The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-11-28
CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY.


There is nothing more common among a
certain class of politicians of the copper
head persuasion than lamentation over
what they, pronounce dangerous innova-
lions of the Constitution, the departure
from the ancient landmarks, and the wis
dom of the fathers. Nothing is said in
this connection, by those democratic edi-
tors of the violent attack upon the Consti-
tuition by the slave power which far out
strips all other encroaclments on that in
strument. But to show that this pretended
veneration for ''ancient landmarks, wis
dom of the fathers" etc. ETC., is the mercst
cant and the most despicable trickery of
demagogues, we have but to refer to that
shown their greatest wisdom in the clause.
which provides for amendments to the Con-
stitution. In thus providing for future
amendments they acknowledge their be-
lief in the imperfcctions of the Constitu-
ton which was new work to them, a pio-
neer and explorer in the field of govern
ment, and they had well grounded fears
that experience would develop many
things that would need alteration and adj
dtion in their work. They wisely ac-
knowlcdged the right of posterity to alter,
amend and fashion that instrument by the
light of experience. Had these wise
fathers, which the demagogue democracy
love to extol-but whose patriotic example
f.,1l
infallible no provision would have been in
corporated into it for its peaceful revision.
That class of politicians have always con-
Strucd the Constitution in the interest of
slavery, and when majority of the Amer
lean people insisted on giving it a construc-
ton in favor of freedom, it Immediately
lost it's sacrcdness in their eyes and was
only fit to be overthrown and utterly de-
stroyed by an armed rebellion. When the
friends of freedom have triumphed over
the Shareholders rebellion, suppressing it
by force of arms, and insist as precaution-
airy measure that certain amendments shall
be engrafted on the Constitution in order
that it shall square, beyond the possibility
of cavil, with that really inspired work of
the founders of the government, the Decla-
ration of Independence, then the Constitu-
ton as it was before they made war upon
it, becomes a thing of superstitious vener-
alton in their eyes.
Now what the Republican party contend
for, is, that the Constitution should protect
every man, from the mightiest to the hum
blest, on every foot of territory where it is
proclaimed to be the fundamental law, that
every citizen should have equal rights I'M
der it without any political distinction
whatever. There should be no acknowl-
edged estate right" that contravenes the
right of the federal Constitution to protect
in the most perfect manner the person and
property of every one of its citizens. What
rights has single State which are not guar
anteed to it by the Federal power? What
rights could Delaware maintain for sin
gle hour against Pennsylvania if it's State
rights ~ were not secured by the great cen
trail power of the nation? As well might
the tool rise up against the man that useth
it, as for State to assume powers superb
or to the Federal government. The miser-
able cant Of demagogues about the Repub-
lican party seeking to abolish rights of the
States and make them subservient to the
central power, is thoroughly exposed by
the fact that the Republican party seek to
extend the right of suffrage to every citizen
of the republic, and thus firmly establish
all sovereign power in the hands of the
people, making despotic power or usurpa-
ton by an ambitious individual, or by
sect, class or party in the whole, or any
seton of the country utterly impossible.
The theory of the Republican party is that
universal suffrage secures universal liberty
against every shock, no matter how violent,
that can be brought against it. If the
right of the elective franchise guarante ed
to every man, and a system of public edu-
cation established throughout the land,
will not establish popular government on
rock that the lapse of ages will fail to
shake, then there is 10 hope for freedom
This is the aim of the Republican party,
and those are the means it seeks to en-
ploy.