Year: 1862

one leading article in every issue. upon
some topic or other, which is supposed to be
original and to embody fresh suggestions
concerning the matter taken as text. There
is no particular difficulty in furnishing this,
if subject is to be obtained. Indeed the
greatest difficulty is in getting something to
write about. During times of high political
excitement in past years, we remember that
there never was any very special trouble IN
getting subject, and writing it up into the
length and dignity of really heavy article,
which bore great evidences of thought and
the most profound research. Just now no
one in charge of the columns of a paper need
experience any trouble in procuring topic
upon which he can flesh his editorial rapier.
The war has been blessing to the idealess
editorial brotherhood. Its astonishing what
a profundity Of craftsmanship, strategy and
military skill has been lost in the editorial
profession. We are thoroughly up in our
general newspaper reading, and can not, for
the life of US, now remember the name of the





ence or sense, which has not dashed boldly
into the arena, and entered upon the discus
sion of any fact or theory in law or war that
happened to be before the country. Secesh-
ers, who have read Jackson's Notification
Message backwards, like the witches say
their prayers, stood ready with line upon
line, precept and precedent, to show that
the Constitution conferred upon the country
no authority to save itself, and indeed that
the only way to carry out the plain intent and
meaning of that instrument, was to let the
Republic drift hellwards, it being unlawful
to attempt to prevent it. Men who, if put
| upon the stand under oath, could not tell one
of their rights under the Constitution, have
volunteered the most profound and lengthy
disquisitions concerning its meaning and
scope. But these belong to harmless class.
They harm nothing, and perhaps are useful
in some way, and perhaps in all things do
the best they can. 1t is not so easy with
those who know better, but will use their
influence to further some selfish or unworthy
end, when it should be cast in some other
way. We will illustrate this better: There
is not one man now living, who is not natu-
raj born fool, who does not knor, beyond the
possibility of any doubt whatever, that every
solitary question, which in times past may
have divided this people into parties and
factions, has become lost in the greater issue
of preserving the country. No one can doubt
it. No one does doubt it; but still party
shibboleths are cried as in times past, and
the terms democrat and Republican" !"
are flung about, when this great nation
stands in the presence of danger great
enough to freeze the marrow in the bones of
the boldest patriot.


This line of remark has been provoked from
seeing in several papers evidence of prepara-
ton for further discussions concerning the
| Chicago Platform, the Charleston Convention
and other kindred and inspiriting topics, the
discussion of which time admirably with the
solemn boom of cannon, and the prayers OF
Unionists for succor, now being shrieked in
the nations ear all over the sunny South
The politicians would get the people of the
State into this position. Let them. For our
own part, SO help us God, we will defer the
execution of no duty due the whole country
and the Administration, to any other consid-
Grafton whatever and we will not and shall
not so forget our dignity as citizen Of this
mighty commonwealth, as, in this day of ma
tional distress, to fume and rave about mat
ters barred by the statute of limitation. We
are the friend of this republic, and the sworn
foe to all its enemies. Gentlemen may
talk as they will about re-organizations'
and uniting the 'two wings" of the Demo
cratic party, but we, one of the oldest and
most unhinching Democratic papers on this
coast, say that sooner than vote Tor any man
who could command secession support, that
we forfeit the right to vote forever. We shall
render that class useful to us. by using it as
beacon, showing us what to avoid.