Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-10-12
The Constitution.

4hO OOAOUlUuU1OnI
"The Constitution as it is, and the
Union as it was, is the euphonic ex-
preston of Andrew Johnson, and his |
followers; and according to their doc
trine expresses the whole philosophy |
of Reconstruction.
Those men who i'll 1864, voted for
Geo. B. Mcclellan, and the Chicago
Platform, which declared that the war
was failure, and that the speediest
possible peace should be accepted,
cried out "the Constitution as it is; :"
though they did not propose at that
time "the Union as it was" No they
did not then propose to restore the
Union, but they had profound rever-
ence for the Constitution. I h ey
thought it an instrument too sacred to
be touched by the unhalIowed legis-
lation Of the present day. This was
about the time the Constitutional
amendment abolishing slavery was
proposed At this time those rebel
communities which were making war
upon the government, and for whose
benefit the Chicago Platform was an
nounced did not join in the demand
for "the Constitution as it is" No,
they sp n d the Constitution
and the Union,and were seeking to de-
strOy both by a war the most cruel and
barbarous Of any in modern history.
1t was reserved till the present time
for these rebels to become impressed
with the sacrednes8 of "the Constitu-
ton as it is" and the Importance OF
"the Union as it was" Now with
the entire cOpperhead party of the
North, together with some few who
supported the war, such is their cry.
Of a sudden they are filled to over
flowing with love for the old form Of
government, which only few months
ago they spit upon and rallied against.
They say the Constitution was the
sacred product of our revered fathers,
and should be preserved precisely as
transmitted. So profound is their
reverence for this instrument, that
like the Sacred writings, they believe
that nothing should abe added to it, .
or "taken from it - and that they who
should dare to propose alteration
would be in danger Of the judgments
promised in the book of Revelation
In fact, Andrew johnson, a man o.
whom the late rebels just now think
extremely WELL denounces Congress
as traitOrOus for having proposed the
amendment to the Constitution equal
izing representation in Congress, anC
securing to posterity the fruits 0
the war and when ANDY denounceI
the rebels South, and the copperheadi
North applaud; but loyal people every
where feel sad and thoughtful.
The question here arises, is it i'm
pious or traitorouS to alter or amend
the Constitution The answer is al
easy one. 1t cannot be, because tn
Constitution itself provides for it
own amendment; pointing out tn
precise manner in which it shall b
done. Certainly then, "the treason O
those at the other end Of the line,
y and of congress which is hangin,
4 upon the verge of the government,
5 cannot consist in proposing amend
t ments to the Constitution; for such
+ proposition has the sanction of tn
highest authority in the land, viz tn
/. Constitution itself Besides, a wal
rant for such action exists in the his
t tory of Constitutional law, the worl
through.
Y 1t should be remembered that "Rey
e olutions never 60 backwards" Their
f never was yet civil war in whic
< the rights of man have receded; an,
Y never till the spirit of progress turn
, in it's track and takes a retrograd
! march towards barbarism, will agita
ton and commotion fail to produce
5 clearer view of duty, higher appre
citation of liberty, and a nobler devo
4 ton, not only to it's forms but th
reality. In fact, war may be said t
| be the parent of Constitutional law
;. Go into the history of any countr
} you choose, and wherever you find
distinct recognition of human right
by the law of that country, you vii
r find it springing into existence fror
/; the embers of some revolution
/. lake, for instance, England, which en-
t joys the highest form of constitutions
, liberty, OF any country in the oil,