Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-14

are to be the victims of this policy yet gentlemen
who advocate this system upon this hoor, from day
to day, and from year to year, and who openly ae-
knowledge that they have to contend against nearly
equal numbers for nearly every inch of ground they
occupy do not shrink from the absurdity Of urging
the love of union support Of their prospects,"
"When the aid of the Federal Gov
eminent was first invoked TO the establishment and
support of lighthouses, they appeared to be so
nanifesy of national concern, that instead of OBJ
tanning an amendment TO the Constitution, under
which provision might be made for sustaining them
Congress seems to have cast about for some spechc
grant of power already embraced in the Consutu-
ton, under which this one might be ranged Win
sufficient plausibility to quiet scrupes
The power to regulate commerce with foreign ma
tions the relied on. Behold nolo the eJee OF
| bad precedent" s.
ave have also a United States Bank; and in> the
discussion of the question of power, which arose
upon The bill for chartering it, remember perfec1
ly well that one of the str ongest arguments adduceo
in favor of the power was founded upon tne prac-
tee of the Government in making appropriations ior
1 lighthouses"
1t will be seen from this speech that but few men
have expressed greater hostility to the pohcy OF
power of constructing Internal improvements by the
General Government than Mr.. BELL few nave
pressed with greater seeming earnestness the Demo
cratic States Rights doctrine of "strict construc
ton of the Federal Constitution; and few hav'
complained more bitterly, or portrayed more clio
ouently, the inevitable dangers to the Union whlcl
necessarily result from the unauthorized exercise 0
mower on the part of the majority to the detrimen
of the rights of the minority And yet this same Nh
BELL in a few years abandoned all these States
Rights doctrines allied himself with this very FEEDER
: alisn at the North and has ever since continued
give aid and encouragement to their aggressive pun
poses, with no better motive than to advance his ow
selfish fortunes at the sacrifice of those very inter
ests which it should have been his pride as 1t wa
, his sworn duty, to have stood by and protected
D At recent period he has gone even beyond tn
:, limit of his old alliance with the New Englan
Federalists and standing up nthe Senate has under
taken to advise and COUNSEL the Abolitonists OF tn
/ North that solemn decision of the Supreme Cour
+ determining a constitutional question and assertn
the rights of the South to equal enjoyment OF tn
4 common Territory should not be regarded by theI
as permanent settlement of the question; but tn;
a dominant majority in Congress may disregard II
. decisions of the Courts and by the power OF nun
bers force their policy, even though 1t may tran
pie upon the rights Of the minority We appeal to IL
sober common sense and to the stern patriotism
. a deeply interested public to say ho0 far they al
i willing to approve and reward conduct in publ
It man so dsreputabe to his own character and
dangerous to the rights of the States and to the st
o bility of the Union.