The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1862-05-16

From the National Intelgencer

From the National Intelligencer.
1t is common for certain class of poll.
ticians to represent in terms of reproach,
that all who earnestly contend for strict
observance of the Constitution in the con.
duct of the present war are animated by
an ill-disguised "sympathy with the REBEL
Iion." This charge is fippantly brought
against men who have signalized their loy-
atty, not by words, but by brave acts dared
and by sutferiDgs endured with cheerful and
manly fortitude in the cause of the Union.
For ourselves we do not admit that any apol.
ogy can ever be necessary for the maniles.
tation of a laudabe zeal in defence of the
Constitution, and least of all at time when
in its name and by its authority, we are
waging war against its viOlators, simply
and solely because they are its Uj0lat0rS
What right have we to wage the war we
are now prosecuting against treason and
rebellion, save that which is defined and
authorized by the Constitution and laws
II we had no Constitution of the United
States there would be no such crime as
treason against the United States, and no
penalty rightfuily visited upon that crime
" 1t is lie laW which Worketh wrath /; for
where 60 law is, there is no transgression."
1t is therefore an anomaly involving a
strange confusion OF IDEAS and distortion
OF fundamental principles, that the armed
opponents OF rebellion, WHO profess to re-
sst e violation Of the Constitution unto
blood, should be iptolerant Of reverence for
that Constitution when it stands, or even
seems to stand, in the way ol their own
wishes or passions.
1t was we'll said by Mr. Collamer, in his
speech delivered in the Senate few days
ago-~0n tie Oath Of april:
That "the great question before the
world to be now settled by US is, can we
sustain the interity Of our Government and
perpetuata our institutions, and do it ac-
cOrdirg to the limitations and provisions Of
the Constitution That is what is to show
that Cur Constitution is competent to the
trial, and nothing short Of that. II, when
this occasion arises, we are compelled TO re"
sort to means Which, in effect, are the means
used by stronger Governments, our experi~
ment is failure. II we are constrained to
call up, invoke, and put in exercise in any
one department of the Government is
immaterial in what department OF the Co.
vernment-more Of power, more Of force
than the Constitution provides, or than is
limited by that Constitution-the moment
we do that, OR are constrained from our
supposed necessities to do it, we acknoWl-
edge before the world that our institutions
are insuficiently founded, and that we are
after all compelled, in The period of trial, to
resort to the force which, they say, is naces-
sary to the existence of a nation, and cur
experiment is a failure. We should, there
fore. particularly in period like this, care,
fully study and sacrediy regard all the liu-
itations and provisions OF the Constitution.
1t is vain and idle in US to war against
part of our people because they have made
war upon this Government, il we at the
same time have to sap the foundations OF
the Government by stabbiDg through the
vitals Of the Constitution"
These are words of wise and solemn
counsel. 1t is q reproach TO the temper of
the times that they should Iced to be utter.
ed, much less defended and enforced by argu-
ment Or entreaty. They belong to the fun
damental conceptions of republican gov-
ernment, and to confound what Mr.. Jefer.
son was accustomed to call "the sacro.sanct
observance of the Constitution" with "sym.
pathy for rebels" is to indulge in mere
passionate iuyective, and to evince per-
version of ideals only less deplorable than
the absence of logic confessed by such an
accusation for, if rebels in disguise are
seeking to defend the insurgents behind the
ramparts of the Constitution, let it be shown
that there are no such defenses in the Con-
stitution as they allege. If the "ramparts"
really exist, let there be no attempt to scale
them in order to infict "wild justice" on
the enemy behind them. Our safety,
equally with our honor, binds Us to the rigid
and faithful observance OF that great char
ter which is at once the sword and the
shield of the embattled Republic.