Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-03-18
The Position Of Loyal Democrats.
From the Green Bay Advocate, Dem.1

"OUR COUNTRY MAY SHE ALWAYS BE
RIGHT, BUT, RIGHT OK WRONG, QUE, CoUN
TRY !"-We have kept this motto at the
paper, sixteen years ago. and never have
been satisfied as now with its correct
ness. The country, to-day, is the United
States OF America; its enemies those who
are in arms against it. Right or wrong,
our country Keeling with the murder
Gus blows she has received, she may stag
ger wildly along the path which leads out
of the difficulty, swerving even across
constitute, nal boundaries, but 80 long as
she keeps the right general direction, we
bid her God speed.
We have said what we think of the
Emancipation scheme. We believe it
ought to be discussed, if discussed at all
at this time, not as question of law or
constitutionality, but as one of policy
Whether it will increase or decrease the
chances of overcoming the rebellion, is
the question. If it will increase them,
we 60 for it, right or aorong. If it will
deer ease them, we are against it, right or
tor0zg.
There are those who refuse to aid this
war further, aud who demand that it be
stopped, because this emancipation BUSH
ness is ''unconstitutional." Pray how are
we to decide that Shall we halt our ar
mics where they are sickening in the fens
and marshes OF the South, until the ques-
ton finds its way into and through tho
Supreme Court Intelligent men say il
is constitutional, intelligent men say il is
not so. Can that matter be decided in
this imminent moment of danger2 II the
Supreme Cour, could be organized On the
field on the plan of drum head court
martial, we would be willing to have
these questions tried out as we go along,
provided it did not take more than one
night for each one but otherwise they
had better be deferred until more pressing
business Is got out OF the way.
Whose constitutional rights are we
ouibbling about2 Are these injured men
tilling the ground with their niggers, and
Loyalty looking to the government for
protection2 So far as is ascertained, we
believe our armies have not found them
there. They have found these meek and
low,y men, whose constitutions, rights
are ia danger of being overlooked, at Bull
Run, at Balls Bluff, Charleston, Freder-
icksburg, Antietam, Corinth, Murfress-
boro, and so on. They have found these
oppressed niger owners, even at this time
when they ought to be at home making
ready for the planting season, blocking the
way at Vicksburg and Port Hudson,
sprlnging internal machines under cur
gunboats in the Yazoo River, marching
through Kentucky and threatening the
Ohio, terrifying at Mobile and Savannah,
and everywhere defying the authority, de-
nouncing the government, repudiating the
laws, and declaring themselves the ene-
mics of the United Ststes. Are these the
men whose constitutional rights we are
quarreling about9
We have thought that sympathy for the
everlasting niger had rescued point
where disgust even mad palled upon the
taste but that becomes mild and palata6le
in conapar ison Nth this ncO regard for re-
bel rights. There is but one step OF sentl-
mentality beyond it, and that is while
these much injured men are employing
their time in devastating the country, and
destroying the government, we should go
down and take care Of their plantations
and keep their niggers at home, 30 they
shall not De Inconvenience from being
al broad