, 1864-01-23
TIE EIGHTH OF JANUARY
AT NASHVILLE,


The 8th Of January was commemoratcd ct
Nashville, and speeches made by Gov. John
son and Col. Dustin. From the remarks Of
make the following extract:
The people made the Government, and it
must remain under fhe control of the people.
The Government being under the epeople, and
the institutions under the Government, any
Institution antagonistic to the Government
must necessarily give Way for the preserYa-
tfon Of the Government, Institutions are
tolerated for time, they are not fixed; they
are subject to change, or they die out, Not
fixed, q lasting Institution Of the people. We
once had United States Bank, and we had
Jackson, who hated aristQcracy in any shape,
""'t.@r y. y. s.aaVes Or ii6ilGy. ~ crushed It.
AL institutions must be subordinate to s"a ~.
Government Of the United States. Before
the rebellion ne could discuss all llinstitutions,
all subjects, all measures, except slavery. On
that subject no one dared speaE, or write, Or
print, except on the side Of the slave aristoc
racy. Now, thank God, the time has come
when the press Is unmuzzled- the
prees can discuss this and other subjects.
The time has come when this Institution Il
dead-when the chains arc broken and the
captive set free: [Applause.l The institu-
tlon is dead tApplansel and slaves are not
ter.] Being dead, let us, In q becoming man
ner prepare for the funeral obsequies. Now
ls the time to dispose Of this great question.
It is great question and one which must be
settled upon the great principle of human
freedom; otby Abolitionists In the North,
nor " secesslonists in the South. but By that
great law Of Belfpreseryation which governs
all men alike. Slavery is cancer upon the
body polite, which must be rooted ont before
perfect health can be restored. The great
Law which refer to Is now Mt work, and
negroes and all things elee which mny be in
ont. DON'T 60 to inyenting, but lind ont The"
great principles Of this law, and conform
your actions thereto. I will 20 back to the
subject Of institutions. want no better
League than the Constitution Of the United
States. and the laws made in pursuance there
and religions liberty, Is my League; 1t is
small enough for me, and large enough for
ali-for the whole world No institution must |
rise abovei it. This Is the peoples Constitu- |
tion-the peoples Government The voice |
Of the people Is the voice Of God, and hence |
Government t. Go bask to I the ca articies @ Of Con- @
federation, which were designed to secnre a |
pe1petua1 union Of the States the Constitu-
tion Was framed to secure more perfect /
Union. In 1t, provision fs made for Its own
amendment, for the admission Of new States,
I
found provision for letting State out. 1t
provides means to repel invaeions and sup
press fnsurrectlon; 1t also guarantees to
every State In the Union q republican form |
Of government, an1 to protect them from
domestic violence. This government OF ours
petual. Like the Christian religion, the Con
stitntion4 is comprehensive enough for the |
whole world Away with the idea Of State
suicidel Away with the doctrine of seces
sion, its twin brotherl We are parts of q
great whole, working at present somewhat
but as soon as the Govern.
ment puts. down the rebellion, and the ma
clinery be again putin running order, leay-
Ing out whatever may hare before prevented |
its running smoothly, the State will stand
firm. Some Of her institutions may be
rubbed out, but the state stands. She is, and /
will continue to be, State whether with or
without Slavery, and the Government will 70
on. admit no such thing as recoRstruction;
the idea is as bad Us Secession; your Legisla-
tnre run away, does that destroy the State
the State? They took WITH them the bank
funds and the school fund, but the State is
here yet The ordinary civil functions Of the
State have been for o time necessarily sus-.
pended, but the United States Is bound to
secure to us a representative form Of Govern
ment- Docs that look like secession-like
The President possesses the
necessary power, and must exercise it,
Officers pay be appointed to administer tho
Inv; anything may be done to secure rep
resentatiye form OF Government. The rebel
lion being put down, the Legislatnre might
State can be out of the Union is virtually ad-
hitting the principle of Secession. Nor can
4 State be put back to Territorial condi-
ton. It Is contrary to the genius Of our
Government. The State cannot destroy her.
sell, nor can the United States Government
a Nf1$n hny n nntt |
you destroy the Union Of States. Hold fast
10 your Liberties under the Constitution. De-
5troy the rebellion, and let Slavery go with
t. lCheers. We're 1t possible to destroy a
State, would almost be willing to see South
Carolina destroyed; but 7 will not depart
sven have her destroyed The Union and
Lhe Constitution must be preserved intact.
have owned s1ayes-slaves that bought
With my Own money money earned BY my
'elf, quarter Of dollar at o time. They
we're conflscated and sold; yet two Of them
lere to me, hired them-made bargain
With them for their labor-and thus recog-
lized their freedom. And find they do bet
er than when they were slaves. Now if any
# you are slave owners, advise you to 60
md do likewise, while 5ou have the change.
yil1 find they will do better labor for you than
when they were slaves. By this means you
yill do yonr part in this great transition to
each them selEreliance The edict has gone
orth, and all that remains.to be done Is to
hange the relation Of master and slave. The
lay IS not far distant when this nation will
'e the great centre Of civilization, Of tho arts
nd sciences, and Of true religion. Time was
Yhen the tide Of emigrntion. ran westward;
he time will soon be when 1t will run south
yard. Let us GO on with our mighty work
20 talk about breaking up government like
his for slavery! IT'S madness. Let 1t 60 on
With its great mission.