Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-12-26
The Union as il w as.

From the the N. y. Journal Of Commerce.
The Vice President Of the United
States is a gentleman whose principal
public demonstration since his election
was 10 giving . warm reception on the
Senate to the chief apostle of the doc
trine that "the constitution is league
with death aud covenant with he'll, -
and tho avowed "disunionist Of fifteen
years standing" Mr.. Haml,n, pur-
suing the pol'cv indicated by this well
know n demonstration, recently made a
remark in public speech which was
highly offensive to largo and inetlli-
gent portion Of the community. He said,
"there are many men rho rant the Un-
con as IL ,cas, and the Constitution as 1t
is. Well, they can't have it," We SAID
the other day that its tone was dictsri-
81. The Tribune, in an article which
has more of calmness and apparent sin
cerity than radical discussions on this
subject usually assume defends Vice Pres
ideut Hamlin's remark. The Tribune
om,ts the cool word "well" in the SEN
tence, and quoting it as simple state
ment says that we are wrong in calling it
"dictororial," since it is q mere assertion
of matter of fact, as plain as that 1.-TWO
and two make four"
We should be sorry to yield to the
belief that it is true in fact for in that
Gaze il would be left to the free choice
of every one, North, South, East and
West, what government be prefers, Fed
eral or Confederate, State or National,
and it would be . tyrannical crime to
compel any man to fight for or support
the government whose head quarters are
located at Washington. The only pos.
sible justification OF the war is in the un-
changed, andisturbed character Of tho
old Uuion and old Constitution. That
Union and Constitution by virtue OF
their original char. cter, demand and re-
ceive the support Of good citizens; but
if the ideas OF tho Tribune school be true,
then Mr.. Lincoln is only the accidental
President of conslomeratlon of men
and States fgting for an unkown some
thing in an uncertain future. We deny
mi. theory. and defend the country
against it as dangerous and deadly. We
are not fighting for any such vague gov
erument. We are not fighting Tor any
abstract idea of liberty, or union ofgo :
eminent. We nave not assembled our
vast armies, or poured out our treasures
nv thous .nds of millions for the the 10
coh .te idea of some union OF new kind
or q government to be an Improvement
one the old. Mr.. Lincoln is President
az the old Union, under the old Consti-
sutiou. aud nothing else.
We respectfully ask the Tribune to re-
v;ev carefully the folio wing passage f ON
ito article Of yesterday, and elucidate liz
true meaning: an. =
.thc Union as.it vas do not sec that res
,ors,;on volud not diminish our peris o.
snsrd us against those dangers which
Sroncht "a 10 all this weary woe. Who
relishe. the prospect Of another quartz,
Of Century Of contention IN Church ano
State. IN conversations and congresses
a.. "a to have no mercy upon our limo.
cant progeny, and do want the children
cf onr ch,ldreu to suffer, as we have, the
NOR, iiicatiops and losses and 'orments o.
;nta.tine warl Why should not matters
h. ss,tled nov Have we not had ex-
per,msnts enough 7"
We ask, calmly ard seriously, is this
loral Is The T,i6une's, or in any other
scceptssioo Of the term! Is it any more
lovsl than the doctrine Of tae rebels
Il il not in fact > complete and tota
ratification 81 the rebellion The South
ara conspirators did not want 1.-THE UnioI
: It wss." Had they not the same RICH,
8 sbuss il, TO declare that they would
not have it, that they would have bet.
CT Ua,on and . better Constitution, and
that they would settle it now fol
thsis childrenl II the Northern radical
~ The right 70 declare that the Union il
hatafol - him because Of slavery, had
~ - ooatheru sadscAl the equal right
= declare ithaseael bsoasss Of abolition-
aenl H - sassly = ffss : man, :