Washington telegraph., 1862-10-22

all the interests aud passions which can give
energy to the soul, have proven it impossible.
We haze. been enabled to resist, bya una
nimlty ofsehtiment which has moulded US into
unit. aRdbya spirit of patriotism which has
promptedus to sacrifice all things, aud endure
all things, for the sake ofthose sacred rights,
| which We have felt could only be enjoyed by
us as an Independent people.
| Whilst this unanimisy of,entimeut and sa-
| cred fire of patriotism continues to exist in
/ the minds and hearts Of Southern people, We
need have no fear Of he result DiscorI and
Generalization alone can accomplish, that
wherein the enemy have failed. If We fall
! our destruction comes from within. OF this
We can conceive two sources of danger. From
each OF these the evils may approach US so
inslduousiy, and clothed with such specious
sarns OF expectancy, necessity and patriotism,
that we may readily embrace them. and dis
| cover too late that they arc hurrying us 10 de-
struction.
The first and chief of these is, that our civil
and military officers may not sufficiently 70
member that they are the creatures NJ tho
Constitution, and the servants of the lava
NO other power has givon them the proud emil
nence they have. They may. looking ONLY to
military success, subordA nate to this object
the sacred charter of our liberties. They NAV
substitute their own views of State necessity.
Tor the Constitution and the laws, under
which all their powers are derived, and which
binds them also equally with the humblest
citizen. The highest motives MI prompt this
action. They may honestly believe that the
salvation of the country can be only thereby
secured. 1t may render them excusable. but
the consequences may be fatal. They newt
ably VIII be- The people have been educated
to revere their constitutional rights. They
can never recognize any patent to set them
aside In the old Roman Republic it some
times happened that in times of imminent
peril the Senate called forth Dictator, to
whom all powers were entrusted, and he was
rendered supreme to the end that the Repub-
lie should receive no detriment We have not
provided for that. It is no part of our system
of government. In all perils hold the con.
the organizations they have creatcd and the
powers they have conferred for their own lie
fence. Within the scope Of these we look for
the war TO be conducted The powers con
ferred are large and ample. and in the legiti-
mate exercise of these our officers will re-
ceive the unanimous and concentrated support
of all classes of the 'eommu nifty, and our
cause will be triumphant
Wo unto US. when unsurpa ions of power
and violations of the Constitution arouse dark
questionings in the minds of frce,nen. and
they ask themselves what they will have gain
ed when they may have finally :riumphed over
the enemy and lost their civil liberties! Whilst
the Constitution is sacred and inviolate that
day can never come. Those highest in sta
ton and farthcst removed from direct respon
sibility to the people, hold this matter in the
hollow Of their hands. Thew, to .. are human
and liable to fall in the presence Of n great
temptation. If they are not true to them
selves and to their oaths of Office, discord and
dissentions viii shiver US to fragments. and
We become an easy prey.
We speak not of things rs they are, but as
they might come to be. As yet il has been
the pride and boast of the South that in the
midst Of all the storm of war; the Constitu-
ton has ruled supreme; proui and majestic as
the sun in its daily course over the storms
and tempests Of the neither world. So NAV
we progress to the end. Within the sacred
circle Of its provisions there is no room for
discorl We are ono unitad ,,nconouar.Ila
Witness the result. Eighteen months of har-
mony without breeze to rufie its surface; of
obedience without hesitation; of suffering and
pri7ation without murmur; have sustained
us triumphant against the hosts which
have threatened to overwAeim Us We
fought not for blood and conquest. regardless
of the price. We tonight for freedom rs free
men should, and We have cen invincible.
There is another danger, nc less insidious.
in another quarter. Oar peopiv, after all
their chivalry, are but human. The best Of us
are "a mingle web" of good and evil. 1t re-
something more than mere enthusiasm, to rem
der US constant through suffering AMI priva-
tons, and the long seasons IF dependency
and gloom which attend long protracted
struggle. The fire of military ardor may win
battle field, but subsidies under passive en-
duranee. We need TO keep great principles
constantly before us. We must look beyond
the present, or the to-morrow, into the future
OF our children, and behold as the reward Of
our toll and privation, the blessings of free
and happy government. Otherwise We will
faint by the way side, or some evil spirit will
tempt Us with memories of the flesh pots of
Egypt" and longings foe ignoblo ease to be
bought with the price Of honor.
We do not speak now Of those sor'lid spirits
who devote themselves in the mi ist of our
troubles to the accumulation of money. They
stand upon different footing Of objection.
They are manifestly selfish and unpatriotic,
and being recognized as such, have little in
fuence in demoralizing their .neighb9rs. Bat
the great danger, one for which the enemy
watches anil waits. i. in tn, tem9tltion to
trade with the enemy. To this our best and
most patriotic men are liable They reason
x-ft tf,o,,-