Year: 1861

We behold very sudden and gratifying
growth in the North of the doctrine that tn
first and highest allegiance Of the citizen is t
the Federal constitution and laws, rather thai
to the constitution and laws of any separat
State. In the South it has been the policy o
the disunionists, for many years past, to under
mine this doctrine, and to set up in its stead tn
doctrine of the higher allegiance due to tn
State, and we see how we'll they have succeeded
In the North class Of politicians has also beer
industriously at work undermining the true doc
trine. 1t is that class that has passed ike per.
sonal liberty bills and other statutes through
State Legislatures nullifying the Federal con
stitution and laws, and that has sought to pro
cure from State courts decisions overruling th,
decisions of the Supreme Court of the United
States. Between these parties--the disunonist
of the South and the multiplying politicians o
the North-the true doctrine of allegiance ha
been 30 far prostrated that WAR had become
necessary to reestablish it.


IL is for the re-establishment of this doctrine
that the northern democracy have entered will
so much vigor into the war. They are battling
as well against notification in the North al
secession in the South. With them it is nc
sectional war. Their present active operations
are against secession, because that is, in degree
the greater evil. Notification leads to seces-
sion, but IL has not yet lead to it in the North
When IL shall lead to it-when any Northern
States shall attempt secession, or shall carry
notification to the point of organized forcble
resistance to the laws-the northern democra-
cy will rally to put down such rebellion as
promptly and vigorously as they have rallied to
| put down rebellion in the South.


But, as we have said, the true doctrine of al
legiance has wonderfully revived in the North
during the past few weeks. 1t prevails to-
day. It Ia seen that upon its maintenance de
pends the existence Of the Federal Government
and of social order, and, ss Senator Douglas
said the other day, Of the peace Of communities
1t 10 seen that it must be maintained at every
hazard and at any cost. 1t is seen that if We
would not have secession in the South we must
not have notification in the North. Nullifea.
cation has been swept from the North at the be.
ginning of the war, as secession will be swept
from the South at the end of the war.


Itis a fact-we will not say curious fact,
| for it is q natural one-that nearly every where
large majority of the volunteers for the war
are democrats. Even the Massachusetts regi-
ments, when addressed by Senator Sumner in a
characteristic harangue, manifested their disap.
probation. These democrats are animated by
no hatred towards the southern people, what
ever may be their disposition towards the seces
sion leaders. They 60 not upon an anti-slavery
crusade. They 60 upon crusade against reb'
els. They go to do or die for the Constitution
and the Union and the Flag, with the purpose
that when these shall be re-established in every
State they shall protect the same rights which
they have always protected. This Is the char
acter OF the war. When il shall assume any
other character--when 1t shall cease to be q
war in behalf of the Constitution-democrat
will cease to be soldiers in it,


But it will assume no other character. The
very few who would give il another character
are not the men who 60 to the war or give the
money to carry il on. The vast majority o
those who 60 to the war are democrats and othei
conservatives, and the great bulk Of the money
comes from sources distinguished for conserva-
tism. As il Is war for the Constitution ant
the Union against secession and notification
go 1t is war of conservatism against fanati-
cism. Detroit Free Press.