The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-09-29
DAILY REGISTER,
THE UNION AS IN q 8 WAS.


9 9 s7 THE UNION AS 1T WAS.
. g Mr.. Editor:-The test of Unionism
not what this one or that one may desil
the Union to BE- but what it was when
. was perfected and formed by our forefatt
: ers. tits true that there are those VIII
scorn the idea of the restoration of the "Ur
ion as it was:" but such can have no CLAIM
, to the true spirit of Unionism. He VIII
> loves the Union, loves-it for the blessing
it dispensed upon all who ,dwelt under th'
folds Of its protecting @gis--lovesi it for
Republican principles as enuuciated in the
Constitution-loves it because it was the
free-will offering of patriotic people who
had achieved their liberties through long
suffering and by unparalleled fortitude. To
love the Union, one must love the princi
pl"s upon which it was founded. These
principles were the equality Of the several
States-freedom of speech-freedom of the
press-protection from unlawful seizures
and arrests, and the inestimable right of a
trial by jury. All of these were guaranteed
to every citizen of the Union by the extt
pressed articles of the Constitution. Itwas
the enunciation and profered protection of
such principles that created a love and ven
Grafton for the "Uuion as it was" In
whatever place, in whatever cline the
"hag of the Union" was seen furled to the
breeze, it became an emblem of those prin-
ciples and gladdened the heart of every pa
triot beholder.
How transitory are;all sublunary thin gsl
Greatness and grandur dwindle into insig
nifcance, and glory becomes transformed
into shame! Devotion and veneration
change into aversion, and boasted patriot
ism sinks into the mire of groveling despot-
ism Such is the fate Of human actions
and such the lamsntable history of man.
kind. The "Union as it was" which few
years ago filed the world with amazement
and the hearts of its citizens with hallowed
aspirations, to-day receives the execrations
of large party who have crept into power
under false pretenslons. Having as they
suppose, got hold of the reins of Govern
ment, they boldly declare that it is NOT the
"U Union as it was" they desire, but Union
fashioned after their own fancied and fanat-
ical ideas. How, say they, can we expect
to restore the Union as it was2" "Can the
enormous debt created by this war be can
celed, and the tens Of thousands who have
have psrished during the war be restored
to life2 How, then can Aths "Union as it
was be restored?"
1t can scarcely be expected that any one,
even the reviled "copperheads,,' can expect
utter impossibilitiss. MOI it is impossible
to place the COUNTRY in the same condition
it was anterior to the war. The sorrow
that fills the land with unutterable an
suish far the tens Of thousands who have
perished in battle, or died In the so-called
hospitals cannot be assuaged The misery
caused by the savage feroclty OF those who
have plundered and burned the abodes OF
the helpless and the innocent, cannot be re-
lieved, the cruelty that has been felt over
the land under the pretended administrs.
ton of lac cannot be healed, the usurpa
tions Of the Administration to extend its
power, by which the innocent husband has
been torn from the bosom Of his family
and stealthily incarcerated into the political
bastie, cannot be recalled. These must
remain as foul stain upon the once uutar.
nished escutcheon Of this Government.-
The restoration of all this, enters not into
the anxious prayers aud nightly dreams of
the pure and Union-loving patriot. He
knows that such visions of pleasing impoa
sibilities cannot be realized. And it is lit
tie less than satanical mockery tor the rad
icals to taunt the lover OF the "Unlon as
it was" with such heartless aud unmeaning
words.
It is the Union OF the States IN accord
ance with the letter and spirit Of the Con.
stitution as framed by our fathers, that the
conservative portion of the citizens Of this
! Government want-a return to the legltl-
mate principles of the Union-an ackuow-
! ledgement of the inalenable rights and SOY
ereignty Of the States-a respect for the
laws on the part of those to whom the ad
ministration of this Government is entrust-
ed, aud disposition to obey those laws.
This is what is meant BY restoration OF
the Union as it was" A Union 10 which
ali the States can unite as aforetime, and in
which their rights, as CO partners, would os
respected and guaranteed. This Union was
formed by compromises, but the party IN
ppwer declare that no compromise is 10 oe
made Whence is the authority for carry
ing on a war derived? Surely from the
Constitution. All wars, then, must bs
carried on in strict conformity to the Con
stitutiou. five are fighting to preserve
the Union, we must see that we do nothing
tending in the least to destroy the Union
If treason consists in attempting TO destroy
the Union, those in power and sworn to pre-
serve it, may be as guilty of reasonable act
as the greatest rebel. Who could be
greater enemy to the Union than he VIII
tramples the Constitution under bis feet
He who would have different Union thai
the one formed by Washington and hi
: compeers, is not patriot, and should 3
classed among the disunionsts, per Sc. b
who desires any other Union than the on
. founded on the Constitution, is seeking t
DESTROY the liberties of the hepeople. Let tn
people beware of such. The precious boo
!, of liberty will soon be torn from us if we ar
:-:i..&o,S aotiva Military satrar