The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-06-19
VOLUME2 24.
Union Leagues.

1t is very singular that well educated
Americans, men who have long been good
citizens, und sustained honorable. rela.
tiOns to society, and, above all the rest,
have been educated in the love Of sound
constitutional liberty, should now resort
to the secret society system of France to
sustain the fortunes of a falling party
But such is the case. Secret societies
have many times deluged Paris with
blood-will they not do the same thing
in the United States if they are contin-
ued as begun7. r..s." .-...
We copy the preamble of the cousti.
tuition of Union League in the largest
town just out of the city Of Boston, to
show the public the basis upon which
these partisan organizations act: "We,
the undersigned, believing it to be the
, duty of all good citizens, do hereby
pledge ourselves to an unqualified 10y.
atty to the Constitution of the United
States, an un,Oavering support of the
Federal Government 10 whatever efforts
it may put forth for the suppression of
the rebellion now threatening to destroy
the nation. We heartily unite in de.
claring that we will discountenance all
parties and persons, who publicly or
privately aid and encourage, or sympa-
thize with the enemies of the country,
and that we may more effectually accom-
plish our purpose, do hereby constitute
ourselves an association by subscribing
our names to the following" etc.
Now, what do these gentlemen mean,
by "unquahfed loyaltyW They mean
nothing more nor less than an obedience
to the Constitution as they interpret it,
They will not submit to the interpreta.
ton of it by their neighbors of an op.
posite political complexion, nor by the
Supreme Court Of the United States
They also call for an "unaUauering sup-
port Of the Federal Gouernment"- -
What do they mean by this? Simply
that all their neighbors, and all the peo.
pie shall support all the measures Of the
Federal Administration in "Uhatever
efforts" it may put forth, etc. This,
interpreted by the light of facts, means
that oil their neighborS shall sustain
publicly and privately all arbitrary ar.
rests, all decapitation Of Generals on
partisan grounds, all tilts at, and over
turnings of the Constitution, all suspen.
sions Of newspapers, and assumptions
'of the powers of martial law without
authority.
But suppose their neighbors and
friends don't support all these things,
what is The consequence? They are all
to be "discouatenanced." What is
more, to make this "discountenanced"
the more terrible; they organize them
selves into "league." To make them
selves strong they combine. We have
never seen occasion to fear the logic of
any one of these "loyal" men, and our
experience has been the more men of
this class the less logic. We are sorry
to be "discountenanced," both publicly,
and privately, on account of honestly
entertained political sentiments, but
must take the risk. .
Seriously, this will not do. Gentle
men, members of this League, have
qualms Of conscience as to the work
they have committed themselves to-
They do not really wish to inaugurate
reign of terror; but they are travelling in
chat direction. They have but one pur,
pose, and that is to keep the Admins.
tration in radical hands. But the rod
Of power will soon pass away from them
forever; all they hold at present is held
by mortmain. They should not now, in
their last moments, commence playing
with edge tools, for they sometimes cut
one way as well as another. If they
wish to retain the Federal power, let
them "discountenance" secret societies,
reform their acts in administration, and
come to the polls with clean hands, 9th.
erwise infamy will be added to defeat
Boston Post. .-.....