The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-04-23

Il
public good, that men in Congress from
Maryland and Ohio assailed it. They
were actuated by no patriotic motive
They are traitors, in fact. Would not the
adoption Of an abolition policy by the
Government cause your men 20 desert {?
| Would You not see them throwing away
their colors, and find the officers ready
70 oppose the Government? This is the
way they talked. What was the neces-
sary result of such impnlations but TO
| dissolve your armies-by the disafiection
Of the officers leave the soldiers a disor-
ganized mob? Do you suppose that these
| Maryland and Ohio gentlemen did not
know the tendency Of their remarks? Is
II not fair inference that they, elected
TO represent a respectable constituency,
have at least the average intelligence of
their fellow. citizens? and that they
knew the effect of their alterations, when
they, in their places in Congress, de-
clared the Constitution tramped upon
and dched, and the Government was not
carrying on the war for the benefit of the
Government, but for the freedom Of
slaves? Are we to suppose that men
would believe these things to be true, as
when they were taught in those enihusi-
asiic days, that the war was for the glory
of the Republic? Can men fight for
mere Abolition, as for the glorious cause
of country? Then when these men
blackened the cause they knew the men
would see the smut they put there. T APP
plause. But when they made the ques-
tion they supposed the day of armistice
was here. Their country is down South ;
they are only denizens here. Their hearts
are there; their persons should be also.
fApplause.
What have the men who make these
arguments been heretofore? Has any
member of the American party, has any
member of the Republican party, has
any member Of the Wing party, has any
friend aud supporter OF Mr.. Douglas,
who represented the anti slavery portion
of the Democratic party, North-have
any of them ad.znced these arguments +?
There are those who supported Mr..
Douglas who have been friends of the
South, ready to give them all their rights,
aye, more than their rights. Some did
so from sense of liberalily, others from
a mean courting Of the loaves and fishes
certain of unity in the South, and if
they hampered them they would be paid.
II is from this latter class of men that
we hear these arguments. -Four years
ago they were anxious to have a partisan
in the Presidency; now a new view has
enlightened them. Fellow. citizens, /
say where any person desirous that this
Government shall be maintained, what
ever his proiessed position. patriotism
will allow him TO hold but one position
at this time. Applause. | care not
whether he be as devoted Democrat as
the Governor Of your State, or as fierce
an American as my friend Colonel
Csmpbel) sitting beside mel say the
door is narrow one. There are, gem
tlemen, but two sides to this question
there are but two courses to be pursued.
Professions will not be taken for acts.
Conduct is the only criterion that should
test mems positions. Patriotism would
maintain the Government at all hazards,
to every extreme, and let every thing else
go to ruin. Applause. There arc those
who interpose the Constitution as a bar
rier against the maintenance Of the in.
tegrity of the Government. / differ from
many OF the acts of the Administration
think that they are unfortun ate, but /
do not go about sowing dissensions.
Now, gentlemen, wish you TO under
stand how much of a radical am. |
want you TO know that | believe that
the Constitution of the United States as
il came from the hands of Washington.
and was acted upon by Jackson, is sufli-
cIent for everything of this rebellion. |
want you to understand something else,
that this Government IS gTeater t5aa he Con-
sttutiOn The Constitution was made in
three months, and has given as happiness
for four generations. II is glorious in =
strument. But when it is found suii-
cient for the protection of the people of
the United States, let it go. [Applausel
Not by any means with cOmprOmis sing
with jeff Davis to restore negrodom 10
power forever. Neverl Neveh loud
applause. / mean TO have freedom un-
der the Constitution, il can; in the
midst Of its ruins, il cannot. Loud
applause RebelIions heretofore have
gone 90 far that men who talked Of law
we're only talking folly. We have not
reached that point yet, but the Copper
heads, if they do not take care, may
bring il on. They, perhaps, took some
steps in that direction in the late cleo
tion. Laughter. II they had only
gone little further in the Legislature Of
Illinois, only little further in organi-
zing that Northwestern Confederacy,
down at Louisville, think that some
State Constitution might have been bro.
ken up. have seen two thus disposed
of in Maryland, and l would not sec
more.
Who has the right to determine this
question? Clearly the people Does any
one suppose IL the President of the Uni.
ted States should turn traitor 10 the
States, that / would not help pitch him
into the Potomac? The Constitution wa,
made for the people, and not the peopl,
for the Constitution. These men should
bear this in mind. Let them Eemembei
that we will conduct the war until M,
rebellion is brought TO a close. Tn,
safety Of the people is the supreme law
Of the land.
But, fellow citizens, is there any
ground upon which these imputationi
really rest? Has any material right O
the American people been violated any
where by the President or Congress O
the United Smtesy If 30, let some one
tell me where il is. profess areyereno'
for that instrument equal 10 any one, ex
cept those in sympathy with the South
Laughter BY the side Of Mr. YalIan
digham have no love for The Constitu
tionl BY the side OF Mr., Cox / have IA,
reverence for that charter Of my liber
, ties Iyield in reverence 10 Gsorg