Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-05-21

resist, as our fathers did, with our lives,
our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
But il is said that you must disband The
Democratic party "to support the Govern
ment." We answer that the Democratic
party has always supported THE GovERN-
aENT and while il was in power preserved
the Government in all its yigor and integ-
rity, not by force and arms, but by wisdom,
sound policy, and peace. But it never
did admit and never will, that this Admin
istration, or any Administration, is 1.-The
Government" Ii holds, and ever has
held, that the Federal Government is the
agent of the PEOPLE of the several States
composing tie Union that it consists OF
three distinct departments-the Legislao
tive the Executive and the Judicial-each
equally part of the Government, and
equally entitled to the confidence and
support Of the States and the people and
that it is the duty OF every patriot to sus>
tain every department of the Government
in tie GrcrciSs Of all the constitutional pOa0erS Of
each which may be proper and necessary for the
preservation ofHe Government in It's principles
and IN its Rgor and integrity, and 10 stand BY
and dgcnd 70 tie utmost tie flag ,ohich represents
the Government, tic URiOn and tie country.
III llllo SCllSJ VIC bCUlOGidllC party has
always sustained, and will now sustain,
THE GOVERNMENT against all foes, at bone
or abroad, in the North or the South, open
or concealed, in office or out OF Office, in
peace or in wai.
II this is what the Republican party
mean by supporting the Government, 1t Is
an idle thing 10 abandon the cid and tried
Democratic party, which for so many
years and through so many trials support.
ed, preserved, and maintained the. Gov-
ernment Of the Union. But if their real
purpose be to aid the ancient enemies Of
the Democracy in subverting our presen.
Constitution and form Of government, and,
under pretence of saving the Union, to
erect a strong centralized cespotism on its
ruins, the Democratic party will resist
them as the worst enemy to the ConstituN
ton and the Union, and to free GOV.
ernment everywhere.
We do not propose now TO consider the
causes which led to the present unhappy
civil war. filter time will come for
such discussion. But we remind you nov
that COMPROMISE made your Union and
COM PROMISE fifteen months ago would
have saved it, Repeated efforts were
made az the last session Of the Thirty"
sixth Congress TO this end. Al every
stage, the great mass of the SoutG, with
the whole Democratic party, and the whole
Constitutional Union party, of the North
and West, united in favor OF certain a
mendmenls TO the Constitution-an chief
among them, tue weil-knOwn "CRITTEN-
DEN PRoroslrIoNs" which would have
averted civil war and maintained the I'M
Al, oil prnnpgal ap,nnfl ~
ments inconsistent with the sectional doc
trines of the CHICAGO PLATFORM were
strenuously and unanimously resisted by
the Republican party. The "CriuenGen
Propositions" never received single Re-
publican vote in either House. Fo: the
proof we appeal 10 the Journals OF Con-
gress and to the Congressional Globe.
We scUrn to reply to the charge that
the Democratic party is opposed to grant,
ing aid and support to the Federal Gov
ernmC mt in maintaining its safety, integri-
ty, end constitutional supremacy, and in
favor of fdisbanding our armies and sue
cumbinc to the South. The charge is Ii
belous and false. No man has advocated
any such proposition. Democrats recog-
nize it as their duty as patriots to support
the Government in ali constitutional, nee.
essary, and proper efforts to maintain its
safety, Integrity, and constitutional au-
thoritv; but at the same time they are IN
flexbly opposed to wagng war against
any of the States or people OF this Union
in a spirit of oppression, or for any pur'
nose OF conquest or suhjugatiOn, or OF over.
throwing or interfering with the rights or
established institutions of any State. -
Above all. the Democratic party vii! not
support the Administration which looks
or tends to the loss of our political or per-
sonal rights or liberties, or change oil
our present democratical form OF govern
ment.
But no, Democrats, it is not the support
of the Government in restoring the Union
which the party in power require CT you
, You are asked to give up your principles,
your policy, and your party, and 10 stand
, bv tho Administration of the party in pow
| er. in all its acts. Above all it is deman
ded OF YOU that you yield at least a silent
support to their whole policy, and to with
hold all scrutiny into their public conduct
of every kind, lest you should "embarrasS
the Administration. You are thus asked
! to renounce one of the first principles and
the chief security of Democratic Govern
ment-he right 10 hold public servants rcSpon'
r siJle 10 their master tie people; TO render III,
representative accountable 10 he constituent; ht
ancient and ,udoUJ:ed prcrogdtUe right Of an
orleans to cdnUdSS public measures and puJic
men. 1t is this "high constitutional priv
ilege" which Daniel Webster declared he
r would defend and exercise within the
! House and out OF the House, and in all
places, in time Of vdr, in time Of peace, and a
, all times !" 1t is right secured 10y the
constitutional right inestimable to the
people, and formidable to tyrants only.
{ Ifever there was time when the exis'
, tence of the Democratic party upon it'
principles and policy was vital necessity
. to public and private liberty, it is now.
, Unquestionably the Constitution gives
. ample power to the several Departments
: Of the Government 10 carry on war, strict
5 ly subject to its provisions, and, in case o
, civil war, with perfect security to citizens
of the loyal States. Every act necessary
Y for the safety and efficiency of the Gov,