Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-03-03
What is Union, and What is Disunion

What is Union, and What is Disunioni
awe the people Of the United States" said
our fathers, ain order to form MORE PERFECT
UNIoN," ., do ordain and establish
this CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA" .
There was Union before, but the Consttu-
tlon was ordained and established for the ex.
press purpose of forming "a more perfect
Union" The Constitution, then, thus ordained
and established, formed the Union that WASH
INeroN and the fathers left US, and is its basic,
its essence and life-giviug principle, without
which 1t cannot exist single hour. 1t is the
supreme law, in the observance and maintenance
of which consist the endurance of the Union
and the safety of the States and the people.
The Union exists under and by the Constitu-
tion just as 1t has come down to us from the
fathers of the Republic. disregard of, and
disobedience to that Constitution, whether it
amount to slight infraction Of any one Of it's
provisions, or to armed resistance to ts enforce
Heue, 10 W buht e1tent DlsunlOn.
He, then, only is Unionist, who yields an
unqualified and unhesitsting obedience to the
Constitution even in the minutest Particular
to the provision which requires him not to OBJ
ssruct the recapture of fugitive slave by his
master, as,well as to the provision which secures
liberty of religious belief and worship to him
self and his fellow citizens. 1t may possibly
not accord In all things with his abstract notions
of honor and right; but our written Constitu-
tion, until altered or amended by the people,
must stand to the citizen Of the United States
as the written law Of God does to the Christian.
Il constitutes that "higher law" of civil and
political rights and duties from which there is
no appeal. 1t Is the ordinance of the people,
whose voice is,. in respect to rights and duties
under it, as the voice Of God Heiwho violates
or resistS that ordinance is Disunionist.
Our countrymen are now divided into two
great clssses--the Unionists, comprising Demo
Gratis and Conservatives, and the Disunionists,
consisting Of Secessionists and Abolitionists.
The former, the Democratic and Conservative
Unionsts, have been, from the beginning of
this civil war, and We may add, from the day
the Constitution was adopted, and are now, for
preserving the Union by observing and main
tanning that Constitution just as it has been
handed down to us. The Disunionists, on the
other hand, have been and are for setting aside
that Constitution, either as whole as In the
case Of the Secessionisis, or by nullifying and
setting ct naught some of Its vital provisions,
as In the case of the Abolitionists. Before the
war, the Abolitlonists openly resisted the en-
forcement Of that provision of the Constitu-
tion which prohibits any obstruction to the re-
capture of fugitive slaves; since the war, they
have, by usurpations Of executive and legisla.
tive power, Get OF naught the most sacted pro-
visions of the Constitution, designed expressly
for the security Of the liberty, the property and
rights Of the people as citizens of the United
States as we'll as Of particular States.
The Secessionists, by their open and armed
resistance TO the authority of the Constitution
are avoWed Disunionists, and cannot, and do
not desire 10 aid in the restoration of the Union.
The Abolitionists, while pretending to be
Unionists, also disregard and set at naught
the Constitution. under the infamous plea of
the disguised assassin, that the way to preserve
the Union is to deprive It Of It's life-principle.
like surgeon who should undertake to save
mans life by cutting of his head.
Democrats and Conservatlves-no matterby
what names you may be called among your
selves, or BY what odlous nicknames your po.
litIcal enemies, North and South, may desig-
nate you, for in both sections their hatred is
equally malignant against you--you must rise
BY united effort to the exlgenoy Of this great
erisis-you must maintain the Constitution just
as our fathers ordained and established it, or
Its enemies, the Secessionists and Abolitionists
who are now engaged, with all their might, in
a common conspiracy, will succeed in destroy
Ing forever our countrys pride, crown and glory
the American Union.