Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-09-26

''The demand that the laws passed
by congress should conform to the
constitution is considered by the
Telegraph crimeI"
Our friend Daniel has 3 rather
summary way of putting things, and
is not always as scrupulous about
facts as first class editor should be.
It is very well understood, that the
opponents of the war of the rebel
lion, saw a very safe way of making
their opposition effective by this cry
adopted by Gov. Seymour of de-
nouncing every needful measure for
the defense and preservation of the
country by this hue and cry against
its constitutionality. Most of these
steps were mere feints for seeming
delay for the advantage and encour-
agement of the rebels, and to tramel
and hamper the Government in de-
Tending and supporting itself This
pettifogging and indirect Vancouver
ing, was the course of Governor Sey-
mour to cripple the Government and
play into the hands of its enemies.
The course was strictly in accord
ance with Gov. Seymour's mode of
attaining an end. If the Govern
ment could then be delayed or de-
feated in obtaining recruits, the war
could not but prove a failure. The
Standard seems to favor this same
mode of operation. The idea of
Courage" in this rebel nousing of
the Governor of New York springs
very easy and naturally in the brain
of our contemporary. Unconstitu-
tiOnality was a party shibbOleth.
Democratic organizations and meet
ings were denouncing the draft as
unconstitutional, and calls were
made upon the Governor, to invoke
the military arm Of the State to
maintain its sovereignty and right
full Jurisdiction, and protect its citi-
zens from a ruthless conscription.
1t was the old cry of treason to sap
the foundations of government, by a
pretension of law an appeal to the
sacred palladium of right. While
Governor Seymour and his class
were pretending to invoke the con
stitntion at home, thus securing de-
lay, the rebels of the south were
driving men into the ranks without
the thought of right or even the
claims of humanity. There was no
question about the constitutionality
of the right to declare war, raise
armies, maintain navies, and provide
for the common defense. Chief
Justice Agnew, of Pennsylvania,
Justices David DAVIS, of the Circuit,
and S. H. Treat-District-in Him
ois, and Justice Nathan K. Hall
District-in New York, pronounced
judgements in cases brought before
them, affirming the constitutional
ity of the enrolment act and of
draft under it, and no contra
ry decision,-as is asserted and
suffered to stand uncontradicted,-
was ever made by a federal judge.
The duty is vital and essential-fsll-
ing back upon the fundamental
right of self-preserVation. 1t was
the out crop of treason, and had to
be met and put down all through the
war where treason got a foot hold.
President Lincoln, readily pierced
this buckler of Governor Seymour,
when he said
"I do not object to abide the de-
cision of the o. S. Supreme Court,
or of the Judges thereof, on the con
stitutionality of the draft law. In
fact 1 should be willing to facilitate
the obtaining of it, but I cannot con-
sent to lose tie time aolEiLe at IS being
obtained %
That was the vital point, and that
is where Governor Seymour's trea.
son-opposition to the war-was de-
signed to be made potent. Is that
not so, Daniel? ? Hickenlooper was
right.