Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-08-01

SeatcS, 1uuo BtNluB Dtate odnCiOh W tue
revolutionary spirit.
AT last the Republican party was foun.
ded, and drew most of the Aboitionists
into its ranks, and along with them obtain
ed their passions and their fatal dogma
that there are laws Of the individual will
higher in obligation than the laws of the
land, and that the latter, when they con-
flict with the former, may be broken with
out guilt and without reproach. 1t fol-
lowed, in due course, that the decision of
the Supreme Court of the United States
upon negro citizenship and the rights of
Southern men in the Territories was de-
nounced, and acquiesence in it refused by
the Republicans, and the validity of any
law establishing slavery was denied in their
platform adopted at Chicago. They re-
fused to be bound by the law, and their
platform was itself a reputation of the
laws, as it denied their obligation.
The Abolilionists and the Republican
party are, therefore, first in fault, in break
ing away from good faith, duty and law,
and their example, and the apprehension
of further acts of aggression upon South
ern rights by them, provoked (although
they could not justify the existing grea.
rebellion.
That rebellion was against the laws of
the United States, and put the whole body
OF them at defiance. Although it asserted
for itself legal ground of justification, it
is most manifest chat it was lawless and
unauthorized. The compact of Union
being without limitation OF time, must be
held, as intended by its authors, to be per-
petual; and the provision contained in it
for its own Amendment provides the only
lawful mode by which its obligation Can be
limited or changed. Considering secession
as breach of til, public law, q n in view of
the immense interests put in peril by it,
f this State concurred in measures of hos.
tilty against the South. But this was
done 10 vindicate Tie broken la,O, and to
secure the objects for which the Govern.
ment of the United States was originally
founded, and for no purpose of conquest,
of oppression, or of fanatical experiment.
Upon this ground we may justify our con-
duct, and submit it, without apprehension
Of censure, to the judgment OF future times.
Bat the war has lasted more than two
years, and its management, and the meas
ures of legislation and of Executive policy
which have accompanied it, have given
occasion for frequent and just complaints.
1t has been so managed that our armies
have been outDumbered where decisive
battles were to be fought, or have been
rashly thrown upon impregnable positions
of the enemy. Our forces, greatly out
numbering those of the Confederates, have
been SO dispersed and so handled that
their superiority has not determined the
issue of campaigns or concluded the con.
test. After contributing onc-ft Of mil.
lion OF men 10 the war, our State is in
suited by raids, and is made dependent
upon the friendship of neighboring States
for her immediate defence.
But it is not the mismanagement of par.
ticular military operations, nor other mere
error OF policy of our rulers, that has sunk
into the hearts Of frcemen as matter OF
most deep and enduring complaint. Mere
mismanagement or error may be imputed
to inexperienco in war, to accident, to ex'
ceptional or temporary causes, or, at the
worst, to incompetency. But what shal
be said of acts Of Congress and acts of the
Executive IN contempt Of the Constitution
which, bearing upon the war, have pro-
tracted it, united the enemy, divided ouI
own people, and placed US in false posi-
ton before the nations Of the earth =
The Confscation Act and the Emancipa
ton Proclamation are, in the opinion o
large part of our people, not only un
wise aud injurious to our cause, but als
wholly unauthorized by any principle o
bel igerent or constitutional law. We nee'
60 but little way beyond the doctrine o.
these measures before we conclude that tn
torch may be applied to entire towns, ant
a sorvilc, savage race be let loose to work
of rapne and barbaric war.
But not merely in the policy of the wa
, in our relations with the enemy has
! illcgalty, with consequent evil, appeared
In these Northern States, wholly untouch
J ed by revolt, the public sense has bee1
, outraged by repeated and aagrant acts o
arbitrary power. The enumeration o
these would constitute volume, and the
furnish premouiton of evil in the future
which every patriotic mind should vieN
7 ,,,;Ih Joon onn,abancion U,W lonf