Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-09-25
"Under the Constitution"


Not a so-called Democratic Convention,
either State, Congressional or County. has
thus far given pledges Of an unconditional
support to the prosecution Of the War un-
til the rebellion is crushed. Whenever
they have announced themselves in favor
of the prosecution of the war. it has al
ways been with provisc. Ii must be
prosecuted "under the Constitution" or
by constitutional means" HoO the
war is to be thus prosecuted, or whether
at all, we are not informed. We know
that many self.styled Democrats. inclu-
ding James Buchanan. the last so-called
Democratic President, have claimed that
there is no power under the Constitution"
to "coerce'' seeding State; hence 1t is
impossible to prosecute war against rebels
"by Constitutional MEANS" because accor-
ding to this position, the prosecution OF
such war is in violation Of the Consti-
tuition. i1i
Although they do not tell us how the
war must be prosecuted to be prosecuted
under the Constitution" or by Constitu-
tional MEANS" they cite us to numerous
examples as to how it is not thus prosecu-
ted. We quote few. 1t is not using
constitutional means" to arrest traitors
by military authority. 1t is not using
Constitutional means" to confiscate rebel
property to defray a part of the expenses
Of the war. 1t is not using "Oonstitution-
al means to confscate the slaves Of trail
tors. and thus deprive the rebellion of its
strength and life by depriving the trai.
tors Of their means Of raising supplies for
the army. 1t is not using CONSTITUTIONS
means" for our army to get its supplies
from the surrounding wealthy traitors. II
is not using Constitutional means" to use
the slaves Of traitors to dig trenches, throw
ND breastworks, load and unload supplies
or any other drudgery Of the army, thai
would save the strength. health, and lives
OF our brave volunteers. 1t is not using
constitutional means" to neglect station
! ing guards sronnd every fencepannel, every
hen roost every onion bed, every potato
patch, and every fruit tree Of every traitor
in the vicinity Of our camps or our line o
march to protect them from the possible
depredations of our troops. 1t is not using
Constitutional means" to neglect trans
forming our army into vast body o
"nigger- catcher" to arrest and return
every slave that may take notion to de
sert his traitorous master. 1t is not usin:
constitutional means" 20 injure traitors
either in their pockets or in their feelings
In short. if you don't treat the rebels a
"erring brethern," as ''more sinned o
gainst than SHINING" as a long suffering
and patient people. at last stung into mad
ness and forced into REBELLION by atrociou
and repeated assaults upon their deares
rights, then you are not using "Constitu
tional means"
Tie President. the Union Members o
Congress. and Union citizens are in favo
Of crushing out the rebellion by the use o
constitutional MEANS" and they believ
that the means above referred to ARE Con
st;tutional means, The leaders of tn
Democratic organizations believe. or pre-
tend to believe. that they are not; and thi
is the issue. Loyal citizens. you who ar
in favor of speedy and effectual crushing
out of this monstrous and unjustifiabl
rebellion. DO you favor prosecuting tn
war by constitutional means" as under
stood by the President. or as understood
by Vallandingham. Voorhees,. Mahoney
Turpis and Co?-iSt 10. Register.