Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-22
wADKss ASSAULT on THE PnEsI.


Mr. Wade, Senator IN Congress from
Ohio, not to be behind his brother fanatics,
has proposed an amendment to the Federal
Constitution-which provides that the Pres
ident shall only hold the Office for one term
Of four years during his natural life,7 and
this whether he shall be elected or come in
on the death of the person elected" In
the course Of furious TRADE on the subject,
on Tuesday, this worthy lunatic delivered
the following philippe upon President
johnson 1t is only part Of that system
attic and bitter warfare being waged against
the Chief Executive for his manly adj
berence TO the Constitution handed down by
the fathers. Mr.. Wade said:
Sir, the President was right when he said
that treason was great crime and ought to
be rendered odious. Why did he not carry
out this. declaration What has occurred
to change his position on that question? l
will not say this ambition, which has tempt
ed all who have come before him, weighed
on his mind to tempt him; but it is exceed
:ngly singular, that SO far from rendering
treason odious from punishment, he has
hoisted into most exalted positions many of
the leading traitors of the South.
Who else at any period cf the worlds his
tory ever thought Of taking rebel, red with
the blood of bis countrymen, and placing
him in the position of Governor of State?
Who has sought to overthrow the Govern
ment, and who invoked despotism to aid
him in doing il.
Is that the way you make treason odious
among mankind? Is that the policy about
which we have heard SO much? Nobody
has been able to tell us heretofore exactly
what that policy was. We all, however,
saw that it was kind policy that suits
every rebel, every Copperhead, and every
enemy of the Government of the United
States, both foreign and domestic. Well, so
far as that policy has become developed We
all now see precisely what it is, and why 1t
was SO grateful to the ears and hearts OF
every enemy of his country.
1t was no less than this, that these States
should suffer nothing, nor forfeit nothing by
rebellion, but that they should be admitted
unwashed and red with the blood of their
countrymen into full communion with honest,
loval men, and into the council ofthe nation.
What has brought about this change, sir?
It all points to this fact; it will aot do to
tempt men in this way.
Why, sir, this policy bringing these States
into the Union with all their rebellion and
treason il their hearts is no better than
treason itself. / lay down the rule here,
sir, defy contradiction that if there is any
man, be he high or low, who is an advocate
for bringing traitors in the council of the
nation, that man is a traitor in his heart; he
is an enemy to the Government and the ma
ton, and nothing can make it appear diff
ferently. He who, inyokes the aid of unre-
pentent rebels to come into the councils of
the nation to participate in their delibera-
ton is no better than rebel and is a rebel
at heart.
How does the policy that is now deyolved
upon us differ from that policy that would
be announced from the same place by JEFF.
Davis, were he tomorrow placed In the
same position? Would he ask any more,
would he ask less, than that his co-conspira-
tors should be restored to the same positions
they mad when they left these halls?