Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-05-20
Mobilization in the United states
senate.

Mobilization in the United states
Senate.
We have been exceedingly mortified
at some late remarks made in debate by
Senator Davis of Kentucky. His origi-
nal remarks were so reasonable that a
member sent a copy of them to the
Clerks desk to 60 on record, whereupon
Senator Davis made the following expla-
nation:
said that in my judgment, Congress
had passed unconstitutional measures,
and so far as these measures are uncon-
stitutiOnal, / will advise my constituents
to resist them, and here repeat it. The
position have adhered to all the time, is
that so far as the legislation of this Con-
gress in the judgment of my people
should be unconstitutional, will advise
them to resist it by all the means they
can command. Until the Supreme Court of
the United States has decided law to
be constitutional, every citizen has a right
70 judge for himself upon his own respOn-
sibility of the constitutionality of the law,
and he has right 10 resist 10 according to his
otOn judgment, and TO submit himself TO
the proper courts when his conduct shall
become subject to their judgment If
by his course, he commits the crime of
treason, he is justly amenable TO the
punishment Of traitor.
We repudiate such doctrines as en-
bOdying the very soul of notification.
1t was just such heresy that precipita-
ted the Cotton States into a revolution.
1t was such heresy as Calhoun instilled
into South CarOlina in 1888. 1t is rank
higher-lawism, and if acted on, will in
volve this nation in blOOdshed for
ever. "Every citizen has a right"
says Mr.. Davis, ITO judge for himself
whether the law passed by Congress and
signed by the President be constitutional
or not, and he come to the conclusion that
ii is unconstitutional, this Kentucky
Senator advices him TO "resi8t 10 BY ALL
MEANS at his cO1tmaaaM Shoot the
Sheriff or U. S. Marshal, break open and
demOliSh the Jails, fire on the Federal
Police, do anything to obstruct the en-
fOrcement of the odious lawsl Do we
dream Can we trust our senses Is
this Carrot Davis or Jeff Davis who ut
ters doctrines on the floor of the Senate
so monstrous and abhOrrent to every law
abiding, conservative man? Why this
frOthy rant is the very language of radi-
Calism and jacObinism. II is the wild
jargon of the mob. 1t is a repetition of
the cant of ToOmbs, Mason, Wigfall Iver-
son and JEFF Davis, who will heartily en-
dOrse the views of this Senator. We
have no faith in Senator Powell, Mr.. Da-
Wis colleague, and yet we do not believe
that even he would have dared to preach
such inCendiarism in the Senate, before
Mr.. Davis speech. What he will do
now is hard to predict, bat of one thing
we feel certain, that he cannot say any
thing more abhOrrent to the feelings of
lsw-abiding men. We feel certain that
the Union men of Kentucky will repudi-
ate Indignantly the higher-lawism of Mr.
Davis. 1t surely can find no response
save with the rebels. We thought it was
the duty of all citizens to obey the laws
until repealed, set aside By The decision of
the Supreme Court No, says Mr.. Davis,
you have a right to resist the law "by
all means at your command" until the
court decides such a law to be cOnstitu-
iionai. Was there ever wilder or more
dangerous radicalism Imagine for
moment what would be our condition if
the laws were to be thus resisted. The
whole nation would be perpetually on the
stormy waves Of anarchy and mob.law.
II would be worse than a den of wild
beasts engaged in the work of mutual de-
struction. We feel most painfully assured
that Mr.. Davis is unfit to be a leader
and counsellor of loyal men in a time
which demands so much GOODNESS, dis
erection and self-cOntrol. We would far
rather see him declare openly for the en-
envy than profess loyalty and preach
notification.