The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-03-01

told, no, you must pay your taxes, you
must bear the burdens of the Govern
ment, but you must not participate in
the Legislation of the country which is
to effect you through all time. Is this
just? fCries of no, mol Then say,
let us admit into the councils of the ma
ton those who arc Enthusiastically and I'M
questionably loyal; those men who 40
knowledge their allegiance-and swear to
support the Constitution. II is all en-
braced in that. The qualification of an
oath makes no difference if man is not
loyal, but you may adopt whatever test
oath you choose 10 prove their loyalty.
That is matter Of detail for which |
care nothing. Let him be unquestion-
ably loyal, owning his allegiance to the
Government, and willing to support it
in its hour Of peril and if need be | am
willing to trust them.
/ know some do not attach so much
Importance to this principle as do, but
one principle VIC carried through the
Revolution was, that there should be no
taxation without representation. hold
to that principle as laid down in funda.
mental laws by our fathers. If it was
good then it is now. If il was rule
TO stand by then it is arule to stand
by now. II is a fundamental principle
that shouly be adhered to as long as free
government lasts. | know that II was
said by some during the rebellion that
our Constitution had been rolled up as
a piece Of parchment and laid away
that in the time of war and rebellion
there was no Constitution. Well, we
know that sometimes, from the very
great necessity Of the case, from great
emergency, that We must do uneonstitu-
tional things in order TO preserve the
Constitution itself But IL while the
rebellion was going on the Constitution
was rolled up as parchment; II 1t was
violated in some particulars 10 save the
Government there may have bceh some
excuse TO justify it. But now tina,
peace has come, now that war Is over,
VIC want written Constitution, and
say that the time la. como 10 take tho
Constitution down, unroll il, rcread it.
aud understand its provisions Now, il
you have saved tho Government by vic.
lating the Constitution in time Of war,
you can only save il ia peace BY preseT-
wing the Constitution, and the only way
10 preserve II Is by a strict adherence
10 the Constitution Of our fathers as IL
IL now unfolded IL must now be read
aud understood By the American people.
! come here today, as far as can,
in making these remarks, 10 yindicato
the Constitution. aud 10 SAGE il, for It
docs seem To me that eneroachmcut after
encroachment ia proposed. stand 10
day prepared, a. far as can, TO resist
these entertainments upon the C0nsti.
tut;oa and Government Now that We
have peace, let us enforce the Constiiu-
ton Let Us live undor il and by iis
provisions. Let it be published Let Il
be printed in blazing characters, as it
were, in the heavens, penetrated with
stars, that all may read and understand
Let Us consult that instrument. Let US
digest It's provisions understand them
and understanding abide by them.
| toll the opponents Of the Govern
mcnt care no, from what quarter thoy
come, whether from the East, West.
North OF South, you who arc in the
work 81 breaking up this Government
by amendments to the Constitution, that
the principles Of free government are
deeply rooted 10 the American heart --
All the powers combined, care not Of
wha, character they are, capaot destroy
that great instrument, that great Charter
of Freedom They may seem to sue
coed for time, but their attempts viii
be futile. They might as well undertake
10 lock up the winds or chain the waves
Of the ocean aud eonGnc them to limits
They may think il can be dooe by a
concurrent resolution, but when it j.
submitted TO the people Judgment aud
to the popular will, they will find they
might n well undertake to introduce n
resolution 10 repeal the law of gravity
as TO keep the Union from being rcslor.
ed. I; Is just about as plausible To resist
the great law Of gravity, which binds as
TO common centre, a. that great law Of
gravity which will bring back these
States & replace them in their relations
All these couspiracics and mhchina-
tons, North aud South, cannot prevent
H. All that is wanted is time until the
American people can get 10 know what
Is going on. | would the whole Amer.
lean people can get 10 know what is
going on. would the whole American
people could be assembled here to-day
as you are, / wish we had an amphi-
theatre capacious enough 10 hold these
thiriy-one millions Of people, that they
could be here and witness the struggle
that is going on to preserve the ConSti-
tuition Of their fathers They would
settle this question
Then, in conclusion let me ask this
vast concourse this sea Of upturncd
faces, TO go with me in standing round
the Constitution Of our country. Ii il
again uuiolded and the people are invi.
ted to read; to understand and to main
tain its provisions Let US stand by the
Constitution Of our fathers; though the
heavens themselves may fall let us stand
by it. Though faction may range though
taunts and jeers may come though yitu-
pcration may come in its most violent
character, will be found standing by
the Constitution, as the chief rock OF
our safety--as the palladium of our civil
and religious liberty. Yes, let us cling
to it az the mariner clings to the last
plank when night and tempest closes