The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-08-18
The Era sf Reason.

We are glad to observe, says the Bos-
ton Post, o general disposition among
ell classes of our people to discuss dis
passionately the great questions now
before them for solution and settle
ment Upon their determination upon
correct principles rests the future vel
fare and glory Of our country. Unless
they are fully understood their dis
cussion may lead to additional triass
and complications, if not civil war.
The questions now before the coun-
try are in themselves simple and easily
understood; there are but two which We
at the North have to meet, and to our
mind there is but one which can lead
to tranquility and peace. The frat is
whether this Government as it was
framed by Washington, jefferson, Ad-
ans, Madison, Franklin, and the other
great men of the revolution, preserved
by Jackson, Webster and Clay, and the
men of their day and generation, and
maintained against the most gigantic
rebellion the world has ever seen by
our own treasure and blood, is to
stand. Whether in the future as in
the past we are TO continue a union of
sovereignties under common agent,
whose powers are limited and still are
to be limited by written Constitution.
This is the first question; and upon
this proposition we stand. Where on
the surface of the globe is there a
people who, since the establishment of
our constitution and government, have
so prospered in all the departments
and interests Of lief Where is there
q country where the people have been
so free, sovereign and independent,
who have suffered so little from the
burdens Of war, in taxation; who have
been more. powerful and respected,
abroad or at homeS Where 9 people
who have overspread continent with
their Institutions, converting vast prai-
ries into gardens, mountain sides into
vineyards, making every stream con-
tribute to their wealth through manu-.
faetures, and every sea bear on its bo
som its commercial marine securely
protected by the emblem of its sover.
eignty2 Shall this wonderful develop
ment of the power and prosperity of q
free people go on under the institutions
which have heretofore protected them,
or has our system of government been
"a failure" and has it 'gone down in
in blood and horrorY'
This brings US to The second question,
which is the opposite theory now Rd.
vanced, which is that our system OF
government that is, the Constitution
Of our country, has no longer any
binding force; that We not only have
| been but still are in the midst Of an
assured revolution that State soy.
ereignty is myth and fable, and in
the stead Of its many idols there
shines forth The oae splendor and
power f0reordAined TO cenuuest Thai
we are no longer q miserable assOcia
tioa Of States, bat live under one cen.
tral, supreme unlimited govern
ment Assuming this latter theory, 4
portion Of the dominant party seek K
regulate through congressional enact
meats the Affairs Of the States they
even 90 80 far IS 70 undertake. 70 pre-
scribe who shall and who shall not b
entitled 10 the right Of suffrags n the
States, as citizens Of The SIatea As
suming this power, they assume ever,
power which the State has the cOustitu
tioDal right b enjoy. The frIs Is no
ccnhned to any class Of the States, O
20 the enfranchisement Of any particu
lar race, for once established, such
power exercised IA one state could
with the same propriety be applied =
any ether. Thus, in South Carolina,
in this manner negroes are be En-
francaised, The same rale may be %
Piled % enfrsnehiss the Chinese 0
California, or the Indian Of NeFsdf
And If the constitutional barriers ar
10 be thus broken down and destroys
By this 1assuzsd reYelutiop, what ]
% prevent smother Coneress, with ii
fsreni fieFh cTertAresing, nuiiig
.