in seven of the thirteen
States; barely missed its aim in four of the
remaining six; prohibited the curse in all
the public domain in which it was not pro-
tected by legal stipu1ations; and where it
had already gained foothold, as in Loui
E1ana, hampered and embarrassed it bv un-
friendly legislation. These were the davs
when Abohtonism offered 10 apologies for
being in the right, asserted and maintained
the freedom Of speech, and was always
resolutely aggressive. These were the days
when avowed and leading Abolitionists sat
on the Supreme Bench, occupied seats in
The Cabanet, were Ministers at foreign cani-
tals, and when Congress passed votes Of
thanks to the authors Of prize essays against
slavery. And these were the only days
s1nee the birth of the Republic when there
were no threats Of pro-slavery rebellion.
Then followed long period Of discus |
slons about banks and tariffs-of bitter nar-
usan eontroversles-of Indian wars and
t1eaties-of disputed boundaries-of pur-
chasee Of teritory-of quarels with the
Barbary States-of European difficulties
Of opeR rupture with Britain. During this
period anti-slarery was over -shadowed BY
the rush Of events; the press ceased to de-
nounee the curse; the censures of the pull
Gk1EYf {cT~