Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-07-30
THE INTOLERANCE or THE
PARTY IN POWER.

lie can no longer be made q question,
that all liberty Of expression of opinion,
at the North, at variance with that enter
tanned by the supporters of the present
administration, is fast being lost to the
people. The whole atmosphere is imbued
with the spirit Of that loyalty, which is
very popular, and which brands as copper
head and traitor, all who venture to have
mind Of their own, and refuse to endorse
the mighty movements of the "arm Of the
Government as it is called, that is 10 say
the arm of Mr. Lincoln.
This depraved condition of public sen
timens naturally suggests some important
inquiries and reflections, and the first aud
most material one is, in wha. consists the
loyalty Of citizen.
A citizen Of this country is not sub
ject Cor was not before thc-present admin.
istration came into power,) but CO equal
member Of a republican or democratic
government. His relations and duties arc
defined in the organic law, and such as
are conformable to it. If in his judg.
ment any administration violates that law,
he is at liberty to say so, aud is under no
obligation to sustain it. His lealty is still
to the law, and not to the executor of it,
and it is not only his right, but it is bis
duty, to do all that is 10 his power to avert
the evils of false legislation and unconsti
tutional execution.
But it is urged that we have now TO
contend against great rebellion or civil
war, and hence that the character Of 10y
atty due from the people has altogether
changed. That it now becomes their duty
to unqua|iied!y support, and endorse, by
word and deed, every act Of the govern
ment, that is tie incumbants in Office, the
agents of the people. But let US for
moment look at the Consequences OF such
loyalty.
An administration in power, might pro-
coed to acts utter y tyranical; might sup
press all liberty Of speech and OF the press;
might refuse the writ Of hobeas corpus
might imprison men by the touch Of
bell might with its growing power and
the quiet submission Of the people, sub.
vert altogether The priuci Plies of the Con-
s.itution, and put the yoke Of despotism
on the nechs Of a gradually subjected peo'
pie; and yet, "te,l it not III Gath; ! loyal.
~ would require Of US ali to uphold the
arm Of the goeernment, aud endorse its
every act. And if, in the exercise Of this
10 pdable subserv;ence, the strides of power
shall Ultimate in the annibilation Of citi'
zenship, and the Inauguration Of mon.
archy Or despotsm, why then all the sol
distant citizen could dc, would be either to
submit or to exile himself from his native,
Or his chosen country.
Again it is urged BY those intensely
lpyal persons, who can see 10 wrong in
the Gets of Mr.. Lncoln's administration,
that the Constitution is Of little worth
without the country, and hence the soph's'
try and insanity of that remark. The
country is above the Constitution to cave
the former let the latter be destroyed. But
there is no latter without tie former; there
is no country without the Constitution
The foundation cannot be destroyed, and
the ediGce which rested upon it stand
The humiliation Of the Constitution OF
any country reduces society again to its
elements. initiates anarchy, or gives birth
10 despo.ism, to destroy that. therefore, is
20 take away the life Of the Republic.
These principles, i. seems to US, deter.
mine sufficiently the obligation of ciIi-
zen to any particular administration, and
BY them We propose to stand, and BY them
10 be controlled in our criticisms Of the
conduct OF the affairs Of the general gov !.
crnmeut.