North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-07-22

non, announced 10 his fellow -countrvmcn =
The deliberate result of his reflections an,
experience, that the whole domestic econom,
OF the States, the whole framework of TIN
internal policy Of the Government must IN
dergo stupendous change or the Unio,
must submit to overthrow. He was no
content with the Constitution. Over tho
graves OF our ancestors he reviled their wis
dom and sought to weaken public confidence
IN the result OF their )abors, and to bring in
to dlsrepute the Government as they made
t. These Northern States, these granite
hills, these smiling plains, this constellation
OF New England States clustering around the
cold, bright North sta". were al to take back
TO their boSoms that system Of slavery which
they had long since expelled or else, on
the other hand, the land of cotton and NJ
cane was to revolutionize its social and in
duStrIal system in obedience to TIE distant
and ungracious demands of the North : or in
the event Of the failure Of both of these start
ling propositions, then the American Union
was to : fall like Lucifer, the bright son Of
the morning, never to hope again" This
was the logic of the President Of the United
States, and with these views unretractcd. bn
entered upon the duties Of his high office
lie was not content with the Constitution
States part slave and part free moved in har-
mOny and fraternity under It's control No
dlScordant, jarring sounds issued from their
respective orbits. The law Of their political
gravltation was perfect. 1t was the result of
ages OF experience, wisdom and suffering, ap
Piled with matchless skill to our peculiar
interests as nation. But he was not con
tent with tire Constitution 1t had wealth
cred many storms, and vindcated its power
to meet all the demands of our unexampled
growth. 1t was as elastic as our ar-reach-
ing boundaries, and as contracted as the
smallest right of the humblest citizen. 1t
had listened to the voice OF the cannon in
time of war, and proved itself suffl cient for
every military necessity. The Union was
the child of its fostering love. 1t nursed its
infancy, and shielded its gigantic manhood
from every assault. But, disregarding its
sacred origin, overlooking its beautiful work
manshjp, blind to its mighty ach ieycments
in behalf Of union, liberty, and humln pro-
-icss, and seeing nothing but what appeared
10 them as defect, the party now in power
boldly proclaimel, by their support Of Mr..
Lincoln, the necessity for its change or its
destruction. | here aver, that in the whole
range OF history no contest short of actual
armed revolt was ever waged in more open
and ayowed contempt and defiance Of exist
ing institutions, ofjudcial decisions Of sa-
cred traditions, and of fundamental organic
law, than the political contest which tri-
umphed in the ascendency Of tie present
To what principle or de-
partment of the Government was obedience
paid by the disciples cfthis destructive school
Of politics ? Was it to the Constitution
itself? They had higher law than it on
the subject of slavery, which gave them the
liberty Of disobedience to civil magistrates.
Was it to the legislation of Congress? ? They
naticism, and if found repugnant to some
thin and shadowy dogma existing in the
realms of an impractical transcendentalism
It too was rejected with that cool disdain or
that hot indignation which so we'll becomes
superior virtue. Was it to the Bible, the
rock of ages, tower of truth, the light house
of wisdom and mercy shining forever over
the stormy waters? g? Did they yield it their
Obediance as the foundation OF all civil Gov.
ernment Not so. 1t too was brought to
the standard of preconceived and presumptu-
Gus notions and preiudces, and the provi
dence and policy of God himself was there
arraigned and condemned. ! dwell upon
these recent facts Of American history with
pain. ! am quite aware of the awful circum-
stances which now surround US and engross
every ANXIOUS thought. | am quite aware
that a million Of American citizens are in
arms against each other. | need not be re-
minded that issues are now suspended in the
balance, on whose decision will depend the
future map of nations. would be silent in
the presence of these great events, on all save
their solution, if the party now in power had
been content, when once in control Of affairs,
to look to restoration and not destruction
the restoration Of Constitutional supremacy,
and not its further abasement-the restora-
ton of the Union and not its irrctrievable
overthrow-the restoration of peace and not
the prolongation Of the horrors of war for its
profits and spols. We might cover up for
mer crimes though they were freigated with
our cJuntry's calamitieS, if some atonemcnt
had been made. have not dwelt upon the
perncous issues of a former period as jus.
tifcatior for the fearful scenes which sur
rounded US, but rather by their light to in
terpret the meaning of strange and alarming
doctrines now for the first time put forth ii
this Government, and also to guide US in GU
| conduct in relation to the revolted States
! of rs nanSa hero on this S7th Annlvcr 81 r,