Year: 1861

y
them. they are not in keeping with the we'll
known previous position Of the able and dis
tinguished editor of that paper. We are in
clined TO the opinion that if he had more
fully elaborated his views upon the subject
of compromise and concession, he would,
while doing 50, have materially changed the
tone of his article We think he will agree
with us, for instance, that the infamous con-
spirators who now seek the utter destruction
OF our Government, have not displayed any
olive branches as they marched upon the
Federal Capital, and yet his article might be
construed into censure Of the Government
for having refused to accede to some well de-
fined and lust demands madeby the insurgents
| We think we may safely assert that no man
| in America can now name any conditions con-
stitutional guarantees or compromise of any
description which would be acceptable to the
ring leaders in the present rebellion. Ger
tainly the proclamations, acts and pcrvadng
spirit of the rebelious confederates have all
spurned the idea of any other termination to
the war, than full recognition Of the indie
pcndence, from Federal authority, Of every
State which, either by, or in spite of, tire
will Of its people, is claimed by Jefferson
Davis as portion of his provisional empire.
| We say that such construction might be
put upon the IIerald'5 article, because it
charges the party in power with warning
| a. tlnuob al
compromise acceptable TO the rebels had
been rejected.


If we are engaged in an effort to uphold
and preserve the Constitution, is it absolutely
necessary that that instrument should be
compromised away by amendments made al
the cannon's mouth? Do the rebels contenC
merely for the rights GUARANTEED by tie prescm
Constitution, or are they hoping to force the
granting of new and special rights? Is the
Union to be preserved at the expense of the
Constitution? Or are we to enforce obedi-
ence to Constitutional Federal laws enacted
| by the aid of those who now lead the rebel
hosts? fit be said that the revolt is not
against the Constitution, but only against
contemplated violations Of portions of that
instrument by Republicans, then we say that
the Administration could no more be trusted
TO carry out amendments made for peace pur
poses than to carry out the provisions Of the
existing Constitution. The Herald is very
indefinite as to the nature of the compromises
it would favor We hope it only means TO
be understood as lavoring reputation of the
sectional heresies of the Chicago platform


The National Democracy stand by the Con-
stitution, and SO long as hundred thousand
armed men threaten its total destruction, We
think the great aim of National Democrats
should be to defend it as it is, from treasona-
bic assaults, and at the same time to see that
neither its letter or spirit is violated by those
who hold the reins Of power in our own
Government. There can be no compulsior
ufon which any American citizen must vote
to change a syllable or letter in the organic
law of the land. If anything can restore
permanent peace to the country, it will be
such an expression Of sentiment at the Nortl
aa will convince the revolutionary masses il
the South that the Federal Government il
not to be used for the purpose Of pulling
down any more than of building up, slavery
or any other local interest.


The Herald says that this rebellion "dic
not arise until the election Of Prcsidel t
and the success of party well understood
to be at variance with the institutions of a
large portion of the Union"


Is this the truth of history Did not Davis
and every member of his present Cabinet,
struggle for the division of the Democratic
party, in order that Lincoln might triumph,
and a pretext thereby be furnished for
putting in motion the wheels of revolution,
which Floyd, Cobb, Thompson and the arch
traitor buchanan had been oiling for two
years Did not the foul disunion conspiracy,
foreshadowed by Yanccy in the Slaughter
letter OF 1853, and organized among the
traitors at Washington in 1S5960, "smell
| towards Heaven" throughout the whole o.


last summer and fall, and finally develoT
itself in South Corolina before the result o
the Presidential election was known? The
Herald says that this is "a rebellion against
the Government, because it is in the hands o.
a Republican Administration" We say that
the Government is in the hands of Repub-
| lican Administration, because q rebellious
conspiracy was entered into long before the
last Presidential campaign.


| This view of the rebellion is, we believe
exactly the view always entertained and eX-
| pressed in the columns of this paper by oui
predecessor, who now edits the Herald. Ii
is not rebellion against oppression, nor one
to secure Compromises" 1t is, as our plat
form declares, "a war without justification OF
decent excuse"-"a war for the invasion Of
our National Capital; for the overthrow CT
our National Government; the oppression OF
the loyal States; the subjugation of the
Union war to humble in the dust our Ma
tional Flag; TO wrench from the American
people their constitutional rights of determin-
ing for themselves their own policy, foreigu
and domestic, and to blot them out from the
class of the great powers Of the world.
Il The "Cittenden or any other Compro-
mise" is no weapon with which to resist sc
deadly war. When the cause of the Gov
ernment is clearly in the ascendency; when
the rebel hosts are driven back from within
rihe-cannon shot Of the halls of our National
Legislature, and when the Confederate Con-