The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-04-16

embraced in the Constitution, Is purely |
visionary. No duty of "loysl,y" can
possibly be Prsdicated of any claim that is
nor founded in the supreme law OF the land.
When il is once ascertained what are the
rights and powers vested in the National
authorities by tho Constitution. they ara
parts of the supreme law, and our loyalty
is due to them. When We know what are
the rights and powers reserved to the
States or the people--and We know that
they are the whole residue Of all possible
political rights and powers-.hey are
equally the objects of our 'loyalty." for
the selfsame reason, namely, they are
parts Of the supreme law of the land
Lond applause.
Again: The Constitution not only con.
lains some political powers and the ghfs
granted to the Federal Government. and
reservation of all other political powers and
rights to the States of the people; but it al
so embraces rights Of persons and proper
ty guaranteed TO every citizen in his indi-
vidusl capacity; and these are equally
made. not by implication but expressly
parts of the supreme Law Of the land. and
are therefore equally the objects of our
'loyal,y.' All pretence. therefore, OF any
paramount authority in the Central Gov
ernment to override these personal rights
of the citizen, or TO claim our loyalty" in
disregard Of these coordinate parts Of the
supreme law, is peryersion Of the very
idea of American loyalty. [Cheers. AS
we'll might the citizen claim, because the
Constitution has made his personal rights
par. of the supreme law, that therefore the
loyalty of his neighbor is due to him alone.
as the Government can claim that loyalty
is due solely. or primarily or ultimately to
the functions which is appointed to
perfor n. The rights of the Government.
the rights of the Sastes, and the rights Of
Individuals, all and equally. are compre-
hended in the supreme law of the land,
and our loyalty is due to that law, to the
whole and every part of it, and public Off
GERS are in tho same sense and for the same
reason bound to obey every '.jot and title
OF it. Great applause.
These positions are very plain and ia
miliar truths, too familiar perhaps, you will
SAY. to be treated. But 10 these days
nothing that i, true is too fundamental CT
too plain to be incu!cated. The sxtrava
giant language and idoas that are current
in the mouths Of even sensible people on
this subject Of loyalty would have exceed
ed all capacity Of belief in any other ,Ean
this. Ii one were to undertake to reduce
this language and these ideas to something
like de6rite moral proposition, it would
be found that the doctrine is something
like this: In time Of war, when there
are great public dangers, the rights Of the
States and of individuals must give way;
and if those who administer the Govern
ment are satisfied that public necessity re.
quires them TO use powers that transcend
The limits of the Constitution, he who
does not acquiescc in their judgment, or
who questions their authority to do par
ticular acts, is "disloyal' citizen
Laug hter. This statement Of the doc
srine is the best know how to make; for
| know not how elsa to interpret or SO ap-
ply the denunciations which We find in the
proceedings of public meetings. in the col
umns OF party newspapers, and in the
common speech and action of very many
persons. | need only to point to the ut.
ter prohibition that is attempted to be pla-
ced upon all discussion OF any plan for
bringing this dreadful civil war to close
excepting by this particular method of
fighting; or to the manner in which the
terms "traitor" and "secessionists" are
hurled at all who question the policy and
lawfulness Of The methods pursued by the
Government in the prosecution of the war.
For myself do not profess to have def
mite opinion. as yet. concerning several of
the modes in which a peace might safely
be sought.
The Normal Condition Ofthe Negro.
]. is self evident truth that negroes are.
naturally considersd-en,itled to our
rights. or they are not. or, in other words,
should be placed in the same status as
ourselves. o. they were designed by the
Creator for different position and differ
en-, purpose, in short, We should apply the
great principle of the Declaration of l776,
and amalgamate with them as we do with
the Europeans who came among us, or We