Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-10

rebellion. They ought to return as quickly
as possible into the usual track Of govern
meRt, in which every one Is protected BY the
laws, and no one oppressed
We must remember that in the struggle
through which we have passed a million Of
our people have been slain, and amoug
others The Washingtons, Marshal!s' and
Monroes and that Virginia has been desc
lated and dismembered. II was this Hnpe
Virginia that in the struggle Of f76,
marched TO the relief Of Massachusetts,. In
that eventfnl conflict she WIS to Massa-
chusetts as the shield of Achilles to the
Greeks. She furnished the author Of the
Declaration and theleader of the continental
army which carried the revolutions to success.
and aflerward the statesman who laid the
foundation Of the Government
The Republican party has accomplished
its mission, which was the abolition Of
slavery. Fer the rest there is no longer inv
bond of union among is members. The
numerous propositions to amend the Con-
stitution are but thesignals Of distress, while
the despairing cry isheard from every portal.
The Democracy have no changes 20 make
Their principles are identical with the pros
perity ofthe country, and are as perpetual
as the government itself They have only
to adhere to those principles, in the breadth
and yigor with which they were thus an
nounced in Mr. Jeferson's inaugural:
Equal and exact Justice to all men, Of
whatever state or persuasion, religious or po-
llhcal; peace, commerce, and honest friend
ship with all nations, enfangIing alliaaces
with none; the support Of the State govern
ments in all their rights, as the most COM
petent administrators Of our domestic con-
Germs, and the sGrest bulwarlx against anti
republican tendencies; the preservation Of
the General Goyernmentin its constitutional
vigor, as the sheet-anchor Of our pe.ce at
home and safety abroad jealous cire OF
the rights Of election by the people, mild
and safe corrective of abuses which are
Topped by the sword Of revolution, when
peaceable remedies are unprovided; absolute
acquiescence in the decisions Of the major
ity, the vital principle Of republics, from
which is no appeal but to force, the vital
principle and immediate parent Of despotism;
a well disciplined militia, our best reliance
in peace, and for the first moments Of war,
till regulars may relieve them; the suprem-
acy Of the civil over the military authority;
economy in the public expenses, that labor
may be lightly burdened, the honest pay
ment of our debts and sacred preservation
Of the public faith; encouragement Of ag-
riculture, and Of commerce as its hand
maid; the diffusion of information, and ar
raignment Of all ABUSES at the bar Of the
public reason freedom CT religion, freedom
Of the press, and freedom of person, under
the protection Of the hdbeas corpus; and trial
by juries impartially selected"
These, Mr.. Speaker, are the immutable
principles Of eternal justice, and must be re-
cognized as the governing law Of our race.
The disorganization of society induced by
the late struggle, and the deruoralizing spirit
of plumber which is abroad In the land, may
for time retard their adoption, but their
full and general recognition cannot long be
delayed. In the language Of Henry Clay,
truth Is inevitable and public justice
certain"
In restoring to order the scattered parts Of
government and people returning 10 peace
after terrible civil war, the principles Of
sense of right, and with comprehensive
view, we must not only forget the past, but
we must by an equal distribution of the
benefits as well as the burdens Of govern
ment, make il the interest Of all sections 10
great regulating principle, the true bond CT
Union; the cohesive power that holds gov
ernments together, and makes a nation fruly
great and prosperous. For time the South
ern States may be denied the privileges Of q
reunion, and of representation on this
floor; the writ Of kdbeas corpus may esus-
pended; arbitrary arrests may be renewed;
military commissions continued, and the cry
of an unbridled fanaticism heard over the
voice Of struggling justice; but so certainly
as the waters find their level, or the magnet
points to the pole, viii that spirit Of liberty
and Independence which the Almighty blew
into our nostrils with the breath Of life con-
duct our principles to final triumph.