The Continental Monthly , Vol. 2 No. 5, November 1862 | Page 4

germs of ultimate discord and dissolution silently took
root, and slowly grew up in the understandings of men. Not that the
principle was adopted; it was rather tolerated than accepted. But this
was the very thing intended by the wily conspirators. They expected
nothing better; for they knew well that an accident or a bold
precipitation of events would cause the popular mind to seize this
principle and use it, as the only justification for revolutionary violence.
Thus this doctrine, which is the embodiment of anarchy, was carefully
prepared for the occasion, and artfully placed within easy mental reach
of those who would be called upon to wield it.
Pari passu with the dissemination and growth of this dangerous
opinion, the political school which cherished it endeavored to promote
the object steadily held in view, by restricting and embarrassing the
action of the Federal Government in every possible way.
Notwithstanding the distrust and aversion of the Jackson party against
them, continued long after the events of 1832, they succeeded in
forming, first a coalition, and finally a thorough union with the great
popular organization--the democratic party. Holding the balance of
power between that party and their opponents, they dictated terms to
the successive democratic conventions, and, in effect, controlled their
nominations and their policy. They imposed upon that party the
formidable dogma of 'a strict construction of the Constitution,' and
under that plausible pretext, denied to the Government the exercise of
every useful power necessary to make it strong and efficient within the
limits of its legitimate functions. Their evident object, though
cautiously and successfully concealed, was to weaken the Federal
Government, and build up the power of the separate States, so that the
former, shorn of its constitutional vigor, and crippled in its proper field
of action, might, at the critical moment, fall an easy prey to their
iniquitous designs. The navigation of the great Mississippi river, the

imperial highway of the continent, could not be improved, because
every impediment taken away, and every facility given to commerce on
its bosom, were so much strength added to the bonds of the Union. The
harbors of the great lakes and of the Atlantic coast could not be
rendered secure by the agency of the Federal Government, because
every beneficent act of this nature fixed it more firmly in the affections
of the people, and gave it additional influence at home and abroad. The
great Pacific railroad--a measure of infinite importance to the unity of
the nation, to the development of the country, and to the general
prosperity, as well as to the public defence--a work so grand in its
proportions, and so universal in its benefits, that only the power of a
great nation was equal to its accomplishment or capable and worthy of
its proper control--this great and indispensable measure was defeated
from year to year, so long as the conspirators remained in Congress to
oppose it, and was only passed in the end, after they had launched the
rebellion, and made their open attack against the Government, which
they had so long sought to embarrass and weaken, in view of this very
contingency.
While yielding these principles in theory, the democratic party did not
always adhere to them in practice. The instinct of patriotism was often
stronger than the obligations of party necessity and party policy.
Moreover, the text of these doctrines in the democratic creed was
frequently a subject of grave dispute in the party, and unanimity never
prevailed in regard to it. Yet the subtle poison infused into the body of
the organization, extended its baleful influence to all questions, and too
often paralyzed the arm of the Government in every field of its
appropriate action.
Never was presented in history a better illustration of the effect of false
and mischievous ideas. It would be unjust, because it would be untrue,
to suspect the democratic party of any clear knowledge of the ends to
which these principles were intended to lead, or of any participation in
the treasonable purpose. Many members of that party saw the danger in
time, and abandoned the organization before it was caught in the
meshes of the great conspiracy. Some, however, even in the loyal
States, clung to Breckinridge and the fatal abstractions of the party

creed, until these reached their final and legitimate culmination, in the
ghastly paralysis of the most indispensable functions of the
Government--the ruinous abnegation of all power of self-defence--the
treacherous attempt at national suicide only failing for want of courage
to perpetrate the supreme act, which was exhibited by the
administration of James Buchanan, in its last hours, when it proclaimed
the doctrine of secession to be unfounded in constitutional right, and
yet denied the power of the Government to prevent its own destruction.
The threats of an