The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-01-15

Of this land, Such pretensions are in plain
contradiction to the language of these claus
es, and to their settled legal effect If any
differences of construction be possible, our
constitution provides for their detcrmiua-
ton. These questions will be carried before
the proper judicial tribunals. If the theory
of martial law is upheld by them. we will
submit and have the constitution amended
If it is held to be unfounded, it must be
given up.
So sacred did our fathers hold constitu-
tional rights that they placed them beyond
the reach of even the majority of the peo-
pie. Written constitutions are made not
only 10 carry out the wishes, but also 70
restrain the power of majori,ies. and to up
hold and project the rights Of miuolitie-.
They give the humbl,s st citizen the righ,
OF religious freedom against the whole pow
er of our people No matter how large a
majority may be, it must not interfere with
rights of persons; Of property, or of con
science The President himself holds his
place, not by the will of the majority, bu
by virtue Of provisions of the constitution
which plac d him in his Office by the votes
Of about 100000, against the votes OF
about ? SEQ, 900, who Gid no. agree among
themselves as to opposing candidates. lie
continues rishtfuly to hold his office, al
though the popular majoritles, even in tn,
States that placed him there, have, in the
recent elections, declared themselves prac.
tically oppo: ed to his administration The
majority are sill boand to respect his con
stitutional rights. to uphold his powers
and to sustain his acts, done within the lin
lis of r;ghtful authority.
The rights of States were unrestricted
and the powers of general government
were limited, TO protect the people in thel
persons. property, and con.ciences in times
of danger and civil commotion, There i
little to fear in periods of peace and pros
perily. If we are not protected when Their
are popular exci,ements and convulsions
our government is failure. If Presiden
lial proclamalions are above tie decisions
of the courts and the restraints OF the con
stituIion. then that constitution is mock
ely. If it has not the authority TO keep tht
Executive within its restraints, then.it can
not retain States within the Union. Taos,
wha hold that there is no sanciity in th'
constitution must equally hold there is n'
guilt in the rebellion.
We cannot be silent and allow ihes,
practices TO become precedeu;s. They are
as much in violation OF our constitution a
the rebellion itself, aod more dangerous Il
our liberties They hold out to the exec
uiiye every temptation of ambition TO MAKE
and prolong war. They offer despoti'
power as ptice for preventing peace
They are inducements to each adminis;ra
ton to produce discord, and inciie armed
f resistance TO law by declaring that the con
dilicn Of war removes all constitutional re
eiraints. They call about the naliona
capital hordes Of unprinclpled men, wh'
find in the wreck of their country the op
, por,unity to CRAFTY avarice, or ambition
or personal or political resentments. TLi
theory awakes the passion and ambition o
an administration antagonistic TO the inter
est and happiness Of the people. 1t make
the restoration of peace the abdication o
more than regal authority in the hands o
those to whom is coniided the government
of cur country.
} OF the same nature is the recent proc
lamation Of emanci patton. The Presiden
; has already signed an act Of Congress
which asserts that tho slaves of those il
: rebellion are confscated. The sole etlec
o. this proclamation, therefore, is to decIar
} the emancipation of slaves of those VIII,
are not in rebellion, and who ATE therefor,
| loyal citizens. 1t is an extraordinary de
|, ducion from the alleged war power. tha
the forfeiture of the rights Of loyal citizens
, and bringing upon them the same punish
ment imposed upon insurgents, is c,.lculat
ed TO advance the success of the war. L
upnold the constitution and restore the I'm
, ion. The class of loyal citizens who, abov
, all others, are entitled to the protection O
; the government, are those who have re
mained true to the flag ofour country. an
e yet the whole force of the proclamation
directed against them. May not this meas
3 ure. so clearly mpoitic. unjust and uncc /,
3 S situtional, and which is calculated to ere
a.e so many barriers to the restoration c
, the Union, be misconstrued by the worI
as an abandonment of the hope or the pur
pose of restoring it?-a result to which tn
: State Of New York is unallerably oppo sed