Year: 1863

lcal measures which the uncOnditiona
5 Unionists, as they term themselves, endeav
or to inaugurate. So palpably absurd are
some oftheir movements in relation to the
prosecution of the war and the sovereign
rights Of the States, that instead of being
called unconditional Unionists,J they should
be styled ancompromising disanionists.-
They are even more extreme in their dis
union notions than the original secession
lists. They advocate policy which, if sue
cessfally carried out, would completely OBJ
literate all State lines. And of what would
the Union be formed, if the Government
was so far consolidated as to destroy every
vestige af State sovereignty


The old Union was created by the partial
consolidation of State sovereignties, each
State giving up portion of her independ
ent sovereignty to the General Government,
for the formation of ''more perfect Union,"
yet retaining and reserving the residue of
sovereignty, not thus delegated. to herself
Thus the perfect Union was formed. Thus a
Republican Government was ushered into
existence. But if our forefathers had have
surrendered aUthe State sovereignty of their
respective States, and formed a complete
consolidated Government with an absolute
centralized power, then there would have
been no union of States, but an entire aban-
donmeut of State fealty and the establish
meat Of an organized Autocracy. -


This, however, was not the case. The
patriots of '76 knew too well, the purpose
of their struggle. to fully and forever sur
render up their liberties to the powers of a
consolidated Government. Each State re-
served enough of her orginal self-created
sovereignty to secure her rights from the
political encroachments of an over-ambiti-
Gus Government.


A Union of States, formed under such
favorable auspices, was thus bound to pros
per. 1t did prosper. No where, in the
history of the whole world, is the record to
be found of so prosperous Republic as
ours. up to the time of this terrible and un-
warranted rebellion. And yet, after nearly |
three years of wicked and inkuman war,
We find the party in power exerting itself
to its utmost capacity to obliterate every
vestage of State sovereignty and create
consolidated and centralized Government.


Such is the object and aim of the radical
party now distracting this country with
their extreme war measures. They are dis
uniononists, per Sc. The restoration Of the
Union upon the basis established by our
revolutionary fathers is obnoxious to them. |
States rights, principle held so sacred by
the trainers of the Constitution, must be
e..tirely ignored Ali power IL sought to
be vested in the hands Of the President,
who, when thus empowered, can declare
himself emperor dictator ar assume what
ever position he may choose. Thus are
these infatuated radicals pulling down the
pillars of liberty and bringing the evils of
the most detestabie despotism upon their
own heads as well as upon the hea i Of all
who may survive the awful struggle now
about to be opened for the preservation of
human liberty, if the blind and heartless |
radicals succeed in their unholy attempt.


The struggle is for the preservation of
our liberties This struggle must be met
at the ballot box, if the people are permit
ted to enjoy fair and free elections. If the
party in power attempt to abridge this pre-
cious privilege, the only means then left
for the people to maintain their rights will
be the inalienable right OF freemen Inherent
| in all Governments established by the peo-
pie. The rantiug radicalism which sets
the Constitution at defiance and urges a
"mlitary necessity" for every usurplng
measure it inaugurates, must be put down
or the liberties of the people will be swept
awav as with the besom of destruction
The legitimate means for doing this is the
full exercise of the elective franchise. Let
the people arouse from their slumber and
rally to the bailot-box,


| We have urged that this radical party


was for dissolution of the Union. In
proof of this assertion we would cite the
votes. the speeches and the resolutions of
their leaders in Congress and at public
| meetings Is any better proof required to
snbstantjate the fact than the late decla-
rations of Gen Butler in Pennsylvania. He
boldly asserted that he did not desire the
JTnion as il was. 1t is to be reconstruct


ed and the abolition of slavery Is to be the
shibboleth of the reconstruction. 1T is
evident, therefore, that the object of the


war has been changed from the avowed OBJ


iect which in 1861, was unanimously de-


clared by Congress, Every act and every


declaration of the radicals from the COM


mencement of the war down to the eman-
: cipation proclamation had been concate-
nation of falsehoods. Then it was that the


cloyen foot of their satanical deception was
, plainly discovered. Since then they have
strobe the hobby Vt military necessity


on which they have rode over the Consti-
4. tuition aud are now attempting to trample


upon the sacred rights Of the people.


The question to be settled now is, shall
thew be permi tied to 60 on in their disunion
- scheme until the Union is wholly destroy,