Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-14

No taxation without representation was one
revolution. This great principle will hold good
yet. And II we but perform our duty the Ameri-
can people will maintain and sustain the great
doctrines upon which the Government was inaug-
nrated. 1t can be done, and win be. and think
that If the effort be fairly and fully made. with
forbearance and with prudence. and with disere-
ton and WELDON, the end is not very far distant
The General Assembly Of the State Of
Virginia recently adopted series Of resoln-
tions upon the subject Of their relations "a
the Federal Union. A.committee of emin-
ent gentlemen were appointed to present
these resolutions in person TO the President
What occurred in the interview thereupon,
the speech of the committee and the mate
rial portions Of the reply, we laid before our
readers yesterday. From the latter we ex-
tract the above. a ,traD
President johnson has fairly and fully
surveyed the ground upon which he stands,
and has Stunned no fitting occasion to make
it known to the public at large. We have no
hesitation in saying that he has shown him.
self the best friend of the constitution and
the principles embodied in il, who occupies
controlling Official position in the govern
ment at this time. In these three sentences
he has compressed one Of the leading prin-
ciples of our system, and stated the duty Of
the Southern states in order to regain their
appropriate position in the public affairs
of the government 1t devolves upon the
South to ascertain this duty and cheerfully
and promptly 10 perform il
After what has occurred this duty isplain.
In most, if not in all respects, it has been
performed. Our failure, the abolition OF
domestic slavery, the Reputation of debts
created to maintain resistance to the Gov
ernment of the Union, the supremacy of the
Federal authority, have all been promptly
andsincerely admitted. Our intention faith
fully and honestly to adhere to these decla-
rations ard admissions have been fully and
feymally expressed. We must now show by
our works in detail the sincerity of our pro-
fessions in general. To the slaves who have
been liberated we must accord all those
rights that are necessary to secure to them
such benefits as may accrue from their free
dom. They must be left free to choose their
vocations, to make their engagements, to do
their work and receive their compression.
They must have their status in court as other
freemen. This is nothing but fairness and
justice. 1t is equally due to the negro and
10 his former master. Il is right that he
should have fair trial. If in his new con-
dition, he shall exhibit those high charac-
teristics claimed for him, let him, by all
means, enjoy the fruits they bring. There
is difference of opinion on this subject be-
tween his true and his fake friends Give
him fair chance and help him all we can,
and wait the result Let us see who is in
error. 9se
Let us also remember that mere denunci-
ations Of the bad men who are now fortuit-
ously in power, win not bring good out OF
evil. However bad they may be, or by what
sover passions and false views of the right
and wrong in government they may be acsu-
ated, the remedy is not in a repetition Of
wrong and passion. The South has suffered
much, and should be ready to suffer as much
more. for the true interests and objects Of free
and equal government Our people should
make up their minds TO do their
part in rebuilding the Onion ON the
solid foundations Of immutable principles
which, whatever may be said to the contrary,
they have never abandoned, and in pcrpetu-
ating system Of free popular government.
They should do this regardless Of what 9TH
ers may say or do. Keep IN The right is the
only motto they can adopt with safety.
Without reference 10 past preiudices or
present wrongs, let the path Of enlightened
duty, marked by a spirit Of justice, be
steadily and unlinchly pursued. Herein
lies our glory and our strength; and herein
lies the safety and perpetuity Of republican
institutions.