Year: 1862

The Constitution as it Was.


lhls is the most popular catch phrase


OF the day, and though PLAUSIBLE enough


outwardly, is one Of the devils own chill


dren. On one account, however, we like


II, for the fact is recognized that, practi-


cally, for the present, the Constitution, in


many of its essential features, is dead or


imperative in spite of all the gable


about strictly observing it.


Now we have no particular objection


to the Constitution as it is, but we have


as it was. Of itself it means Justice


consult its preamble-it is opposed to
slavery, not only in territories but in


states, for it guarantees republican


government; it forbds any law of ats


tainder, ard without such a law slavery
could not exist--consut the articles.
We object to the Constitution as it was


because OF its Interpretation, sanctioned


by the first minds of the country, at least


as statesmen, in what the world regards


as craftsmanship, for which we have no
great respect, for it has run our ship on
TO the breakers.


The Constitution as il was, with ito
false Interpretation, meant injustice, SER
Witty, oppression, the enthronement of
slavery as the chief good. the bowing
down of thirty millions of people at the
beck of two hundred thousand man steal
ers. 1t meant fugitive slave biila, which
transformed every man into O bloodhound
on pain of fines and imprisonments il
meant judicial decisions which are dis
grace to the age and country, deaying
that white men are bound to respect the
rights OF colored men at all, and depriv-
my the latter class of all rights of citi-
zenship. 1t meant that the states and
people 10 Dixie might do as they id
pleased, muzzle the press, abridge the
freedom of speech, tar and feather and
hang Northern travellers on the mere
suspicion that they were not sound on
he goose-il meant ballot box strffine in
Kansas, and u series of barbsrous and
iendlsh atrocities. And more depIora-
Die still, it meant the complete subiuga-
ion Of the Northern mind, heart, and
to the behests of slavery, so
hat the STAKEHOLDER and his abettors
should be honored and those who would
break every yoke and bid the oppressed
20 free, despised. Once more-it mean.
he education and preparation of the
South for secession and rebellion.


These are part of the dark catalogue
# what the Constitution meant as it was,
md we venture the assertion that no true
riend OF the country or the race wishes
IS restoration. We desire a reconstruc.
ion that shall place the government firm
y on the rock Of eternal jusiice-that
hall make every breath of air that plays
veT this mighty land SO pure, so divine,
nd so heavenly,th no slave can breathe


What shall we have gained by this sac
llice OF blood and treasure If the traitors
re permitted 10 retain that which made
hem traitors and caused all this she'd
ing OF blood and sacrificing OF treasure?
) not justice enthroned on high, and
lust greater woes be visited upon the ma
on before it shall bring forth works
leet for repentance o fools and blind


Those who pirate about the Constitu.
on as 1t was, in their wicked hearts
'ndly fancy that slavery is to become
ore mighty than it ever was before, free
,eech to be put down, and the free press


be destroyed, if not by the strong arm


the law, at least by more potent
le Tor purposes SO base, mob violence.
boililon lecturers and abolition papers
e TO be squelcbed. Fools Know
not 1t these should hold their peace
e very stones would cry out ?" Doubt
SIS there would be mobs and bloodshed.
|; in days gone by, but "the blood of the
artyrs is the seed Of the church." and
Ich holy thing as human rights, God
i'll not let die, though all the earth con-
lire against it. No, slavery agitation
ould go on with the number of its ad-
rents greatly augmented, for many
We seen slavery as il is while fighting
r their country down in Dixie.


There is only one way to end the s.;-
ion of slavery, and that is TO end The
use OF it, slavery ITSELF For such a
construction, with such an end in view
do most ardently pray Hsrmosssr.