Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-27

had no mails. They had been interrupted
and cut of by the operation of the rebellion.
We said to the Postmaster General let the
people have facilities for mails, and let them
again understand what we all feel and think,
that we are one people.
We looked out again, and saw that there
was ab blockade-that the custom.bouses were
all closed. We said, open the doors of the
custom-house, and remove the blockade
Let the pursuits Of peace 10 on. 1t was
done. We thus travelled OF, step by step,
opening custom-houscs, appointing collectors
and establishing mail facilities, and restor-
ing all railroads that. had been interrupted by
rebellion. Was there anything undertaken
20 be done here that was not authorized by
the constitution, that was not justified by
strict necessity of the case, that has not been
clearly consistent with the constitution and
with the generous spirit of our Government
[Cheers.
What remained to be done? One other
thing remained to show the civilized world
that we had passed successfully through the
tried ordeal of our national existence, and
proved that our Government was popular
A great principle was to be restored, which
was established in our Revolution, when our
fathers were contending against the power
of Great Britain. What was one Of the prin-
ciple causes Of their complaint? II was,
that they were, denied representation, and
they complained Of taxation without repre-
sentation. [Cheers.1 One of the great prin-
cipless laid down by our fathers, and which
fred their hearts was, that there should be
no taxation without representation.
| How, then, does the matter stand2 Who
has been usurping power1 Who has been
defeating the operation of the constitution?
and what now remains to be done to COM
plete the restoration of these States to all
their former relations under the Federal
Government and to finish the great ordeal
through which we have been passing? 1t is
to admit representation. [Cheers.1 When
we say admit representation, what do we
mean? We mean reprepresentation, in the
constitutional and law-abiding sense which
was understood at the beginning of the Gov
eminent.
The constitution declares in express terms
that each House, the Senate and Lower
House of Representatives. each acting for
ITSELF shall be the Judge of the returns Of the
elections and qualifications of Its own mem
bers. II is for each House to settle that
question under the constitution and under
the solemn sanction of an oath; and can we
believe that either House would admit any
members into its body TO participate in the
legislation of the country who Is not quail
fed? They have power-not the two Hous-
es, but one House for ITSELF The constitu-
ton further declares that no State shall be
deprived of is equal suffrage in the Senate
Of tie United States without its consent
Where do we stand? All that is needed to
finish the great work of restoration is for the
two Houses respectfully to decide the ques-
ton.
Oh, but some one will say, traitor might
come in. The answer to that is each House
must be the Judge of it and if traitor pre-
sents himself. cannot help it. The House
knows that he is a traitor. Applause.
Ifhe is a traitor, can they not kick him
out of doors and send him back, saying To
the people who sent him, You must send us
loyal man." [Cheers.1 Is there any diff
fculty about thatf CCries Of "No, no." and
cheers. If traitor presents himself "a
either House, cannot that House say to him
'No, you cannot be admitted into this body
Go back; we will not deny your people the
right of representation, but they must send q
loyal representative" [Che, rs
| And when the States do send loyal Repre-
sentatives can you have any better fidelity
to the Constitution and laws. There is nc
one learned in the Constitution and laws
who will say that, if traitor happens TO get
into Congress, that body cannot expel him
after he'gets in. That makes makes assur-
ance doubly sure, and confirms the action OF
the Government to the Constitution of our
fathers. Hence, say, let us stand by that
Constitution, and standing by it, the Gov
ernment will be preserved.
While have been contending against
traitars, and treason, and secession, and the
dissolution Of the Union, have been con-
tending at the same time, against the consol-
idation of power here. think the consoi-
dation of power here is equally dangerous
with the separation of States. [Cheers I
The one would totter us, and might run
into anarchy, while the other would concen-
trate and eventuate monarchy. Oh ! but
there is an idea abroad that one man can be
a usnrper. Mr. Jefferson, the apostle of lib
erty, tells us, and so does common sense, that
tyranny and despotism can be exercised by
many more vigorously and more trannically
than by one What power has your Presi-
dent to be attained? What can he do2-
What can he originate? Why, they say, he
exercises the veto power. Laughter. +
What is the veto power? A voice-"To
put down the niger" Laughter.1 Who
is your President [Several voices-"Andy
johnson" Is he not elected by the people,
In the olden times when tribunes were first
elected in the Roman Republic, the people
chose a tribune and placed him al
tba aoo,s of tho Ganata az that xrhar tha,
body ventured an expressive act, he was
clothed with power to say "veto,' forbid
Your President now is the tribune of the
people. l thank God am, and intend tc
assert the power which the people have
placed in me. lCheers.] Your President
standing here day after day, dscharging hi'
duty, is like horse on a treading wheel
and because he dares to differ in opinion ia
regard to public measures, he must be de-
nounced as usurper and tyrant. Can he
originate anything under the veto poweri
think the veto power Is conservative in It's
character, and affirmative. All that can bt
done by the veto power is, to say when leg
islaton is improper, hasty, unwise, unconsti
tutional, stop action, wait till this can b,
submitted to the people, and let them con
slider whether 1t is right or wrong. Zap
plause.1 That is all there is in it, Hence
say that tyranny and power can be exercises
somewhere else than by the Executive. lie
is powerless. A Il that he can do is to CHECK
legislation, TO holl il in state Of obeyance
until the people can consider and understand
what Is being done, ana then what has beer
done. have done what conscience | be.
leve required me to do. Applause. Sc
believing, intend to stick TO my position
relying on the Judgment, the intelligence o
the people, the soldiers and sailors express
ly. (Cheers.]
Then, for my life, connot see where ther'