The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-09
To Cure IrregnIarllies.

=
". and have time to take into consid-
Grafton the political issues Of the day
TO Cure Irregularities.
The first governments were associa-
tons for mutual protection orsuccessful
plumber; the widest, and we might add
widest freedom prevailed; the King
and his subject drew lots together for
their part Of the spoils Of successful
expedition; and Cows could not re-
store a vase to its original owner; be-
cause a burly soldier in the ranks OBJ
jected.
But this was an unphilosopical era the
liberty enjoyed was that Of the savage ;
il arose from the determination of each
man to be free himself and the mon
arch respected this, because he could
not do otherwise; there were no defined
notions of freedom, no philosophical
theories Of national liberty.
But this was an illiterate age; an oc-
casional historian-Gregory Of Tours,
William of Malmsbery, and men of
similar cast Of mind, recorded these
facts, upon parchment and consigned
the rolls TO the cells Of a monastery,
where they remained inaccessible to
the populace; not more concealed by
iron doors, than by the prevailing igno-
rance; and but few centuries inter
vened, before all these facts were for
gotten; the net of tyrants had been
woven freedom had ceased to be; and
Kings were supposed to rule by Divine
right. &The monarchs Of France are
absolute said a celebrated writer of
the 18th century, as they have been
from the beginning and the people
believed him.
But after the revival Of literature,
the musty records Of Gaul and Britain
were brought to light; and the slender
pretenses of monarchs to Divine ordi-
nation presented to the gaze Of an as
tonished public and from that hour
Divine right was questioned
After the middle of the 18th century,
the people began to possess some well
digosted ideas on the subject of liber-
ty: and during the era of the Ameri-
can revolution, the patriotic but erratic
Payne boldly asserted that governments
were no other than necessary evil /;
and upon this theory, our political ideas
are all based. Associations are essential
to every people; they cannot be avoid
ed they cause us inconyeniencies, but
greater ones are thereby avoided and
the people themselves are the only
Judges of the institutions which can
best contribute TO their own prosperity
and happiness.
The people are the source, the foun-
tain of power; such is the American
theory; and he who holds the reins of
government, does it by their consent
There is an agreement, by which pc
riodieal appeal Is made to them and
also an understanding that he whom the
majority designate as ruler, shall rule,
and the minority must submit A con-
stitution is in the nature of limitations
not upon the powers of the people,
but of that of the rulers; it is the pub
lie admonition TO those temporarily in
trusted with power-thus far, and no
farther 1t is the warrant given by the
principal to the agent authorizing him
10 do thus much. and no more.
This right of the people is not de-
pendent upon constitutional guaran-
tees it is inherent and the fact that
il is recognized in the fundamental
laws of greater part-perhaps all--of
the States, does not make it any more
permanent The recognition is well, as
a reminder to legislators as a sublime
declaration to the world; but the right
declared is not affected by it.
The people of the State have conferred
upon the legislature, under certain re.
strictions, the power to propose amend
ments to the Constitution; but it has
no power 10 call a convention; that
must be done by the people themselves;
and they may make what they will
Governor, or legislature, or private citi-
sen, their agent in the matter, for an
agent they must have
We have said that the greater num-
Der of our constitutions recognize, in
express terms, the inherent right of the
people. That of Tennessee is perhaps
as explicit as any The first section of
the Bill Of Rights, asserts that GAN
power is inherent III the people, and
all free governments are founded on
their authority, and instituted for their
peace, safety, and happiness for the
advancement of these ends, they have,
at ali times, an unaienable and indie
feasible right to alter, reform, or abol-
ish the government, in such manner as
they may think proper
Here, then, we have the whole mat
ter in few words; we cannot elect
legislature and State officers. without
undue delay, except by an express VIC
htion of the constitution; and never,
unless by accepting innumerable irreg-
ularities; we must have a civil govern
ment; and as all the authorities ARE
suspended, the people must choose be-
tween the Irregularities on the one
hand, and direct assumption of the !
powers they possess on the other
Which is to be preferred
The Press is discussing the question
as 10 whether or not the rebellion could
have been avoided. OF course II could