Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-10-01

sIso @letuer tbs teqeTal Government ha
power "ts eas7es q stats Fsaeeakl7 sttt
drawing from the Union" but thas this ha
been solved by the South firing the frat e,r
The inference, however, still remains thu
unless a State makes open war upon the IN
ion, ii is doubtful whether the General Gov
eminent has power to compel the sav.rs
States TO remain in the Union From vbenc
came this paralyzing doubt, and how comes j
stamped with democratic authority? Ifthrr,
be anything in the doubt, then the PeDuhii
can resolutions Of cur State Legislature trul,
condemned in the address, are sound. TbI
| dogma came from Southern nullihers. and nf
! cloud Of justification will ever persuade the
clear American mind that they were incomDe
tent to defend their own government. then
| civil institutions, and their hereditary fran
chises.
The incompetent powers of the old Confed
Grafton plainly demonstr" ted the necessity Of
a change in this particular, and furnished 2
| cogent reason for the adoption Of the consti
tuition. The necessary authority of our gov.
eminent in questions of State ;nsubordina-
tons was strenuously affirmed by the demo
cratic party of this State all through the
! Booth trials, and the adjudications growing
| out Of that controversy. The constitution i
! the same now as then, and why should anv
countenance be now given to a doctrine
| which we then denounced as revolutionary.
The second resolution commences by an
| proving of :" q War " for the defense of the
| Union. The questions which these resolu-
| tons habtually elude is tie present rar, with
the battles it has fought since the rebellious
attack upon sumter Here is mighty strug-
gle for national existence, honor and posteri-
| terity. Are you for or against it? If the
latter, what beats the extenuating and quail
| flying casuistries with which YOU seek to dis
guise sentiment you dare not to announce.
Is the present war that heaven-approyed con-
test upon which you invoke the blessing of
Almighty God, or is it Gas unholy war as
ambition could devise or tyranny inflict -
condemned in the platform. If you do not
drop all vagueness and become explicit on
this point the world will not respect the YER
biage which stands godfather for your patri-
otisn.
This resolution is followed by laborions da-
tribes upon the violated constitution, military
usurpation, official imbecility, and the duty
which some day may devolye upon the people
to take the law into their own hands As
nearly two columns Of them have been pub
llshed daily in Milwaukee organ as the very
acme OF democratic wisdom, they must be ia
mlliar to all who peruse that respectable Jour
nal. The face of this journal is remarkable
instance OF mutability in political affairs 1t
has been engaged lately in reading democrats
out OF the party, and is now accommodated
Itself by the potent edict of the author of
the plattorm.) The rabid character of the
points, nevertheless, entitle them to as brief
a repetition as this extended address will ad-
nit. Take the following extracts as sample
Of the whole:
''But that war waged by the Federal Government
to reduce sovereign States to provincial dependen-
cy or subvert the rights secured by the Consttu
non to the several States and the people thereof
under pretcnce OF maintaining both, would be as
unholy war as ambition could devise or tyranny
ntct.
3. Resolved, That while we believe that the slave
holding States had received long and grievous
revocation, by assaults upon their Constitutions
al rights by Northern abotionism, the original
aud accursed cause of the terrible civil war now
raging, yet We believe the revolt.
And that the present Federal Admin tration in
conducting the present war, has left the world in
doubt whether their principal object is restore
the Constitution at the South or to subvert it ut
the North The history of the world has rarely
sto"n grosser or more systematic abuse of dele
gated and limited powers q more insolent as
sumption of arbitrary power by the Constitution
servants OF the people
Our fathers founded The Constitution. and if
those charged with the administration of the Fed
erai Government should be so insane and guilty
turn their power against the rights OF the States
and the people Of the North, fully believe that
they will find the great of the Northern peo
pie without distinction OF party, worthy of the
Constitution by supporting it, and worthy Of the
fathers who founded it, by initiating their example
under iawless oppression. Better liberty and right
out of the Union than a Government above the
Canstit ution and The laws.
These guarantees have been systematically VIC
lated 10y the present. federal administration. Not
rate assumption of the President Of the United
states and his subordinates, civil and military,
that they may OF right violate them whenever in
their Judgment II may seem eXpedient
Ard we hold that every deliberate violation of
he .,opuar liberty private right by the Pres-
dent or his subordinatcs is crime against the
constitutio which will be followed by just const-
tutional punishment, il peace and constitu tional
order should ever again reign in our distracted
country.
Many other official acts of congress, the president
and ms Su"ordtnhteS not only tend TO show con-
Tracy to establ sh, but ii executed do of their
OWN force establish military despotism on the
rains OF the CO!ISti ,utlOn.
There are attendant phrases clustering
around these appeals to spirit of contuma-
cy to recommend them to public federation.
This only makes them more dangerous
Now, such are some of the insinuations,
which, thong h not heard Of at the time of
the address, have since been diated into the
bulk and burden of political platforms and
oratory. If it had been the design to lay our
present form of Government aside, more
revolutionary method of preparing the public
mind for that event could not have been de-
yised by the ingenuity of our leaders. If the
Executive, i'll the confusion, embarrassment
and bloodsheo of this mighty struggle for ma
tional existence, commits an act, these self
i'm
tional or infractory of State rights, they as
sumo the right to proclaim his efforts tyran-
meal and "unholy," and if Congress or the
President tall INTO errors, they are to be de-
nounced as lawless oppressors, and the
g great masses" are to initiate the revolution
AIRY example OF their fathers. Another con-
cluslon to which we are driven by these full
limitations, Is, that the war against the revol-
ted States has become unholy and damnable,
from some cause or other, in its conduct;
and this is the inevitable inference from the
connection of the statement in the second
resolution. There is constant recurrence
Of grievances we have never felt, and they
are repeated at every breath, as if the people
could not otherwise be brought to believe in
the truth of the picture. Is this like the
calm transactions of men resolved to stand
by their rights, their country and fresides, in
a moment so Illuminating to the loyal Ameri-
can heart?
1t Is an often repeated motto that the Presi-
dent Is amenable to the laws as we'll as the
private citizen and a vindictive threat is made
OF bringing him and his officers to punish
ment at some future day. We are not en-
gagged IN defense Of that officer, but are ex-
posing these resolutions. The main allega-
ton, in connection with this threat of punish
ment is a direct falsehood The President