Year: 1861

| 0ict.


| IL is evident from the tone of some OF
the Republican orators and presses, that
they have not studied the Constitution
of their country proftably, or they vii


fully prevert its interpretation. Even IN
our own quiet city we hear it enunciated
from the pulpit and the rostrum, that
the war forced upon us is holy conflict,
aud is provideniially designed to wipe
out the institution Of slavery from the
American Continent With the designs
of Providence, or fanatical generslities,
it is not our providence to deal The
cause in which so many patriotic men OF
the North, regardless of party, have en-
barked is the cause of our common conn
try, aud the honor of our hag, and not
the visionary abstraction ofnegro slavery.
For any class of nlen to attempt to make
personal, political, or religious capital
out of tho national misfortuaes that have
belsllen US, evinces depravity OF the dark
est hue.


The Constitution Of the United States
is an instrument that guarantees equal
rights to all, and is intended to protec.
every citizen in those rights. The North
cannot violate this instrument without
infringing upon the rights of the South,
neither can the South violate any Of its
provisions without injuring the rights
the North. The Constitution is not Sec
tional in any of its Professionalism the
North or the South adopt sectional issues
those issues are in direct conflict with
the letter Of the Constitution, aud should
DE abrogated by the people. If this is
not done, then our Constitution is not
worth straw, for it defeats the very OBJ
jact contemplated by ito Wise aud patri-
otic Trainers.


No man north or south has the right
to construe the Constitutional into a Sc
ctional instrument-it is National pa
per, and was framed by National men;
and he who violates one clause is as
amenable to the charge Of treason, as one
who violates all. The Constitution rs
our fathers made it, and the government
they based upon it, knows no georgraph-
ical or sectional distinction. Its blessing
extends to all, and all are bound by its
obligations. The present conflict, then
is not to be considered as between diff
ferent sections Of our common country,
but for the maintenance Of a government to
uhich both North and South Owe allegiance!


If the secessionists are in open rebel
lion to the Constitution and laws OF the
land, are not those in the North who
urge the prosecution of tho war for the
purpose OF destroying the institutions of
the South, in the enjoyment of which
thcv are protected by the Constitution,
standing upon tho same ground? The
Constitution is as explicit in the one case
as in the other!


Notwithstanding the secession ordin-
snces, the States composing the "South.
ern Confcderacy" are to-day Ms much
part of the Union, and as much as amen
able to its constitution and laws as ever.
Their refusal Of such obediance consti-
tutes their rebellion. The treason of
the South, aud the stringent measures
necessary to check and punish that treas
on, will not justify war upon the laws
or institutions they have been made and
sustained by authority of the constitution.
They are yet in the Union, and its laws
are applicable, not only to terribly pun
ish traitors, but to protect the loyal.


Those at the North who rejoice at the
secession of Virginia, and the probable
secession Of other border States, because
in their opinion it will prove the destruc-
ton of slavery, are as reprehcnsible as
those in the South who openly labor to
subvert the government our fathers gave
US. a day OF reckoning will surely come.