The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-04-30

TYr recent letter from President LIN
COLIN toiMr. HoDcEs, of the Frankfort (Ky)
Commonwealth is highly eulogized by the
Republican press. The key note OF the
whole letter and the central idea around
which all the Others revolve, is contained
in the following sentence:
81 felt that measures, otherwise uncon'
stitutional, might become lawful oy oecom
ING indispensable to the preservation OF tue
Constitution, through the preservation OF
tho Nation. Right or wrong, l assumed
this ground, and now avow it."
That is absolutism pure and undehled.-
The most despotic monarch Of the old world
could not define his position in clearer
terms. Mr.. LINCOLN declares that when
ever. in his Judgment, it is indispensable
to violate the Constitution, it is lawful so to
do Whenever, in his judgment, the pre-
seryation of the nation demands that ne
trample upon the most sacred provisions OF
the instrument which is the nations organic
law, he is justified in so doing Could
king or an emperor say more2 The Presl-
dent constitutes himself the sole judge as
tn when these measures become ''iudispen-
sable" and then says, 81 am the Govern
ment, am the Constitution aud the laws,
my wiu is supreme" 1t is the doctrine OF
absolute monarchy; it can mean nothing
else. The declaration that unconstitution,
al measures are indispensable to the pre-
servation of the Constitution IS paradox,
an absurdity on its very face. That the
Constitution must be set aside in order to
preserve the nation is in violation OF the
common sense OF all mankind. What
tear out the heart and vitals of man in
order to save his life? Destroy that which
makes the nation in order that the nation
may be preserved? The idea is almost too
prcposterous for serious refutation.
The Constitution of the United States
is the bond of the Union; it is that which
makes one nation of thirty four States
Without the Constitution the nation could
not exist a single hour; Immediately upon
;ts revocation the states would become SOW
ereign and independent as they were before
the Union was formed. The Constitution
is the life OF the nation and he who would
violate it upon any pretext, whether fancied
or real, strikes at the nations heart. The
preservation Of the nation never did and
never can demand such a course. 1t would
be alike unpatriotic and absurd. AS soon
as the Constitution is destroyed the State
governments are oil that stand between
the people and the horrors of anarchy-the
United States, as a nation, would cease to
exist.
Itreally seems strange that, even in these
days of popular delusion and madness, and
folly, men are fonnd blind enough to believe
that the nation can be saved by its destruc
ticn, and servile enough to kiss the hand
that is lifted to crush their liberties in the
dust. The doctrine of the Presidents let
ter is the doctrine of his party in Congress.
1t brearhs the spirit of monarchy and is full
of danger to the republic. 1t is only be-
cause there still fingers in the hearts Of the
people a reverence for the Constitution of
the United States and for the sanctity Of
the oaths that bind men to its support that
it is not officially abrogated and the oaths
declared null and void. The hour for that
has not yet come.