Year: 1864

ing:


He dare not say, 81 am for the old
Constitution of the fathers, and l will
not have it made over, in any 'ulti-
mate Convention, to suit rebels and
revolutionists.'


The above is spoken Of Mcclellan,
by the Buffalo Express, in an article
on his letter Of acceptance. In that
very letter its writer threo distinct
times declares his fidelity to "the old
Constitution Of the Fathers" TO sup
pose that he could "have it made over
to suit rebels and revolutionists," even
if he were anxious to do so, is to sup
pose an absurdity, as tho Elpress
ought to know. Moreover, Mcclellan,
i'll every one of his utterances on ma
tional affairs, has emphasized his de-
votion to "the old Constitution Of the
Fathers" "We are fighting to pre-
serve the integrity of the Union and
the constitutional authority of tho gov
ernment," said Mcclellan when the
struggle against rebellion began
"We are engaged in supporting the
Constitution and laws OF the United
States" was his voice in the midst of
his wrestle with the enemy on the
Peninsula. "The Constitution and
the Union must be preserved" again
was his language when he dedicated
the monument which is to cover his
fallen comrades. From the beginning
he has been faithful to the Constitu-
ton. He will be SO to the end.


But what is the record of the party
which thus assails the leader OF the
Democracy? Lincoln himself has vi
olated the Constitution as many times
as he has been in the White House
weeks. And he has avowed the trait
orous principle on which he does it
In his letter TO Colonel Hedges, of
sNdfo NSntpGi5y i55 ybrJtlReSa JtlRea g aei5RRd tie 0oh 0ac
stitution, had the effrontery to say:


GO / feel that measures otherwise un-
constitutional, might become lawful
by becoming indispensable Lincoln
being judge to the preservation of the
constitution through the preservation
of the nation. Right or wrong as
sumed this ground and now avow it.
l claim not to have controlled
events but confess plainly that events
have controlled me-"


Moreover, under the rule of this
perjured President, it was held at one
time to be almost crime to speak of
the Constitution "I hold the man
who talks here of the Constitution to
be traitor" said an abolition Sena-
tor in his place in the Senate. Those
of the believers in Lincoln who did
not go so far as this, took other modes
TO express their contempt Of the "dead
sheep skin parchment for which
they now profess such regard. Judge
Collamer, of Vermont, one of the old
ost aud ablest republican Senators.
described as follows the esteem in
which his party held the Constitution.
Said he:


81 do not wish to occupy the time
of the Senate by making any remarks
about the Constitution of the United
States. l think it subject almost Of
derision here; with many gentlemen
it is an object of derision. AS it is so
in great measure, man Is sneered
at for mentioning the Constitution,
and if he has decent respect for it
and for his own oath he is called q
'timid man. do not wish to take
up much of the attention of a body
where such q subjest is treated in such
q manner"


And this is the source from which
comes the challenge Of McClellan's
fidelity to the Constitution. Shame,
where is thy blush?