The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-03-26


Loyalty and disIoyalty are fsvorite terms
just now with Republicans and Abolition
lists What is their meaning? In Demo-
cratic sense loyalty is fidelity to the prin-
cipals upon which the Government is
founded, and which find expression or
representation in the Constitution. In a
monarchicsl Government the term is used
to denote Fidelity TO a sovereign to the
King; while disloyalty conveys the oppo-
site mesning-"in fdelity to a sovereign
Under our form of Government these
terms are not applicable. We have no
sovereign. All the power and authority
of the Government is derived from The
consent OF the people. The majority do
or should rule; the present Administration
does not represent, the majority of the reo-
Pile; its policy is not the policy OF the ma
jority of the people; hence il is absurd to
say tina. the majority can be diSloyal to
themselves. Ii the measures of the Adj
ministration were to day submitted to the
judgment of unbiased vote of the people of
what are termed the loyal States, they
would be repudiated by an overwhelming
majority. There can be no reasonable
doubt but such would be the result. The
elections of last fall. and since then, intlu-
enced as they we're by all the power which
the Administration had at It's control must
satisfy every candid mind that the heart of
the people has no sympathy with the party
and the men who by accident have the di-
not Government of consent, and there
fore its administration is in antagonism
not only to the majority of the people, but
even to the theory and principles upon
which the Government is based.
Who then are disloyal, if we may use
that term! Who else can be, but those
who are unfaithful-false to the Consttu-
ton! Who else but those who refused to
let the wishes, the will of the majority con-
troll the policy of the nation? Those only
are disloyal who trample the Constitution
under foot. and disregard the voice of the
majority Of the people.
Fidelity to the Administration is rot
loyal to the Government, unless the policy
of the Administration is in harmony with
the Constitution and has the approval of
the majority of the people. We may 60
even further than this. A citizen may
criticlse and condemn the acts Of an Adj
mnistration, and yet be loyal to the Gov
eminent. The mouth-piecs Of the pres
ent Administration comedies this position.
In one of his dispatches to the Minister at
London. Mr.. Seward says:
In this country, especially. it is IA habit
not only consistent with the Constitution.
but even essential to its stability, to regard
the Administration at any time existing as
distinct aud seperate from the Government
itself, and TO canvass the proce edings of the
one without thought of disloyalty TO the
her.
And with this admission from the high
priest of epublcanism, we find Republi-
cans all over the country crying out
against every man who has the manliness
and Independence to canvas the proceed
ings of the Administration, F" "crucify him.
6 IL,
public left the despotic governments of the
world, because the tongue and pen were
manaced, and row some of the defendants
of the men who peried their lives and
pledged their fortunes and their sacred
honors TO establish Il free government, are
unwilling to tolerate freedom Of speech and
the press.
The meanest treason is infidelity to the
Constitutions and the basest traitors those
who disregard that sacred chart of free
dom. And the men who are willing to
crush out freedom of speech and the press,
and who justify the despotic usurpalions of
IA faithless administration, may justly be
branded with disloyalty. Such will be the
record Of history. and blind is he who can
not no~ anticipate the "sober second
thought Of even his own judgment upon
the acts of despotism which are commit
ted under the sacred name of liberty. The
best test Of loyalty is the determination to
maintain not only the form, but the spirit
of the free government won by the valor
aud moulded by the wisdom of truly
patriotic ancestry. State Sentinel.
MObbing Newspapers.
A number of soldiers, prisoners on pa
role, mobbed and destroyed the office OF