Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-03-18

tors here regard the Constitution as rope
sand; nay, worse than that--as rope of indis
rubber, that you can stretch and twist at pleal
ure. And is not this silent and quiet submisslo
to wrong In consequence of your rules of ter
ror, the very warrant of the Governor of you
State In his doubt Of the peoples capacity b
govern themselves, and in his assertion iha
such capacity Ia still an unsettled question 2
You destroy the Constitution and then convince
the people that they are not fit to govern them
selves, and you have them In a good condition
to fall back upon the Mother Country.
Now, | desire to have the Senator understand
that We Democrats firmly protest against these
abomiDable heresies. We have never lost our
abiding faith in the people Washington thought
II was settled question, and 90 did every statee-
man of note. Jackson more than thirty years apo.
when he settled the rebellion in South CaroIi-
ma, said that the capacity of the people to gov
ern themselves was no longer an unsettled
question. Yes, Mr.. President, the civilized
world regarded IL as settled question that the
people OF the United States at least were fit 10
govern themselves. Great Britain and Mexico
found is out by actual experience, and Austria
thought so too when she surrendered Costa TO
the Captain of a single American brig. 1t is
left to the new lights of these latter unhappy
days, these willing tools of Abolitionism, to ad.
vocate the Infamous here9y of mans unfitness
for self-government. You can succeed with
this idea only when there ia no longer Consti-
tuition TO revere, and when people will regard men
In power as their masters. know your "laudable
endeaVors" are tending in that direction, and
would eventually succeed were il not for the
Democratic intelligent masses of the peopie.
Let me tell You right here, that the people al
ways have construed and always will construe
EopuNtlnNtat, sn A. A.
against tyrants and usurpers. We regard men
10 Office as our servants, and tun them out by
the operations of our own laws. II the people
in the elections last fall did not speak loud
enough to have you hear that they repudiete
your course and do not indorse your acts, they
will soon speak again, and With hope that tb ey
be needed. Your "laudable practices" will be
fully weighed and acted upon.
One word about constituting the Constitution, |
and shall no longer t.espsss upon the lime OF
the Senate with remarks on this question, VOL
Democrats have been known from The forma-
tion OF our Government, hitherto, sa ''strct |
construct i0nists." We always did, and always
will, hold on to the letter of the Constitution. |
In this attachment, we are not governed by any
OF your "hlgher law" doctrines, but we have
The commentaries Of American statesmen and
juris!s, and the Supreme Court oil the United
States to construe the instrument; and we
respectfully abide by such decision We regard
the Constitution the same in war as in peace,,]
and ample for both-under all circumstances
the same. We demand from all the world
proper regard for it, Let no polluted hand ever
touch it. Our cloud OF smoke by day, our
pillar of fire by night, our compass and our
guiding star. While aa patriots, We cherish its
virtues with fond recollection of the price il
has cost, we will stand by it and defend it against
oil its enemies, at home and abroad, and if the
evil day should ever come, when this Consttu.
lion shall 90 down, We will 60 down with it
We shall be found in the ruins OF the Republic.
But, Mr.. President, We shall 60 down with the
Constitution as the Monitor went dowG-wilh
bur guns booming and our banners flying
Nov, let me say in conclusion, that if the
majority here have the same regard for the
Constitution that we have, they must repudiate
many of their leading men-sll such as have
10 faith in the Constitution as it is, aud who
lesire an anti-slavery Cons titution; ell such as
low, even on the floor of Congress, declare
hat they do not want the Union as ID was, nor
he Constitution as 1t is. You may have your
God and call him Belzebub If you
'lease. have no objection to that. But ii You
eally love your Constitution, give US proof OF
t here. Strike out the Sord 'laudable" and
nsert the word 4" constitutional" and We can
Id0pt the resolutions without dissenting
rOice.