Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-02-05
views Of a Democratic Patriot.

Col WM. GIVEN of the I02d o. V. l., or
the 2lst Of December last, then at Nashville
Tenn., addressed a lengthy letter to D. Robin.
son, Sr., member of Wayne County Military
| Committee The letter was communicated by
Mr. Robinson to the Wooster Republican, its
publication having been first refused by the
| Wayne County Democrat. We would glad
ly give the letter entire, but our space will
not permit. The concluding portion of the
letter however, is so clear, sensible and peril
lnent, that we make room for it. Our readers
must remember that Col Given was a life
long Democrat that be left his seat on the
Common Pleas Bench of his Sub. District to
take command of the 102d D. ", aud that he
is now determined to see the end of the rebel
lion
"'The South insists that Congress aud the
Administration have violated the Constitu-
tion, by interfering with slavery in the States
and that therefore, they are absolved from
their allegiance. The acts complained of oc-
CURED subsequent to the rebellion for when
it began, the constitutional guarantees Of sla-
very With ample laws to carry them into eff
feet, were in full force, aud the Executive
pledged to non-iaterference with it in the
States where it existed. Slavery was then.
safe under the Constitution, and but for the
rebellion would be SO now, SO far as Congress
and the administration are concerned. These
acts had nothing to do with instituting the
rebellion, bus the rebellion produced them,
and the rebels are therefore in some degres re-
sponsibe for this interference with their pc
culiar institution, whether it shall result in
good or evil, or whether it be constitutional
or void. While maintain that the people
of Slave State whe acknowledge fealty to
the Constitution of the United States, support
it in good faith and claim its protection have
as good legal title to their slaves, as the
people Of the free States have to their ehattels,
and should not be disturbed therein when in
no fault themselves also maintain that
the people efany State who rephdiate the
Constitution and levy war for its destruction,
are not entitled TO the protection Of the Con-
stitution or any other civil right, while they
continue in armed rebellion against the Gov
ernment, but are (whie so in arms) remitied
solely to the war and humanity, and entitled
to their protection alone. The Coniederates
have abandoned the Constitution of their faith
ers, denied their obligations to it, refused its
protection, aud are wagihg terrible war for
its destruction, having taken unto themselves
another the workmanship of their own hands.
What right have they to complain of'a
real or supposed violation of a Constitution
when they themselves have not only infringed
in some OF its particulars, bat have violated
every provision it contains, and discarded IL
entire If they will but return and submit to
its requirements, so as to be entitled to its
protection, their complaints will be heard and
full Justice done them, aud relief afforded when
ever deserved but so long as they refuse this,
they bar all just right to complaint. While
they are denouncihg Abolitionists, and claim
ing to find in their conduct the justification
for instituting aud carrying on a war for the
extension aud perpetuation Of slavery, the
Conlederates are themselves the most potent
anti-slavery organization that ever existed on