The mountain Democrat., 1863-03-07
The Test q Legally.

leading to civil war in the loyal States.-
When the people Of any government are
prepared to receive the dogma that 10y
alty is due to men rather than principles
they are lit instruments for slavery.
Il is amszing that the doctrines taught
bv the first Charles Of England should
now be reviewed and inculcated by the
entire press supporting President Lin
coln's administration. Tie despotism
claimed for the President is more abso'
HNsO> tVN~. tN~, sS4HS[iNn M kNN4Sy -NNvev
by Charles T. <t IHs corDgNepceyueot at
his reign and the test Of loyalty sub
mitted by the insolence Of abolitioniSm
rests upon precisely the same base as the
allegiance claimed by Charles before his
6rst open rupture with Parliament He
asserted himself to be the government
the source Of authority and power. The
doctrine that the King could do no wrong
covered not only himself but his Minis
ters. He was the judge Of the neceSSi-
ties that might suspend the action Of
Judges, determine the imposition taxes,
the prorogation Of parliaments, the suS'
pension Of habeas corpus, the arbitrary
Imprisonment Of citizsNs, G=d fIrniag Of
the revenues Of the realm. II is nov sn
axiom Of the British government that the
King can do no wrong, but the naughty
pride of the British Ministry has learned
to bow humbly before free people that
hold the counselors Of the sovereign re-.
sponEihle for all wrong committed in the
name Of the crown.
The rule Of loyalty now sought to be
imposed by the administration and the
fanatical press and pulpit Of the country
ignores the government entirely and sub.
Stitutes obedience to those temporarily
charged with its conduct. The Demo.
cratic rule has ever been, and ever will
be, "Our country right OF wrong" 1t
never has been, and never will be, "the
administration right or wrong" Those
who can perceive no difference between
the country and the administration may
bc unable 10 understand the distinction
may be unable to understand that it is
possible to denounce 4 weak and wicked
administration without being dislOyal.
II, after our practical experience in the
workings Of this government, 1t is neces'
Sary to assert that there is and can be no
such thing as loyalty to an adminiStra.
tion, we had best & llow the example Of
Greece. and invite some beggarly scion Of
royal stock to come and rule over US.
II Reverend Beecher's traitoroUS senti.
ment, that "the Constitution is only a
dead Sheepskin parchment, and the Pres
ident, and Congress are the government"
is attempted to be enforced, those who
make tho attempt had best adjust their
earthly business preparatory to q start
on long journey.
If the Constitution is but "dead
sheepSkn parchment" the wealth Of
millionaire is but piece of white pa er
written upon, and the executors may de-
termine for themselves. after having been
invested with possession, the disposition
of the property.
Under the Constitution, the admins
tration has been invested with the pos
session Of the gOvernment-but is their
and are they at liberty to
trample under foot the solemn restric.
tions of the fathers, and fich from the
people rights tiled by letters patent"
md sealed with blood?
The traitors in the loyal States are not
those who have steadfastly endvavo' ed to
keep before the minds Of the people the
great principles upon which the govern
Inent reStS--a not those who have
taught that the Constitution was living.
nctive, all.pervading, all essential PRINCE
PIE. possessing form and power, without
which the government could not live, any
more than man can live after the annihi-
iation OF both soul and body-any more
than Christianity could live after the
record Of our Savior'S life had been oblit-
Grated from the world and his memory
and teachings from the minds of men -
but those who have taught that the Con
is "dead sheepSkin parclI-
mcnt"-a rotten, fostering corruption"
who have hailed our flag as Haunt
ing lie"-who have made obedience to
the administration rather than to the
test Of loyalty-who have
never curse an honest people or blot the
page of history again, n,"-THEsE ARE THE
TRAITORS.
These are they who have made the
blood Of the covenant (the covenant Of
The Constitution, purchased with the
blood Of the fathers) an unholy thing, and |
have brought disgrace, defeat and death
10 the nation.
True loyalty will submit to no such
tests as are required by such teachers,
and persistence in Offering and demand
ing them can only lead to greater and
more terrible complications than to-day
threaten the existence Of the government
ITSELF Chicago Times.