The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-04-19
Carrot Davis.

We repudiate with scorn, with lOathlng,
and indignation, the sentiment attributed 10
one of our Senators, Mr.. Davis, that, If the
civil rights bill, so-called, should become a
law, he should be compelled to declare him
self an enemy of the Government, and would
work TO pull it down. No American may
declare himself an enemy Of his Government.
Blasted be the tongue that utters such a
sentiment No man may seek to pull it
down May the hand perish that attempts
il. Nav the arm be withered as by thun-
derbolt from the Almighty that shall sacri-
legiously dare to raise itself against the Gov
eminent Of this Republic. 1t was not made
for one man or one generation. Its benefits
have not been confined even to one country
IL was made for all time, for all generate ons,
and its blessings will cover all lands, as we
believe, from the rising of the sun unto its
going down.
The Government was founded upon truth
and Justice, and truth and Justice are eternal.
We do not saw il is perfect, for il was made
by men. We do not declare that no errors
have ever been made or NAV be made in its
administration. because its servants are hui
man, its agents men, But as defects appear,
we shall correct them, or endeavor to correct
them. II breaches are made in the Consti-
tuition, we shall repair them. If one man
violates the Constitution, We the people, shall
impeach him if we can, and remove him and
put q better man in his place, and if a recre-
ant or a passionate or an ignorant and venge
full Congress shall be guilty of the same thing,
we shall rebuke the Congress and elect a bet
ter. We shall reason and demonstrate and
protest and work and vote, and time and in
telligence and the good God above will be-
friend us, and we shall bring the old ship of
State around again to her right course, and
the pleasant gales will sweep her on rs of
wore, freighted with the glorious hopes and
aspirations Of all good men throughout the
earth. Pull down the Government, this Gov
eminent that Washington and the fathers
made and babe us preserve and transmit to
posterity2 Blasted be the thought and blasted
be he who utters ii. The telegraph must
have uttered libel upon Mr.. Davis, or the
reporter must have misunderstood him.
If an atrocious act be passed like that
which has now been adopted, the proper way
to meet it is to concentrate public opinion
against it, and within the least possible time
to effect its repeal Revolution in a republic
is madness and despotism and anarchy and
oppression and black death and destruction
1t is like mans tearing out his heart to
cure q ringworm or remove a wart or fes-
ter. 1t is like plucking the sun from the
solar system because it has spots on it.
Truth is great and must prevail said on old
Christian era, and every year since that has
but driven the truth of this truth into the
hearts and consciences, into the intelects of
men. The truth has been making steady, if
slow, progress ever since-sometimes with
retrograde, or at least apparently retrograde
movements, il is true; but nevertheless there
has been some real advance made in some
respects. We do not always see the opera
tons Of the causes, but if we look steadily
and philosophically and clearly, we see the
effects. And so Jefferson said, in paraphrase
of the old magma est Ueritds, ETC., that error
is poweress when truth is left free TO combat
it, Acting upon this principle, our fathers,
when they hewed out the solid timber and
erected the majestic temple of our liberties
left error and truth free to wrestle with each
other, confident that the victory would be
ultimately on the right side. Revolution, as
a remedy for evils, real or imaginary, in a
republic where the press is free and speech
is free, where men are free to think and rea-
son and vote, is the nostrum of fools.
What horrors might not the Senators in the
United States Congress from the Southern
States have saved their neonle If thew had rc-
,na;ned in tbeirSacots instead or going og lilo
hh"iou ~ mn '"'S &C., .ii''S"u VI going oi my
canjidate was elected President If Tho Tnited
StatasI There was a clear worLirS T,oinri,y
~ ro,,r,oo,, IN tbot nod, in onnos;tio,, - ~
Oartr ,Lot had eIacted that canJiJate No,
pa ia Of SmnrIioo oouIJ baye heon yo,oJ by
Gomi,ro.S ,r;,6a"t ,Lo voicos n tboso G,uy
toons onJ " "ot tbav went off The moor short
si,hto NV hIlJrar sn % a5ontoJ RavoIution rs
d U" s ~ III a. Op,,s;darod ,,rionD
49, iEb ~, t %~. AZ vinans and adontod
Msyicon moIicv for The redress Of sunnpseJ
or reaI wrongs They ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS