The mountain Democrat., 1863-04-25
TAs Test OF Loyalty.


Chicago Times, is swiftly leading to civil
war in the loyal States. When the people
Of any government are prepared to re-
ceive the dogma that loyalty Is due 10 men
rather than principles, they are ct instru.
ments for slavery.
1t is amazing that the doctrines taught
by the first Charles Of England should
now be reviewed and inculcated by the
entire press supporting President Lin
coins Administration. The despotism
claimed for the President is more absolute
than the assertion of Kingly power by
| Charles |. at the commencement Of his
reign and the test Of loyalty submitted
by the inSOlence Of AbOlitioRism rests
upon precisely the same base as the ale
glance claimed by Charles before his first
open rupture with Parliament He as
serted himself to be the government--th
source Of authority and power. The doc
trine that the King could do no wrong
covered not only himself but his Minis
ters. He was the judge 0fth4 necessities
\ SbAt might suspend To, ,astjSn Of Judges,
determine Ine imposition OF taxes, the
propagation Of parliaments, the suspension
Of habeaS corpus, the arbitrary imprison-
ment Of citizens, and farming of the reve-
nues of the realm. 1t is now an 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 responsible
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 Democrat
ic rule has ever been, and ever will be,
"Our country, right or wrong" Itnever
has been, and never will be, "the admin.
istration right or wrong" Those who
can perceive no difference between the
country and the administration may be
unable to understand the distinction
may be unable to understand that it is
possible to denounce q weak and wicked
administration without being disloyal.
IT, after our practical experience in the
workings Of this government, it is neces-
sary to assert that there is and can be no
such thing as loyalty to an adminiStra-
ton, We had best follow the example Of
Greece, and invite some beggarly scion
Of royal stock to come and rule over US.
IL Reverend Beecher's tratorouS senti-
ment. that 1.-THE Constitution is only
dead sheepskin parchment, and the Pres
ident, Cabinet and Congress are the gov
ernment," is attempted to be enforced,
those who make the attempt had best
adjust their earthly businSsS preparatory
to a start on long journey.
II the Constitution is but "dead
sheepskin parchment" the wealth OF
millionaire is but piece Of white paper
written upon, and the executors may de-
termne for themselves, after having been
Invested with possession, the disposition
Of the property.
Under the Constitution, the Admins
tra;ion has been Invested with the pos
session Of the government-bu is their
government, and are they at liberty to
trample under foot the solemn restric-
tions OF the fathers, and fi,ch from the
people rights tied by letters patent"
and sealed with blood:
The traitors in the loyal States are not
those who have steadfastly endtavored to
keep before the minis If the people the
great principles upon which the govern
mcnt restS-are not those who have
taught that the Constitution was living,
active, alI-pertadinc, nil-eSSential prlGci-
pie, possessing form and power. without
which the government could not live, any
more than man can live after the anni-
hilatiOn OF both soul and body-any more
than Christianity could live after the
record of our SaviOr's life had been ob.
liberated trom the world and his memory
and teachings from the minds.of men
but those who have taught that the Con-
stitutiOn is a dead sheepSkn parch-
ment"-" rotten, fostering corruption
who have hailed our flag as Haunt
ing lie"-whO have made obedience to
the administration rather than to the
Constitution q test Of loyalty-who have
said that the Union as it was ".should
never curse an honest people or blot the
page Of history again, 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 to 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