Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-07-29

The Union as II Mas--Fhe Constitution
Hs IL iH,''
The foregoing phrase, since the breaking
out of the rebellion, has been a Cop2erhead
shibboleth-the embodiment of q sort of
euphuistic hypocrisy. JEFF. Davis and
his rebel compeers in the o. S. Senate
and the rebel members Of Buchanan's Cab
met perjured themselves by trampling on
the Constitution which they had sworn to
support and by asssiling the Union of
which that Constitution WAS the bond and
exponent. While Mr. Lincoln and his ad-
ministration, as by their oaths they we're
bound to do, essayed to preserve both the
Union and its Constitution, the Copper
-svu-v.-SJrsls rslsFavrtr1vH5- WIN Uuv roUeitiOn dC-
cused them Of being untrue to both, and
made the Welkin ring with shouts Of " the
Union as it was-the Constitution as it Is"
It may be truly affirmed, that no man
ever labored with a more sincere and
honest purpose than has President Lin
coin; to comply with every requirement of
the Constitution in his efforts to preserve
the Union. His scrupulous delicacy in
regard to Constitutional obligations, in
the early stages Of the war, detracted some
what from the vigor of its prosecution, and
the sarHsstness Of the rebellion, was not
match ed by equal earnestness on the part
of the Union.
But as the gigantic proportions of the
rebellion began to be more and more de-
vslOped, and as its determined and relent-
less clutch on the throat of the Govern
ment began to be more and more uncom-
fOrtably felt-the President impelled by
dire military necessity, was forced to re-
sort to extraordinary measures measures,
however, in times of insurrectiOn and re-
bellion, in complete harmony with the
spirit Of the Constitution, and the intent
Of its trainers and fully in accordance with
the prerogatives of all just Governments.
Discerning, at length, that not only the
cause, but the strength Of the rebellion
was slavery, and peroeiving, also, that the
removal of the cause, and the abstraction
Of that strength from the arm Of the rebel
lion, were essential for its overthrow, and
for the preservation Of the Union and the |
life of the Government he declared the
slaves Of rebels forever free. The status
Of slaves being thus changed, it is i'm
possible, under any possible combination
ofcircumstances, that the emsncipated shall
again be remsnded to unrequited servi-
tude by the consent Of the Executive Gov
ernment Of the United States, unless that
AbOminable rCle Of despOts, that might
makes risht'' 10 sdUpJed.
If it shall be found impossible, in the
Of peace propositions, in terms
md in detail, to restOrs the Union as it
vas, and the Constitution as it is" for
hat result the rebels themselves in rails
ng their hands against the Union and the
Constitution, are responsible.
The Government found it impossible to
its authority, and preserve the
Union, without destroying slavery, and
or that reason it destroyed it; and that
is irreyersible.
From Virginia, a new and loyal State has
been carved. This new State sovereigntv
must be abolished and blotted out to re-
Itore the Union as it was" viii, or can
his be dOne7
1t is manifest that the rebellion has
Orced and created state of facts, which
zill render a restoration Of the Union as
{ iOas, impossible. A peace adjustment
must, inevitably, be upon the basis Of
'seonstructiOa ofthe Union, and an amended
Constitution, to meet the new order Of
-hings produced by the civil war. And
'hat reconstruction must be upon the basis
Il no slavery in the States, creating the
necessity of amending the Constitution in
'sgard to the thrse-ffths principle Of rep