Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-05-11

mlnislratlon, or any Administration, 10 "she
Government" Il holds, and ever has held,
that the Federal Government 10 the agent Of
the people OF the several States composing the
Unioni that II consists Of three distinct depart
ments--the Legislative, the executive, and the
judiclal-each equally part OF the Govern.
ment, and each equally entitled to the confidence
and support OF the States and the people; and
that II 10 the duty OF every patriot to sustain
the several departments of the Government In
the exercise OF all the constitutional powers Of
each which may be necessary and proper for
the preservation of the Government in lie prin.
cples and In its vgor and integrity, anu to stand
by and defend to the utmost the flag which rep
resents the Government, the Union and the
country.
In this sense the Democratic party has al.
ways sustained, and will now sustain, the Gov
eminent sgainst all foes, at home or abroad, In
the North or the South, open or concealed, in
Office or out Of Office, in peace or in war.
IL this Ia what the party mean BY supporting
the Government, it is an idle thing to abandon
the old and tried Democratic party, which for
so many years and through so many trials sup
ported, preserved and maintained the Govern
ment Of the Union. But II their real purpose
be to aid the ancient enemies of the Democ-
rscy In subverting our present Constitution and
form Of Government, and, under pretense of
saving the Union, to erect strong centralized
despotsm on Its RUNE, the Democratic party
will resist them as the worst enemy to the Con-
stitution and the Union, and to free government
everywhere.
We do not propose to consider now the causes
which led to the present unhappy civil war. A
filter time will come hereafter for such discus
sion. But we remind you now that compro
mise made your Union, and compromise fifteen
mouths ago would have saved IL. Repeated ef-
forts were made nt the last session OF the Thir-
ty.sixth Congress 10 this end. At every stage,
the great mass of the South, with the whole
Democratic party, and the whole Constitution
al Union party Of North and West, united 10
favor of certain amendments to the Consttu.
tion--and chief among them the well-knOwn
"Crittenden Propositions" which would have
averted civil war and maintained the Union
AT every stage, Gil proposed amendments incon-
aistent with the sectional doctrines of the Chi.
csgo Platform were strenuously and unanimous
ly resisted and defeated by the Republican par
ly. The "Crittenden Propositions" never re-
ceived single Republican vote In either
House For the proof we appeal to the Jour
nails OF Congress- and to the Congregational
Globe
We scorn to reply to the charge that the Dem
ocratic party 10 opposed to granting aid and sup
port TO the Federal Government In maintaining
It's safety, integrity and constitutional suprema-
cy, and in favor OF disbandlng our armies and
succumbing to the South. The charge is libel
Gus and false. No man has advocated any such
proposition. Democratic recognize IL as their
duty as patriots TO support the Government In
all constitutional, necessary and proper efforts
10 maintain its safety integrity and constitution
al authority; but at the same time they are in.
fexibly opposed to Waging war against any Of
the Ssates or people OF this Union in any spirit
Of oppression or for any purpose of conquest or
subjugation, or OF overthrowing or Interfering
with the rights or established instituIions of any
State. Above all, the Democratic party will
not support the Administration In any thing
which looks or tends to the loss Of our political
or personal rights and liberties, or a change of
our present democratical form of government.
But no, Democrats, it is not the support Of the
Government in restoring the Union which the
party now in power require 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 1t ia demanded Of you that you yield ct least
silent support to their whole policy, and to
withhold all scrutiny into their public conduct
of every kind, lest you should embsrraes the
Administration" You are thu5 asked TO re. |
nounce one of the first principles and the chief
security Of a Democratic Government-ther right |
to hold public servants responsible TO their mas
ter the people; to render the representative &C.
to the constituent the ancient and un-
doubted prerogatlve Of Americans to canvass |
public measures and public men. It Is this
high constitutional privilege" which Daniel
Webster declared he would " defend and exer- |
oiee within the House and out of the House, |
and In all places, ia tine of war, in time Of
peace and in all times" IL ia right secured
BY the ConGtltutlon-l right inestimable to the
people, and formidable to tyrsnts only.
II ever there was time when the existence
and consolidation of the Democratic party upon
its principles and policy was q vital necessity to
public and private liberty, IL is now.
Unquestionably the Constitution gives ample
power to the several Departments Of the Gov
ernment to carry on war, strictly subject to its
provisions, and, in case of civil war, with per-
feet security to citizens of the loyal States II
Every act necessary for the safety and efficiency
Of the Government, and for q complete ard
most vigorous trial of lis strength, is yet who'll
ly consistent with the observance of every pro-
vision of that instrument, and of the laws in
pursuance Of it, II the sole motives of those in
power were the suppression of the rebellion" :"
and no more. And yet the history Of the Ad-
for the twelve months past has been,
and continues to be, history of repeated usur-
pations of power and Of violations OF the Con
stituIion, and of the public and private rights of
the citizen. For the proof we appeal to factsf
loo recent 10 need recital here, and too fragrant
and heinous for the calm narrative which We |
propose. Similar Rots were done aud q Ike
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, viDdcated the Constitution,
and turned over the Federal Government to the
principles and policy OF the Democratic party.
To the "sober second thought of the people,"
and to the ballot-box, we row appeal
when again In like peril with our fathers.
But ii every Democrat concurred in the poll
cy OF prosecuting the war to the utter subjuga-
ton of the South and for the subverslon OF her
State Governments with her institutions, with
out convention Of the States, and without an
overture for Peace, we should just as resolute-
y resist the disbanding of the Democratic par
ty. 1t is tho only party capable of carrying on
. war; it is the only party which has ever con-
iucted war to o successful issue, and the only
party which has done IL without abuse of pow
Dr. without molestatioD to the rights of any class
II citizens, and with due regard to economy
All this IL has done; all this, if need be, It is
Ible to do again. II success, then, in militia
y point Of view be required, the Democratic
,arty alone can command it.
To conclude; Inviting oil men, without dis
inction of State, section or party, who are ior
he Constitution as II is and the Union as 1t was,
o unite with US In this great work upon terms
# perfect equality, we insist that
The restoration of the Union. RheLher
trough peace or by war. demands the contuu-
d organization and success of the Democratic
arty;