The mountain Democrat., 1863-06-27
The ConstitutIon Destined TO
Prevail.

Hon, DANIEL .. DlcklnSOH, says t"N
Cincinnati Enquirer, in replying to an in
vitation to address the Loyal Union
League Of Baltimore, referring to the pres
ent contest remarks at will be \ mighty |
struggle, but the Constitution will pre-
vail" This will be good news to a good |
many, who will sincerely hope that Mr.
Dickinson's prOphesy may not prove un'
founded. If the Constitution prevails we
suppose that it will be :" the Constitution
as it is"-the old document unchanged
and unbroken, obeycd and respected as
the organic law of the land: fixing the
form and defining the powers of the Gov
ernment.
The Constitntion-the Constitution aS
it isis just now under cloud. To be
in favor of it is not now looked upon as
.he best possible evidence Of loyalty. z
Indeed there are Nose who do not scru-
pie to say that to BE- in favor Of the Con.
Stitution as 1t is is a badge of treason -
~ -, =: - .,r c = - e-,S-'.H. -
strument, is to cntitle the speaker to slS
piciou. Truly, we do not know Of any
thing better calculated TO render a man
o1iouS in the sight of the party i" whose
hands the defense Of the ConStitution,and
the preservation Of its integrity, is re-
posed, than for him to admit that he is in
favor of the Constitution as it Is.
Against whom. then, is the Consttu
ton to prevail? The party opposed to
the Administration in the North are not
opposed to the Constitution for they
cease not day nor night to proclaim their
adhesion to its letter and its spirit They
need it. They complain snd gIirvr
when it is set aside or violated. They
fear for themselves, their rights lives and
liberties. when they see its provisions
overrildrn by authority.
Where, then is the danger to the Con-
SttutiDn? Where is the seat of this
mighty struggle that is going on for its
preservation? Who are its encmieS!
What are they doing? What are t.cir
objects and motives and what the means
they are employing to destroy it?
There is but one way that a COnstitu-
tion can be put in jeopardy: by aban-
| doning its principles or practically setting
aside its provisions. There is but one
party in the North that can put a Con
Stitution in jcopardy-the party iH powcc.
But if it is the party in power that is put.
ting the Constitution in jeopardy, that is
inauGnratlng the mighty struggle in
which its existence is involved, how is
the party of the Hon Daniel s. Dicken-
son to make it psevail?
There seems to he al the while play
ing at cross purposes. If the party in
! power is, as il assumes to be, the party
sworn to defend the Constitution, why
diScountcnance and condemn those who
profess themselves in favor Of the Consti
tuition as it is?
We know that there are those who de-
death and a covenant with hell who
scrupIe not to say that they are not in
favor of the Constitution as il Is and will
not have it; but where are they? They
are in Loyal Union Leagues they are
the very men to whom Mr.. Dickinson is
/ prOclaiuing that in this mighty st"ug-
gle" the Constitution will prevail
How cheering to such must be TIE oec
/ laration that their efforts to rrvoluti.n n
/ ize the Government will bc futile, ard
return with shame upon theiroNn heads
But they are in safe places. They are
loyal. They have the whole power ofrhe
Government for their protection. They
are the elect. They put their own con-
struction Lpon such words as those Of
Mr.. Dickinson, and that construction is
! that they are permitted to bend the Con.
>ti;ulinn TO their own purposes. ire
pS ective Of the rights which it was
framed to guarantee.
! . . .
FREE SPEECH IN lS47.-The few years
that have passed since this date and the
resent have advanced the Government a
long way toward 'Ie>po,isn. In the Mex,
lean war, waged against foreign foe, aud
where, it would he thought, greater Sc
verify of restriction would be exercised,
the Hon. Mr.. Root, of the Ohio delega-
ton since then, We believe, acting with
the Republican party-thu| expressed
himself on the floor Of Congress. We
quote from the Hon. William Jay (>on Of
Nhinf In .ti,.a .Tnhn I3v ti,n Gr,.ul of