The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-19
Furthermore, be said


two other powers in the Constitution, by
virtue Of which all needful guarantees can
be secured The first is that vast untried
power the clause Of the Constitution, declar-
ing that che United States shall guarantee
10 every State republican form Of govern
ment" This power, long dormant sprang
at once into activity with the acts Of seces-
sion. 10 al government being oyerthrown
in fact, 90 that the whole region was like
an "empty slate, il became the duty Of the
national authority 10 set up loyal govern
ments, and at the same time TO see that
they were republican in FORM" which
must mean az least that they are govern
ments Of the msjority, and not Of the mi
nority; and I think ! cannot err, if add,
that, according 70 the fundamental princi-
pies Of the Declaration Of Independence,
they must be founded on the equal rights Of
] men and the "conss Mt Of the governed"
IL IS very clear that in this clause Of guar
aut !, there is an inexhau tible power, by
virtue Of which the national authority can
not only exact sll needful guarantees, but
can mold these rebel communities accordin z
to the model Of a Christian commonwealth.
There is still another source Of power IN
der the Constitution; and this is according
20 the annlogies Of the territories. Since all
/ loyal government has ceased 10 exist, the
whole region, IN all its divisions and sub
divisions, has, from the necessity Of the case,
1 lapsed under the national jurisdiction, which
/ is as complete for all practical purposes as
that same jurisdiction over the District Of
/ Columbia.
1. Tine IS accessory. There must be no
precipitation. Time is The genilest, but
| most powerful of revolutiOnists. Time is the
surest ref0rmer. Time is a peace maker.
Time is necessary 10 growth, and it is an
IL. ant of oh 2 q
more this wickedness was maturing. Who
can say thet the same time viii not be need
ei now 10 mature the conditions Of perms-
nent peace7
?. MeaatohIe zoe mRst .foilos0 CoFSre5S IN
the prsSeat exclusion Of all rebels from Politi-
cal poiecr. They must not be voted for, and
they must not vote. On this principle
take my stand. Let them buy and sell; let
them ill the ground; and may they be in
dustrious and successful. These things they
may DO: but they must not be admitted Al
once INTO the copartnership Of our Govern
meut This exclusion, sanctioned by on
gress. must be the pole-star Of our national
policy. II the rebels cannot be officers IN
der our Government, they ought not 10 be
voters. They should be politically disfrsn-
chised, purely and simply as q measure OF
self-defence, and in order 10 prepare the
wsy ior those guarantees which weseek-
8 In obtaining guarantees we must rely
upon acts rather Than professions, aud light
our foot steps "by the lamp Of experieuee."
Therefore We turn from recent rebels 70 con-
slant loyalsts. This is only ordinary pru-
dence. As those who have fought against
Us should be dis'rauchised, so those who
have fought for us should be enfranehised,
and thus 4 renovated state will be built Sc
cure on an unfaltering and natural loyalty.
~ further, in,ohtsining guarantees we
must look confidently TO Congress, which
has plenary powers over the whole subject.
Congress can do everything needful. Il has
alresdy begun by excluding rebels from Of
Zee Il must continue its jurisdiction
whether through The war powers, or the
duty 10 guarantee arepubl,can form Of gov
eminent, or the necessity Of the case as in
territories. is q matter Of little Importance.
s. All these guarantees should be com
pleted and rowned BY an amendment Of the
Constitution Of the United States, especially
prov ding that hereafter there shall be no
denial Of The cleo i've franchise sr any exclu-
sion OF any kind. on account Of color or race,
but all persons shall be equal before the Law.
For ms self. fellow citizens, pardon me II
I say that my course is fixed. Others may
hesitn e.; others may turn away from those
great truths, which make the iar-reaching
brightness Of the republic; others may seek
a temporary favor by temporary surrsn-
der. ! shall not. The victory Of blood,
which has been so painfully won, must be
confirmed BY greater victory OF ideas, 50
that tho renowned words Of Abraham Lin
coln may be fulfilled, and "this nation. IN
der God, shall have new birth Of freedom,
and government Of the people, shall not
perish from the EARTH To this end / seek
no torml Union. seething with smothered
curses, but practical, moral and political
unity, founded on common rights, knit to-
Cethor hy common interests, and inspired
bv a common faith, where oar Constitution,
interpreted anew, shall be covenant with
life and league with Heaven, and liberty
shall be everywhere not only right but
duty.
John Brown, on his way 10 the scafold.
where be was % stone with life for a deed 81
self sacrifice, stopped 70 take slave child.
That closing act was the legacy Of this dying
man 20 his country. That bsneSiction we
must continue and fOlfll The last shall be
FIRST: and So, this new order, equally, long
postponed. shall be master principle OF our
system. nd the ironuspiece Of our Consti-
tuition. The rebellion was % best down this
by founding governmeutoa the
ALLEGED ''InfcriCri of q race." liking up
the gauntlet ] nov insist that the insolent
assumption OF the c1nspirati0rs shall not
prevail This is not the hrst time that I
have baitled with ihe barb rism Of slavery.
I battle still, as the bloody moustc- retreats
TO its last eitidal, and, God willing, ] mean
10 fight il out on this ine IL il tsyes' what
remains 10 me Oflif.e