Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-10-29
Prom the Daily Of Oct. "a
Tar Law OF SnLr-PsEsERvArloN,

THE Law OF SGLF-Ps EsERvATIoN.-l
A prospective despotism inaugurated
mder The plea of military necessity, has
Lee 'evt upon which the Copperhead
orators aud newspapers have most expa-
t'ad In their zeal to prevent the adop-
tion or eyecntion of measures necessary to |
the oatloaa, pres walton, they have con-
stantly held for the editication of the
public, distorted views Of Abraham lin
coin enacnng the role of the tyrant and
the people stripped of all their rights and |
reduced To- condition little better than
slavery. What effect these alarming pic
lures have had upon the people is evil
denced by the recent elections. The peo-
pie either are smgularly obtuse upon the
subject, or else no amount of coppery dust
can blind them to two thngs-the utter
absurdlty of charginga man like Abraham
Lincoln with any disposition to get into
despot's shoes, and the further and no less
absurdity Of surprising that sturdy peo-
pie, among whom education is SO generally
diffused as in the loyal states, a people rear
cd and nurtured in the purest air Of free
dom, people accustomed to do their own
thinking and their own governing, could
be enslaved by anybody, should such mad
ness ever be attempted. The one great
fact which stares the people in the face is
this the only way in which free govern
ment can be effectually and permanently
secured, Is by supporting the constituted
authorities in their honest endeavors to
quell rebellion inaugurated for the over
throw of the Union, and in the use of the
means necessary to that end. This sup
port does not necessarily embrace an APP
proval of every individual act of the Ad-
ministration. Errors are made by all
men, and a proper criticism upon them is
beneficial. But it does preclude that con-
slant warning upon its every act that con I
slant endeayor to block the wheels of gov
ernment; to prevent the supply of men
and money and the adoption Of measures
necessary to carrying on the war ; and to
discourage the people in its prosecution,
which have characterized that faction
popularity called the Copperheads.
The people have given their verdict
through the recent elections, that the wal
is to be pushed forward to the complet,
overthrow of the rebellion that the mel
and means are to be furnished and tn,
measures supported necessary to that end
and no great amount of alarm is discover
able concerning a despotism at Washing
ington. 1t is perhaps unnecessary, there
fore, to discuss further just now the pre-
tended assumption of unwarranted power
by the government, as complained OF BY
the Copperheads. But as the latter pro
fess to inherit the genuine !. democracy,
through a direct line Of transmission fren
jefferson, it will be Of interest to rea'
what he, at least, thought to be the dnt,
Of President in times of instruction an,
public danger The following are extract
from letter written by him, which, foun,
Il in Vol. 9Th. page 542, of his works, ha
been recently brought to notice in tn
/ Wheeling (Va.) Intelligencer:
"The question you propose, whether crcum
z stances do not sometimes occur, which makes it
duty in officers of high trust to assume authorize
beyond the law, is easy Of solution in principle
rs. observance of the written laws is doubtless Q
the highest duties Of a good citizen but it is no
the highest. Thelaw Of niece 'sity, ofself-preser
walton, of saving our country when in danger, ar
SIS of higher obligation. To lose our country by
scrupulous adherence to written law, would be t
lose itself, life, liberty prosperity, and all thos
who are enjoying them with us; thus absurd
sacrificing the end to the MEANS When in tn
battle OF Germantown, Gen. Washington's arm
was annoyed from Chew's house, he did not hest
tate to point his cannon against 1t, although tn
property of citizen. When he besieged York
town. he leveled the suburbs, feeling that the law
of property must be postponed to the safety c
the nation. While the army was before York, tn
Governor of Virginia took horses, carriages, pro
visions, and even men by force to enable tina
army to stay together till 1t could master the pub
lie enemy, and he was justifed. ship at sea II
distress for provisions, meets another havin
aushorses the distressed to take sup
plies by force In all these cases, the unwrttel
laws Of necessity, Of sefpreservation, and of tn
] public safety, control the written laws Of meun
g After the affair of the Chesapeake, n