Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-04-29
The Constitution.

TIIe Constitution.
Tie Hon. Edgar Cowssn, in the course
OF speech IA The Senate, on the % ult,
uttered the following sound sentiments IT,
specting the Constitution
/ would fam. too, stand upon the Con-
stitution with SUCH a construction Of 1t IS
we could ali stand upon, not SO strict as to
defeat the operation of the instrument,
nor 80 loose rs 10 Indicate disregard Of
Its provisions and L would 10 tins always
and in All time IN good Faith That Con-
stitutiOn being the paramount, viii of tho
people, not Of a part oT party, II imposes
tlie first ard strongest obligation uPOn Gs
TO obey it. Indeed, 10 secure this We are
required ia >o.enn;y swear thai we VIII DO
- =; and l can conceive of no offence equal
in magnitude 10 violation of that cath
Iobreak faith with or betrsIY a trust conf
ded by one man Is bad enough, but TO do 50
withnumerous miliionso of coniding ciiizcas
Is 80 i;r beyond The ordinary measure Of
human ir.,ngrcssion illai am unable to
il,ink Of il withou; shuGdcring. To cut
Ike dykes which protect small district
from intimidation, 30 poison tie Reservoir
which supplies the water for a city, Are
things TO horrible TO conieuplatei aid
vet The effects produced by these are no
more TO bc compared to the dire results
produced by !ocsing the bonds by which
n: empire Is held together than moicbiiis
are 70 mountains Surely We have now
under cur own eyes enough to satisfy usI
OF all c.,laniiies which can befall 4 conn
try there i none which approaches that
of civil war. and to disregard ihe Consti-
is only 10 invite civil war. Our peOpfs
are only to bc ruled upon their own terms
what jIey agree their rulers may 10 ihey
viii allow 10 be done, and nothing mOre
what thyir rulers rightfully do under the
authority given them they VIII carry cut,
and that with an caTnestncss well illus'ra-
ted in tlie great struggles now going on u
enforce the laws
7 The Constitution, then, being the cLsr-
ter by which our Government l. created,
Il Is easy - see thai outside that charter
therc i not, nor c;ln there bc, any Gov
crnmant there max be force and derpo-
tisIn. but there can be do law nor true
Government. And the man who, for 3
mofncnl. thinks the Government can 70
saved by tie vicl;stin. the Cons.:usISE, Is
guilty Of either supreme folly or supreme
wicke,InesS lie had either neVcr com
prchcu,jcd the PRINCIPLES of 4 Tree gcvern-
Inen,, or Ia. moral al.uTc has been 50 f..E
perverted as 70 prevent liIa from distin-
gushing between such = government and
a dleSiuiisin Akin 70 dat notion IS aIs-
other, lhat the authority conferred :ind
mode OF action prescribed by the Co'sti'
tn:ion ;re INADEQUATE 20 the deienSa
AND protection of the liberties Uf ID.
nation. NUw, | venture - assert th,:i
nothing could be more rniourded THAI
such slIrp0sition- 50 Tar from II
have no hesitation In saying .k:.t Al a
ihiS TING, the nation ryiiod isoleiy upoI
thc cmu;,o:cnt discretion OF AIS rti,eIs
without written Constitution II al
that ihCse rulers. Il they were wise, woul,
adept GJr themselves just such = st O
rules for tiIeir guidance Is wc ll;aEe IN. ifF
Constitution Ii authorizes every Politi
and forbids every iInPoiiIic measure
rises Ike a wall. behind. which, the Wiz
s,aten,en intrcnclies himself 10 rasist tn
madness of FICTION. or ihe hind folly {
! the people, Wien, sesluccd by 'iemsgcgue;
! they desire to resort - dangerous thuaG
Plausible schemes which FOX long ag,
have been tried over and over :lE-si:r
and always with the same disastrous n
: suits: schemes s-bicli arc sun to find :.l
: vocatce in troulle1l iimes, when wlsdol
stands FEARFUL OF responsibility, and emp;
{ blatant folly r,l>hes forward 70 oSter oour
Z sci Snch times we are falien, upon, ar
: our onlv s:lfJ.iv-ihe ark, iniee'l4 oi o.
: raftiy-is iiro Constitution.