American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-11-07

LOY ALTY.

strlct Auu literal definition Of this word
| We believe 10 to be an inappropriate one for
the American vocabulary; but, az it has been
introduced, we accept it with the meaning
which usage has attached. 1t has been made
to apply to principles rather than persons.
As now understood, to be loyal is to support
and defend the government Of the Uaited
States. We understand that government to
be the constitution and the laws made in pur-
suauce thereof. Those invested with lawful
authority, whether by election or appoint
ment, under the constitution and lyws, are
officers ofthe government, temporarily charg-
ed with its administration, and are not part
of the government.
Loyalty, then, is fidelity to the consttu-
ton and laws made in pursuance thereof,
and dislOyalty is fidelity to the men or meas
ures opposed to the constitution and the
laws made in pursuance thereof The Union
! is but another name for the government in
It's integrity. The separate States formed
and adopted the constitution. It's formation
and adoption BY them perfected the govern
ment of the Union.
With this brief, but, we trust, clear and un-
assaiable, exposition Of what constitutes true
loyalty in American citizens, we are prepar-
ed to judge of the professions of loyalty made
by the administration party. They style
themselves the "loyal Union party" They
will pot assert that their loyalty is simply
devotion to the territory embraced within
the Union. Philanthropists, as they assure
US they are, do not generally adopt such
merely pecuniary, practical views. They
Imust, therefore, if the title they assume is a
lust one and indicative of political character
fbe loyal to that which constitutes the Union,
the government of the Union
Judged by this STANDARD, what evidences of
loyalty have they given2
They have passed confscation law, under
which they declare that attander Of treason
shall work corruption of blood and forfeit
ure beyond the life of the person attainted ;
which is opposed to, and in defiance of, the
constitution, and is therefore disloya.
They have disrupted a State, and formed
new one from its territory, without the cou-
sent of the Legislature of the State thus dis
rupted; which the present Attorney General
OF the United States declared to be an origi-
nal and independent act of revolution, and
which was in opposition to, and in defiance
~ tAS SSNSuANuNA0Ai, Huu bbtttlUIt OlSlD1ul.
They have arrested without warrant, con-
demned without trial, and shut ont from re-
dress, thousands of American citizens; which
Was in opposition to, and in defiance of, the
constitution, and therefore dsoyal.
They have declared negroes to be citizens
of the United States which WAS in oppos-
ton TO, aud in defiance of, the constitution,
as Unexpectedly its authoritative expounders,
and which was therefore disloyal.
Ihey nave attempted to abrogate the con-
stitutions of the separate States, by proclaim
ing emancipation to the slaves therein; which
was in opposition tn, and in defiance of, the
constitution, and therefore dsoyal.
They have suspended the habeas corpus in
states which were obedient to law, and in
which there was neither rebellion nor inya-
sion which was in opposition to, and in de-
nance OF, the constitution, and therefore dis
loyal.
We might extend the list of unconstitu-
honal treasures they have adopted indefinite
Iy, but these are the most prominent. They
are the policies which democrats have most
strongly opposed, aud which administration
lists have most warmly defended,
Every one Of them is in fragrant violation
of the constitution, and, if orr definition of
loyalty is correct, those who support these
measures are diSloyal BY its official action
then, IN the adoption and enforcement of its
most important and vital policies, we have
undeniabe proof of the dsloyalty of the
administration party.
Aside from its official action, by the decla
ratons Of the President, members of the
Cabinet, u. S. Senators and REPRESENTATIVES
In Congress, aud three fourths of the press
OF the party, we are assured that the war will
De prosecuted until emancipation is accom-.
pushed, regardless Of the disposition of the
southern people TO accept the constitution n 5
The basis of peace, The war, then, is not to
restore the Union, but to abolish an institu
ton protected by the government Of the I'm
Mon, without which protection the constitn.
ton could not have been established. They
are thus convicted of disloyalty by their own
assertions concerning the object for which
the war is urged
+ Prominent among the leaders of the party
are those who have denounced the constitu-
ton as ga league with hell and a covenant
with DEATH" Among the journals of the
partyAre those which have hailed our flag as
Haunting lie !" which have said "Tbe
Union as it was should never curse an honest
people or blot the pages of history again :"
that it was better to lose battle in the field
than an election in States" which protested
a Willingness to " let the Union slide" and
offered to assist the South in her efforts at
secession.
These are the "loyal Unionists.n These
are they who question and impugn the loyal
ty of democrats. 1t is easy to indulge in
epithets. 1t is hard to answer convictinp
and nexorable facts, The administrationists
must meet and answer this record.
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| PRAYER we Quote from tho Christin y