Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-03-19
The Position of Loyal Democrats.
From the Green Bay Advocate, Dem.1


"OUR COUNTRY MAY SHE ALWAYS BE
RIGHT, BUT, RIGHT OR WRoNe, OuR.CoUN.
TRY !''-Ws have kept this motto st the
head of our columns since we started this
paper, sixteen years ago, and never have
been so satisfied as now with its correct
ness. The country, to-day, is the United
States Of America; its enemies those who
are in arms against it. Right or wrong,
our country Keeling with the murder
GUS blows she has received, she may stag
ger wildly along the path which leads out
of the difficulty, swerving even across
constitutional boundaries, but 80 long as
she keeps the right general direction, We
bid her God speed.
We have said what we think of the
Emancipation scheme. We believe it
ought to be discussed, if discussed at all
| at this time, not as question of law or
constitutionality, but as one of policy
Whether it will increase or decrease the
chances of overcoming the rebellion, is
the question. If it will increase them,
we go for it, right or Urong. If it will
decrease them. we are against it, right or
sor0ng.
There are those who refuse to aid this
| war further, and who demand that it be
stopped, because this emancipation BUSH
ness is unconstitutional" Pray how are
| we to decide that Shall we halt our ar
mics where they are sickening in the fens
| and marshes of the South, until the ques-
ton tinds it. way into and through the
Supreme Court Intelligent men say it
is constitutional, intelligent men say it is
not so. Gan that matter be decided in
this imminent moment of danger? If the
Supreme Cour, could be organized on the
field on the plan of drum-head court
| martial, we would be willing to have
these questions tried out as we 60 along,
provided it did not take more than one
| night for each one but otherwise they
had better be deferred until more pressing
business is got out of the way.
Whose constitutional rights are We
auibbing about2 Are these injured men
at home on their plantations, peacefully
til!ing the ground with their niggers, and
Loyalty looking to the government for
protections So far a. is ascertaiDed, we
believe our armies have not found them
there. They have found these meek and
lowly men, whose constitutional rights
are in danger of being overlooked, at Bull
Run, at Balls Bluff, Charleston, Freder-
icksburg, Antietam, Corinth, Murfrees-
boro, and so on. They have found these
oppressed niger owners, even at this time
when they ought to be at home making
ready for the planting season, blocking the
way at Vicksburg and Port Hudson,
sprlnging internal machines under our
gunboats in the Yazoo River, marching
through Kentucky and threatening the
! Ohio, terrifying at Mobile and Savannah,
and everywhere detving the authority, de-
nounclng the government, repudiating the
laws, and declaring themselves the enc
mics of the United States. Are these the
men whose constitutional rights we are
quarreling about?
We have thought that sympathy for the
everlasting niger had reached a point
where disgust even mad pallsd upon the
taste but that becomes mild and palatable
an comparison aoith this ncw regard for re-
Del rights. There is but one step OF senti-
mentality beyond it, and that is while
these much injured men are employing
their time in devastating the country, and
destroying the government, We should 60
down and take care of their plantations
and keep their niggers at home, so they
shall Dot be Inconvenience from being
abroad