North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-09-09

refused 10 De OouHu Dy tDe law, anu tHelI
platform was itself a Reputation of the laws,
as it denied their obligation.
The Aboltion:s,s and the Republican par
tv, are therefore, first in fault, in breaking
away from good faith, duty and law, ami
their example, and the appreh ension. of fur
ther acts of aggression upon Southern rights
by them, provoked (although they could not
justify the existing great rebellion.
That rebellion was against the laws of the
United States, and put the whole body of
them at defiance. Although it asserted
for itself a legal ground of justifica' ION
it is most manifest that it was lawless and
unauthoriz zed The compact of Union, be
ing without limitation of time, must be held,
as intended by its authors, to be perpetual,
and the provision contained in it for its own
amendment, p:ovides the only lawful mode
by which its obligations can be limited or
changed. Considering secession as a breach
of the public law, and in view of the i'm
mense interest put in peril by it, this State
concurred in measures of hostility again It
the South. But this was done TO ripdicdte
The brohen ldlD, and to secure the objects for
which the Government of the United States
was originally founded and for no purpose Of
conquest, of oppression or of fanatlcal eXpe
rimpnt. Upon this ground We may justify
our C, nduct, and submit 1t, without appre
sen>ion of censure, to the judgment of future
times.
But the war has lasted more than two
wears, and its management, and the meas
ures of Legislative and executive puicy
which have accompanied it, have given &C
casion for frequent and just complaints. 1t
has been so managed that our armies | ave
been outnumbered where decisive battles
were to be fought, or have been rashly
thrown upon imprePnabe positions Of the
enemy. Our forces, greatly Outnumbering
those OF the Confederates, have been SO DIS
per>cd ard SD handled thar their superiority
has not determined the issue of campaigns,
or concluded the contest. After contrlbut
ipg one fifth of million Of men to the war.
our State Is insul,ed by raids, and is made
Dependent upon the friendship Of neighbur
ing States for fIeT immediate defence.
But 1t is not the mlsmanagement Of par
tlcular military operati ms, nor other mere
errors or policy Cf our rulers, that has sunk
INTO the hearts o! freeInen a. matter OF most
teep and enduring complaint. Mere mis-
management or error may be imputed to in
experience IN war, to accident, to exception
al or temporary causes, or at the worst, 10
ncompctency.
But what shall be said Of the acts Of Con
gress and acts Of the executive IN contemp'
IF the CONSTITUTION. which, bearing upon the
war, have protraciedit, nnlted the enemy,
divided our own people, and placed us IN a
false position before the nations If the earth ?
I Cunti>cation Act and the Emancipation
Proclamation are, in the opinion of a large
part Of our people, not only 1nwise ard Inju
rious to our cause, but also wholly unauthor-
ised by any any principle of belIigterent or
constitutional law. We need 60 but little
way beyond the doctrine of these measure
before We concludea that the torch may be
applied to entire towns, and a srrvIe, saw
age race be let loose to wotks Of rapine and
war.
But not merely in the policy of the war
IN our relations with the enemy-has illegal
Ity, with consequent evil, appeared. In
taese Northern States, wholly untouched by
revolt, the public sense has been outraged by
repeated and fragrant acts OF arbitrary pow
er The enumeration of these would consti
tute volume and they furnish premoni-
ton of evil in the future which every patrl
otto mind should view with deep apprehen-
sion. How long can the law be habtuaIly
and Extensively broken by the public author
Itles, in peaceful and free communities, he
fore resistance will be provoked and reign
IF social disorder established ?
Thus, upon reviewing our affairs, We per-
ceive how the spirit Of re7oirtion-that is,
of disregard and opposition to law-has
worked to our injury, how it presses upon
us with heavy hand at the present mo
ment, and threatens our future welfare
And we discover also the parties or inter
ests who are, in this connection, chargahie
with guilt. The picture is dark and gloomy
enough to create both abhorance and fear.
Unfortunately there is no certainty OF the
amendment of affairs by parties of admins
trations now in possession of power. The
aboIitionist stands implacabe and insoIen.
as of old, and gives perverted direction to
the war. The Republican party, incapable
and prone TO abuse, has control OF the FEEDER
al Government and of most of the State NV
ernments north and west, and the Confeder-
ate Government, inimical to reunion, holds
position in the South. From none OF these
can we expect the firm establishment OF Un-
ion, order, liberty ahd law. W. are not to
look to the guilty for salvation, nor to those
- brook the laws for their reStOratlOn.-