The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-25
was listened to with marked attention, and was
received, at its conclusion, with warm applause:

your QenDeratlonS auriDg tnis VIC Ai'l SohSfeSs
under our permanent Constitution. And desire
to say that it will be my one great aim, in dis
charging the duties of this 0.e5oe, so to conduct
myseif az to show to you and to the world that
your confidence has not been altogether mis-
applied.
tions look on. curious to see how this system
of government will move of, and what manner of
men have been chosen to guide Its earliest move
ments.
It is indeed a new system; for, though coincid-
ing in many particulars with that under which we
lived SO long, it yet differs from it in many essen
tial particulars.
When the constitution of 1877 put in
operation, the war of the Revolution had been
| successfully closed. Peace prevailed throughout
our whole land, and hallowed all its borders. The
| industrial operations of the country, long held
back, now bounded forward and expanded with
all the vigor and rankness of tropical vegetation
| bcnea!h the influence of a midsummer sun. The
trial which that Constitution had to encounter in
its earliest as we'll as in more matured existence,
was simply one engendered by conflict of these
interests. The question was, whether 1t could
give protection to all these Interests without be-
coming the partisan of one and the oppressor of
another or in fact. whether it has the sustaining
power to preserve its integrity against the in
1ucnce Of interest, welded by ambition. We
have the result
The case with our Constitution is very different.
1t is put in operation in time of war, and its first
movements are disturbed by the shock Of battle.
Its :rial is one created by the urgences of this
contest The question to be decided is, whether,
without injury to its own integrity, it supply
the machinery and afford the requisite to
conduct this war to that successful conclusion
which the people, in their heart of hearts, have
resolved on. and which, [ trust, has been decreed
in that higher court from whose decision there is
no appeal
The solution of this question is in the bosom OF
the future. But our system can never perish out
like that to which | have alluded. When ambl-
ton and interest seized upon that, and destroyed
its integrity they were not allo=ed to appropriate
the rule altogether to themselves. Fanatlclsm
came forward and demanded to be received as
participant Of power with them, and it claimed
not in vain. Beneath the sway Of this unholy
triumvirate Justice was forgotten, intolerance
established, private morals were ruined, and pub
lie virtue persisted. All feeling Of constitutional
restraint passed away and all sense Of the obllya
ton of oath forever lost The whole
machinery of government degenerated into the
absolute rule of corrupt numerical maJ orty.
Already the weaker section was marked out for
destruction by the stronger, and then came dis
ruption and overthrow Since then, tyranny the
most absolute, and peri ury the most vile, have
destroyed the last vestge Of soundness in the
whole system.
Our new system is designed to avoid the errors
of the old Certainly it is founded in different
system Of political philosophy, and is sustained by
peculiar and more conservative state of society.
1t has elements Of strength and long life. But at
the threshold lies the question l have already
stated Can it icgitmately afford the means to
carry the to successful conclusion! if not,
it must perish, but successful result must be
achieved. But it must be destroyed not by the
hand Of violence or by the faint of perjury. 1t
must go out peacefully, and in pursuance of its
own provisions. Better submit to momentary
Inconvenience than to niure representative honor,
viuate public faith. In the whole book of ex
pedIents there is place for falsehood and per-
jury. Let u.s. the contrary, assiduously cult
vate the feeling of respect for constitutional ni
tation, and sacred reverence for the sanction Of
oath.
Seeing, therefore, gentlemen of the House of
Representatives, that are custOdans of the
nations life, and the guardians of the Constitu-
tions integrity, what manner Of men should VIC
be? How cool, how considcrate, how earnest, how
infexible, how true?
Having no prospect in the future, save through
the success of our cause, how regardless should
be of all selfish views and plans of personal ad
vancemcnt.
Selected by the people to take care of the State
in this time Of difficulty and of trial, how we
ought to dedicate ourselves in heart, mind, soul
aud energy to the public service Neither history
has recorded, song depicted, nor fable
Swallowed forth higher instances of self-devotion,
than ought to be shown in the conduct of this
Congress.
1t is not allowed to pursue a course of OBJ
scure mediocrity. We inau gurate a Government
we conduct a revolution. We must live live
forever, IN the memory of men, either for praise
or for blame. If we prove equal to the crisis in
which we are placed, maintain imperishable
honor. Bat if, the contrary, we show our
selves incompetent to the discharge of our duty
shall sink beneath the contempt of man
kind
Truly, our position is one of great impo Our
gallant army now holds, as it deserves the first
place in the thoughts and affections of our people
But of scarcely less Importance in the estimation
of all, is the Legislative authority which initiates
the true civil policy Of the Confederacy, and
which sustains and upholds the army itself
And when the latter shall have accomplished
its holy mission by driving the invader from the
soil which he desecrates and pollutes; aud when
the hearts Of a grateful and free people, more
generous than a Roman Senate, shall for this
service decree to it lifelong ovation if trne to
ourselves, and competent to their duty, this Con-
gress will be united in the triumpha honors And
if this Constitution be desired to go forward as
we hope and believe it will, distant future
gaining new strength from trial, winning new
trlumphs from time, giving protection and peace
to successive generations of haorv and euli,rhto,