Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-31

sSa troops, O. in any way connected herewith of
~ 1uIe' extent, validity and equity Of which We
- .ege as to be entirely unable to form any
/ S -luiSo Judgment relative thereto, and because
tOlh any Information communicated 70 this house.
we cannot assure ourselves or Our Constituents that
ratfy and confirm.
Because oy the provisions Of this bin the power
70 consider and determine what anp-oDriatinra
are necessary, and what disDcsiti ~ haz been
and shall be made of the money of the neoDla how
and BY what agents disbursed and in vbat manner
accounted Tor, as taken from the representatives Of
| the people, 70 whom such power rorutit,4;onallv
belongs anil surrendered 70 the exe.,,i, 80 -
! the government
8. Because we cannot permit transactions of suy
branch Of the government to be sealed up from the
| eyes Of the people, or to be placed bevon5 thair
power to examine, inspect and Judge.
4. Because We cannot regard the action Of this
| house in the rejection Of the amendments proposed
TO the bill other than the assurance that the Dre-
sent war may be waged by unlawful means for
conquest, subjugatiOn, national consolidation and
the extinguishment Of State sOvereignties, and We
are unalterably opposed to the attainment, by any
| means, of such objects.
| DisayOwing all considerations and motives of a
| partisan character, enter our protest against
this bill because of is loose irresponsible extravs-
CANT provisions n also because we desire to put
| upon the record our earnest viii TO protect the
state against the exercise Of degree Of executive
power such as the Constitution never contemplated,
and the people never before dreamed Of. When
sueh an extraordinary appropriation was submit
| ted to our sanction, we had right to know
the people had right 70 know dis
hnetly and specially where their money was 10 60
Tor what purposes it had been and was 10 be ap-
phed ana oy what suitable checks its disbursement
had been, and was 10 be guarded We cannot con-
sent 70 give to the idle catch phrases of the day the
weight due alone to reason and argument. The 30
litieal party to which we belong has fortunately
no occasion for new and extraordinary deinonstra-
tons of devotion to the flag Of our country They
have never heaped malediction upon it or the Con
sutution They have not only loved and hOnored
1t, bat they have upheld and defended at home and
abroad, on sea and on land at all times and in all
places They have stFigen TO MAINTAIN the Govern
ment as Il descended to them and in the spirit which
animated their fathers-not a ..consolidated'1
government such is now occasionally fore
shadowed, but government composed Of independ-
ent, sovereign States united for the purposes *
pressed, and clothed with the powers ieleVated bv
the States and the people, and with no other This
Union, which has been our pride and delight hadis
birth in the adoption of the constitution UpOn
that instrument, its firm foundation warmed and
strengthened by glorious memories of the dangers
trials and privatiOns Of years conflict for
independence, hedged all around BY the forces Of
mutual affection and interest, it stood for the first
nfy years, in calm dignity, assuring fraternal re-
gard among all It's members safety for the rights Of
every citizen Of every latitude thr .hout the bread
freedom and prosperity hitherto unknO IN, security
at home and respect throughout the world. Il was
only when the provisions Of the Constitution itself
relating to domestic servitude came to be denounc-
ed and boldly repudlatsd that ali these great inter
ests and precious blessings were seriously imper-
lied
We are ready to make any appropriation reason
able IN itself, and properly guarded, which looks
practically to restored respecC for constitutional
rights, and consequently 10 restored fraternity uni
ly, peace and prosperity. Nay mere, for these OBJ
eets we ready to pledge "Our lives orr fortunes
and our sacred honor But we enter our solemn
protest against making this the OCCASION for inarga
rating the New hampshire legislation ike tnat
Of which the bill just passed Is a type We will not
sanction appropriations of the peoples hard earn
ngs, unheard of IN amount, without figures with
)ut facts. without sound reasons as a basis. This
legislation. IN our judgment, does little less than to
invite peculstiOn. It is material that this great
iebt is to be funded, and that the bonds are not
% be redeemed this year. the next, the year af-
er. They are to be paid some time, by Us or by
'ur children 1t is vain to remind Us Of the OIL
latin maxim so often reproduced Of late that in the
nldstof arms the laws are silent. IL 20 back
20 the origin Of that maxim, shall find that in the
midst Of the best Institutions have been over
hrOwn, and upon the tyrant's plea Of necessity.
5reat liberties have been crushed under the iron
ieei OF military despOtism. However important
nay be other objects contemplated or TO be achiey
q by this war. nothing can be more important than
or the people TO hold in their own hands with
lrm grasp, all the rights which fathers deliver
d to us; among these and above ALL the sacred per-
OnRl security Of the hqJsas cOrgls the freedom Of
piniOn and freedom Of utterance. We have de-
handed specification Of the objects for which this
unparalleled call upon the industry and income of
constituents is prediCated. We have asked whether
his war contemplates reunion and if So in what
tanner arms are to achieve that object. We have
sked " neither it means the desOlatiOn of southern
ONES, the overthrow Of southern institutions. and
he destruction Of our own race there. We have
emanded more perfect security for the economical,
lithful, legitimate application Of this vast amount
{ money, and the result Is that we are turned
Ound upon the privileges which we are thakfnl il
ct reserved to Us, of spreading upon the journals
the house this our respectful, solemn protest
Signed by Harry Bingham, Aaron 2. Hughes and
ghty-nne others, members of the New Hampshire
legislature, and by order spread upon the jour
ais