The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-01

the amendments to the Constitution of the
United States. When Preached Washing
ton for the purpose OF being inaugurated
as Vlce-President of the United States, l
had conversation with Mr.. Lincoln. We
were talking about the condition of affairs,
and in reference to matters in my own
State. 1 stated that VIC had called Con
vention, had amended our Constitution by
abolishlng slavery in the State-a State
not embraced ii his proclamation. All
this met his appreciation, and gave him
! encouragement, and in talking upon the
amendment to the Constitution, he said:
| "When the amendment to the Constitu-
ton is adopted by three-fourths of the
States, we shall have done all, or pretty
nearly all, l am in favor Of in amending
| the Constitution, if there was one other
adopted" Said 1, "what is that, Mr.. Pre-
sident?'' Said he, "I have labored to pre-
serve this Union; have toiled four years;
representation, yet my great desire has
been to preserve the Union of these States
intact, under the Constitution as they
were before" But, said I, 'sMr. President,
what amendment do you refer top He
said he thought there should be an amend
ment added to the Constitution which
would compel all the States to send their
Senator'S and Representatives to the Con-
gress Of the United States. Yes, compel
them. The idea was in his mind that it is
a part of the doctrine of secession to
break up the Government by States with
drawing their Senator's and Representa-
tives from Congress, and, therefore. he de-
| sired constitutional amendment to
compe! them to be sent. How, now, does
the matter stand? In the Constitution Of
the country, even that portion Of it which
provides for the amendment of the or
ganlc law, says that no State, without it's
consent, shall be deprived of its represen-
tation.
And now what do we find? We find the DO
sition taken that States shall not be repre-
sentcd, that we may impose taxes, that we
| may send our tax-gatherers to every region
and portion of q State, that the people are
to be oppressed with taxes. but when they
come to PARTICIPATES in the legislation Of
the country, they are met at the door and
told, mo; you must pay taxes, you must
bear the burdens of the Government. but
you must not participate in the legislation
OF the country, which is to effect you for
all time" Is this just? ["No, no."] Then
say let US admit to the councils of the
nation those who are Enthusiastically and un-
questionably loyal; those men who acknow-
ledge their allegiance to the Government.
and swear to support the Constitution. 1t
is all embraced in that. The amplification
of oath makes no difference if man is
not loyal; but you may adopt whatever
test oath you choose to prove their LOYALTY
that is matter of detail for which I
care nothing him be unquestionably
10y al, owning his allegiance to the Go
vernment, and willing to support It in its
hour of peril and need, and am willing to
trust them. 1 know that some do not at
tach go much Importance to this principle
as I do, but one principle we carried
through the revolution was, that there
should be no taxation without representa-
ton. hold to that principle laid down as
fundamental by our fathers. II it was
good then, it is good now. If it was a rule
to stand by then, it is a rule to stand by
now. 1t is fundamental principle that
should be adhered to as long as free 90
vernment lasts.
| know it was said by some during the
rebellion, that our Constitution had been
rolled up as piece of parchment, and laid
away; that in the time of war and rebel
lion there was no Constitution. Well, we
know that sometimes from the very great
necessity of the case, from a great clner-
gency, we must do unconstitutional things
In order to preserve the Constitution itself.
But II, wh11e the rebellion was going on
the Constitution was rolled up as parch-
ment; II 1t, was violated III some particu-
lars to save the Government, there NAV
have been some excuse to justify it. But
now that peace has come; now the war is
over, we want written Constitution; and
l say the time has come to take the Con-
stitution down, unroll it, re-read it, and
understand its provisions. Now, if YOU
have saved the Government by violating
the Constitution in war, you can only save
1t IN peace BY preserving the Constitution,
and the only way to preserve it is by
strict adherence to the Constitution of our
fathers as it is now unfolded. 1t must now
be read and understood by the American
people. [ come here to-day, as far as I
can, in making these remarks, to yindicate
the Constitution and to save it, for it does
seem to me that encroachment after en-
croachment is proposed. l stand to-day
prepared, SO far as I can, to resist these
encroachments upon the Constitution and
Government. Now that we have peace,
let us enforce the Constitution; let us live
under and by its provisions; let it be pub
llshed; let it be printed in blazing charac-
ters, s'lf it were in the heavens, punctu-
ated with stars, that all may read and un-
derstand; let us consult that instrument;
let us digest its provisions, understand
them, and, understanding, abide by them
tell the opponents Of this Government
Il care not from what quarter they come,
whether from the East, West, North or
South, you who are engaged in the work
OF breaking up the Government by amend
ments to the Constitution, that the prin-
clples OF free government are deeply root
ed in the American heart.
All the powers combined, l care not of
what character they are, cannot destroy
that great instrument-thatg great chart of
freedom. They may succeed for time,
but their attempts will be futile. They
might as well undertake to lock up the
winds, or chain the waves Of the ocean, and
confine them to limits. They may think
how it can be done by a concurrent reso-
luton; but when it is submitted to the
popular judgment and to tho popular will,
they will find that they might as well un-
dertake to introduce resolution to repeal