Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-02-10
MISCELLANEOUS,
Constitutional Scruples

The great bugaboo held up to peo-
pie since the commencement OF the
rebellion by the sett-styIed democratic
press, has been a professed veneration
for the Constitution, which, strangely
enough, is always construed by them in
such way as to favor the rebels. The
Baltimore American, paper totally
independent of both administration
and party, thus hits off these sensitive
gentlemen
There are two Constitutions for which
our support is claimed, with high protes
sions of regard, by the friends OF traitors
in National politics and by the friends OF
Slavery in State politics For the first OF
these. the Constitution of the United States.
we profess the most earnest regard. ard
the profound venersti, n which Is due TO
the work of good and patriotic men. We
deem it too sacred an instrument to be In
voked for the protection OF traitors and the
success Of treason, as ii has been from the
breaking out of this Rebeiior. 1t WAS
claimed to admit the right OF Secession,
because it did not prohibit 1t President
Buchanan claimed he hadno power tu"c"erce
States" under its authority Ii was claim
ed that the President had no constitution
al right to call out au army for the sup
preston of the Rebellion-that the sus
pension of huLcus corpus was unconStitu
tional-that the Proclamation ct Emanci
patton was uHconSt tutionai-that the II
nance bill, the Conscription bill, the Con
| fscation bill, were all unconstitutional No
measure deemed expedient by the Govern
| ment for the suppression OF this Rebellion
but has had to fight its way through bar
! ricade of constitutional objections, manned
by Copperheads, who fred off the artillery
and by milk and water Unionists, who
practiced rife shooting at long range aud
took a pop whenever 1t could safely oe
done without damage to themselves. Our
MARYLAND representatives, have fired frou
the loophoies at all of these measures.
We venerate the Constitution of tht
United States as the solemn league anC
covenant of a great nation-the ground
work of united, indivisible, self sustain
ing Acknowledgment a mere catch penn.
bauble, trick of words to be used by trai
tors for the destruction of the very inst
tutions it was designed to protect.
Another exchange also exposes tn
hypocrisy of those who talk of restor
ing the rebels to all the rights the.
had before the rebellion. 1t says:
During the Revolutionary war, all th
colonies or States, save New Hampshire
passed acts of confscstiun. When th
treaty of Ghent was about to be signed
the British Commissioners made strenuOu
efforts to induce the American Commission
ers to pledge themselves to have that &C
OF cou6scation anuulled or repe lied.
was the last labor of love and grati'ud
which the British could perform Tor th
tories. The British agents felt that they owe
this effort to their allies. 1t was we'll know
that England would receive or shelter tn
wretches who had aided the Br tish emi
saries in their crusade on the coionie
The fate of Arnold was a lesson az to VIII;
would be tie fate of other tories, an
traitors, who would be compelled by fes
of punishment or loss of property by col
fscation, to fly to England for refuge an
succor. Hence the British agents, at tt
signing of the treaty of Ghent, were an!
ious that the con6>cation act by whlc
hundreds of tories would be deprived
e their property, should be annulled The
: were anxious for this, because they we
desirous that these tories should remain
the colonies, possessed OF their proper
and social standing, that they might