Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-03-17
The GOvernmenf--Its Enemies
d. and ITS Friends.

Tho popular idea is that the people are
the Government in republic like ours, and
this ia true in general sense. But the
people have adopted, in their representa-
tive capacity, cartain written rules, or laws,
for tho regulation Of society, and chief
among these is the Constitution Of the
United States, These rules or laws, may
be termed the Government, for they regu-
late our actions and it is by them we are
governed. The Constitution Of the United
States is an article of Confederation among
the several States, uniting them all into
ono body for protection and defense, and
prescribing rules and regulations by which
they shall be controlled in their action to
each other and in their collective capacity.
1t also defines the rights and duties of the
people. The men elected to Office are the
servants Of the people. Some of them are
chosen as executive officers, to administer
the laws and sec that they are obeycd.-
Others are chosen to make laws and such
nccdful regulations as the interests Of the
people may require.
The Constitution of the United States is
the Supreme Law Of the Land, which
makes Presidents and all other officers in
the Government, and limits their actions,
and specifics their duties, and cements the
several States in Union. The public in
terest, prosperity, and peace and continu-
ance of a Union Of the States demands
that it shall be sacredly observed and relig-
iously obeyed. To break it is to sever the
ties that unite the States. To destroy it
is to destroy the Government and convcr
the people into a mob without obligation
or restraints
Secession finds no warrant in the Consti
tuition; it has no sanction of law. 1t doe
not propose to destroy the Government
but it seeks to take off part of the States
leaving the old Government and part Of tn
old Union as it was, and to form a new GOV
ernment and a new Union out of the seced
ing States. The seeded States do not pre-
pose to fisten upon those remaining in tn
Union any dcspotism or new forms Of Gov
ernment; they assert the right to withdra,
from the old family of States and to seek
new habtation for themselves
We have said secession had no guarant
Of law, and in addition to this, we asser
that it an act of bad faith No wrong
could be inflicted upon any member of tn,
people for which they could not get redress
under the Constitution A division of tn,
Union would weaken the self -protectin,
power Of the people; it would detract from
the glory and prosperity Of the nation; ant
it would open the way to cndles contention
and strife between the sections.
But wicked and Illegal as secession is
Is not so bad a. I4incolnism. Iinconisr
dlsrcgards the Constitution, tramples upo
the laws, intlicts most abiect dc,potisl
upon the people Of the adhering State,
promises subugation and determination {
the seeding States, denies all redress ft
grievances, the protection of the laws, I'll
freedom of elections, the freedom Of spcec
and Of the press. 1t has abolished the ii,
that made us one people, severed the liza
ments that bound the States in one Unior
turned the American people into n va.
mob without any rulo of action, save tn
will of an arbitrary, corrupt and imbccil
despot.
Prompted by the most devoted patriot
ism and undying love for the whole country
for the Government as the people formed
it, for the Union as our fathers made il
the Democracy have laborcd to correct tn,
public mind and fix il upon the Constitu
ton as the ark of our political salvation -
by saving the Constitution and laws we vii
save the Government and preserve the
Union, nor i: there any other way it can b,
done. By placing the Administration o
the Government in honest and compcten
hands, and respecting the Constitution an,
laws, seccssionsm and Lincolnsm will b
crushed out and peace, and prosperity
and Union will quickly be ours.
How ardently every man who loves hi
country should labor until this happy con
summation is brought about. The goric
OF the past the miseres of tho present an
our hopes for the future all admonish us I
unceasing effort