Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1863-10-29
From the New York Times.
POLITICS OF THE DAY.

Difference 6ctueen the Constitution and Con-
stitutionaz QUibbles-Attempted Revioag
Of the Democratic Party-Its Fatal Poll
cy and Ruin.
THE BEEcHEs, Sept, 16, 1863.
When I was first called to the Bar, {
defended man for shooting another on
!, the Ohio River. I proved, by constitu
tions. ordinances, and statutes, that the
4 Ohio River was not within the !juris-
diction of Ohio, and therefore, man
could not be convicted for crime COM
mitted without the State It was aclear
case: What did the court do? They
decided that I was a very smart young
man, and no doubt highly gifted in Con-
stitutional law; but that it was their
business to punish crime, and they would
exercise concurrent jurisdiction over the
Ohio River. The man was convicted,
and there was an end Of it. Now this
; illustrates the difference between those
who rely upon the technicalities Of the
Constitution in great trial for the life
of the Nation, and those who rely upon
f its intent and meaning, as an instrument
, made for the general welfare. At the
Popular Assizes-before the Grand Ju-
ry of the Naton-the people will de-
eide for the substance, not the shadow !;
for their own interest, not the dogmas
Of demagogues. They will sweep the
cobwebs Of politicians away, and con-
sign the mere partisan leaders to a de-
served oblivion In times like these
! will men remember that it was politi-
clans who brought this great wave of
trouble over us, and that the people
know it and will no longer trust men
who prefer their party to their country.
Such men will be put down and never
rise ogain Notwithstanding this we
have serious attempt to revive the
Democratic party to revive it, not as a
party filled with liberal ideas and with
heart beating forts country, which it once
was but as party following the Peace
Federalists Of the Hartford Convention,
and following them in hosting its lights
and signals for the rebels Not only
, this, but trying by constitutional tech
nicalitics and what is called "ccnserya-
) tism," to save slavery from its sure and
deserved death Take the case Of Val
landigham. The psaedo Democrats Of
Ohio are full Of fire and fury about the
right Of speech, as if the liberties Of the
people we're in danger! Now the peo-
pie cannot be deceived b., this. Does
not every man know that though the
Constitution guarantees the freedom Of
speech, it gives no right to slander and
libel ? Does not every man know that
though the Constitution guarantees the
, freedom of speech, it guarantees above
that the safety Of the country? Does
} not everybody know that the country is
engaged in war of self-preservation
and that the highest duty Of the Presi-
dent is that Of the Roman Consul, to see
to the safety Of the Republic?
The term conservatives is much
abused in this country. It was bor-
rowed from the English Tories, and
comes with bad odor at best Still it
was respectable term, and but for its
abuse would be a very good name for a
party of old fashioned people, who think
it a crime to believe that fashions change,
or the world turns round. But what
does conservative mean? Does it
mean conservative Of good, or of evil !?
Il | disclaim all conservation Of evil? /
disclaim any defence of Slavery any tech
niealities Of the Constitution in favor of
traitors, any preference Of shadows for
substance The Constitution was made
for the general welfare, and all its spe-
cifc provisions were made for that end,
and he must be mere. pettifogger, who
undertakes to set up one Of its guarran-
tees against another, and to destroy the
whole for a part. True conservatism is
to conserve good-to conserve the rights
of both God and Man to conserve the
great law of Love to Him and Love to
Man; to conserve the Constitution in
its true intent and meaning, as an in
strument made to ''form more perfect
atnion, establish ipstice, insure domestic
tramquitity, provide for the common de-
fence, promote the genera aoeHare, and
secure the blessings of liberty" Now,
| is the conduct Of the Democratic party
conformable to these principles? Did
the nomination of Bion Bradbury in
Maine aid the President in providing
for the common defence? Did the nom
ination of Clement V allandig gham- twice
convict for synlpathising with traitors
aid the Government in perpetuating
+ the Union and insuring domestic tran
guilty Did the New York ConEen-
: ton, in denouncing the President, aid
in securing the blessing of Liberty?
Is the general tone of the present Dem
ocratic organization anything but fac
tious and Pro Slavery? What then is
the position and prospects of the pres
ent Democratic Parry? It's whole con-
duct is insane and fatuitous This is a
fulfllment of what [ wrote the Times
nearly three years ago-that the Breck-