Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-26
SP + + CHI Q +
Hon. George II. Pendleton.
The Question Of the Day.

Wednesday. Speeches were made by HEIs
TER gLY1rER, tbs Conservative candidate
for Governor, Hon. MONTGOMERY BLAm
and Hon. GEORGE IL PESDLEToE. From
the Iatters remarks we extract the follow
ing
THE QUESTION OF THE DAY.
What is the great question: do not say
principle-of to-day? Shall the Southern
States be Represented in Congress? Around
this question is grouped every other ques-
ton which the war has raised, and by the
principle on which It is decided will every
other question be determined. The Presi-
dent saws that they are entitled to represen-
tation-that they have resumed their nor
NAL and harmonious relations 20 the Union.
The Democratic party asserts the same posi-
ton The Republican party, speaking by its
leaders in Congress. says that although thy
are at peace with the Union, they shai' u
be represented till they buy the enjoyment
Of that right by conssnting to amendments
Of the Constitution which the Southern peO-
pie loathe from the bottom Of their hearts,
and win never yield to except by coercion.
Cheers. This is the question RENTED to
the people for decison-and upon their de-
cision depend peace and order, and the per-
petuation Of the Government, or discomfort,
disorder revolution and anarchy-despot-
ism. Is not this true? If these States are
not entitled 10 representation in Congress,
they are not entitled 10 vote in the electoral
college Ii they are not permitted 10 vote
IN 1868, and their vote combined with that
Of either party at ihe North world elect a
President, win that party submit to the
dicision VIII il consent that the viii Of
the whole country should be defeated by a
known and acknowledged minority, and if
Il will not submit, will there not be disorder,
turbulence, probably war?
Why THE SOUTH SHOULD BE REPRESENTED.
Why should not these States be repre-
senied2 Pennsylvania and Ohio are repre-
sented Why not Virginia2 Ohio recog-
nizes the supremacy of the Federal Govern
ment within the Constitution; so does Vir-
ginia Ohio obeys the Federal laws; so does
Virginia There is not an armed enemy in
all the Confederate States There is not a
show Of opposition to Federal authority /;
not even SO much as a shadow when it de-
clineth. The Confederate Government is
dissolved the ordinances OF secession are
abrogated; the old constitute are set
State Governments are displaced new ones
are in their stead. The old officers have
been expelled new ones have been elected
The States are performing all the functions
necessary 20 the maintenance of civil socie-
by; they preserve order, punish crime, pro-
tect life and properly, collect debts enforce
and wife, father and child, guardian and
l.f. lao H.
button of real and personal estate they
charter cities and colleges; they exercise the
right Of eminent domain, build railroads
and establish common schools Why should
they not be represented Ohio
erai taxes; 80 does Virginia. A tax -.
crer rides every county; a custom house Of
licer is at every port. Virginia took up
arms against the Federal Government; alas
she did. Seduoed by the advice Of fanatics
ut the South goaded by the advice Of not
less wicked fanatics at the North, unwisely
she took up arms 20 resist the execution Of
Federal laws But when You sounded the toe
sin ofwar and called upon the people tomain-
tain their Constitution, their Government,
YOU told them that so soon as Federal laws
were obeyed the war should cease, and it
should leave the State with all their rights,
AlNAt HNWtIs AuNll tAlAhllt1s AliAAAA pan NNt
iCheers Ohio e a free State so is Nir-
ginia. Ohio protects negroes in every civil
right; 30 does Virginia. Bat, but bit
what, my friend Out with il. Virginia
does net permit negroes To vote; neither
.aea Ohio. nor Indiana, nor Illinois, nor
Iowa, nor Wisconsin, nor Pennsylvania, nor
Delaware, nor New Jersey, nor Connecticut,
nor New Hampshire, nor New York, nor
fnls ia {
ifihis is a reason, why not those States ex-
clude2
THE EQUALITY OF THE sTATEs.
Il is a fundamental maxim that the
States in the Union are equul-not equal in
territory, or wealth. or numbers-but equal
in duties, in rights, in powers They we're
sovereigns, and rs such were equal before
the Union They each, as sovereign, came
into the Union, They delegated the same
powers; they agreed to perform the same
duties. They guaranteed each 10 the other
the enjoyment of the same rights Repre-
scntation is the most important right. Ohio
enjoys il, why not Virginia? The Southern
States are IN the Union or they are out of
IT, lfthey are in the Union they are equal
90 Ohio, and entitled 10 representation. If
they are ont of the Union, the claim TO
govern them at all is fraud and usurpa-
ton Cheers They entered the Union
by passing an ordinance adopting and rati-
fvine the FEDERAL Constitution. They tried
10 dissolve that connection by abrogating
the ratification The abrogating ordinance
was the act of secession. Either il was
valid, on il was invalid. lfinvalid, il was
null, il had no effect; il did not affect the
State; Il did not affect the tie which bound il
TO the Onion. Il left the State in the same
position in which il had been Cor a month,
for a year, before the act Of secession. II il
WAS valid, il destroyed the Union and re-
moved the State beyond the Constitution,
beyond your power Reject the claim that
these ordinances are valid for one purpose,
invalid for another-vaiid 90 destroy the
State, invalid TO discover the federal tie. II
Be- the fanciiul creation OF a disordered brain,
or the arbitrary dictiou Of a man who will
have things rs he wishes.
] understand the position Of Mr.. STEVENS
and those who follow him. lie believe,
that the ordinance of secession, or the at
tempt 60 enforce il by arms, constituted th,
South in effect a foreign power-alien enc
mics: that we had good cause Of war against
Them. and did in fact wage the war for sub
ingatiOn and conquest; that having subiuga'
ted and conquered them, We hold them sub
iect 20 our will; that so far as they are
concerned, their rights and our powers ar,
determined 10y the laws of nations alone, anC
no question of tae Consultation can be raised
except by the adhering States understand
the position OF Mr.. JOHNSON and the wal
Democrats. They bold that the ordnance
of secession were invalid; that whoever at
tempted by force Of arms 10 make them
available were traitors; that their unlawfu
acts did NOT affect the status of the State, o1
ofits law-abiding people; that they may b
punished, bat that the State remains th'
same Cheers. But | cannot understand
the thimhlerig logic Of these halfway gen
tlrmen, that the ordinances OF secession ar,
half valid, half invalid that the States ar,
ia the Union 60 De governed, ont Of il TO b,
protected In the Union when duties are re
qured, oul Of il when rights are 70 be nc
corded; IN the Union when taxes are exact
ed. out Of u when representation isdemanded
Why should they not be represented Thu
representation is essential TO the restoration
cfthe Union. Why was the war prosecuted
For the maintenance al the Union, Love o
the Union was the sentiment which lay q
the very heart ofour people. Il bad grow
and strengthened, and become fixed by th'
attempts al disunion Of the Hartford Con
veuti0u and the nullifcation ol South Caro-
lima. IL was this that made strong men vol