The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-24

- ! tuition is adopted by three-fourths Of t
States, we shall have al or pretty near a
I am in favor of amending the c0nstItutl
- If there was one other adopted.
Said l.: What is that Mr.. President?
Said he: I have labored TO preserve Ii
Union-I have toiled for four years. ha'
been subjected TO calumny aad misrepr
seLtation, yet my great desire hss been
( preserve the union Of these States intsC
under the constitution as they were beiur
But, said !, Mr.. President, what amend
meat do you refer 70? He said be thougl
there should be an amendment added {;
the Constitution which would compel a
the States to send their Senators and r,
presentatiyes to the Congress Of the Unite
States. Yes, compel them. The idea W.
in his mind that it was part OF the doe
trine OF secession to break up the Govern
ment by the States Withdrawing their Sens
tors and Representatives from Congress
aud therefore he desired constitutions
amendment to compel them to be sent
How, now, does the matter stsnd2 In tn
| Constitution of the country, even that pOr
ton of il which provides for the amend
ment Of the organic laws, says that no Stat
without its consent shall be deprived Of it
representation in Congress. Now what d.
we hnd2 The position taken that th'
States shall not. be represented; that we MAJ
I impose taxes; that we may send our tal
gatherers to every region and portion OF ,
State; that the people are TO be oppressed
with taxes. But when they come here Z,
participate in the legislation of the couu' ~
they are told: You must pay you taxes; you
| must bear the burden Of the Government
but you must not participate in the legisla
I tiOn o. the country, which is 20 affect you
| for all time to come. Is this just? No, no
/ Then / say, let US admit into the councils
| Of the nation those who are Enthusiastically
/ and unquestionably loyal-those men who
| acknowledge their allegiance TO the Gov
/ ernment and swear to support the Constitu-
ti0n. Ii is all embraced in that. The am
/ plitcation ofan oath makes no difference,
II man is not loyal; but you may adopt
whatever test oath you please to prove their
loyalty. While the rebellion was going on
the Constitution was rolled up as piece Of
parchment. If it was violated in some par
ticulars, to save the Government, there may
have been some excuse to justify 1t, but
now that peace has cOme,-war IS Over-we
want written Constitution, aud | say the
time has come to take down the Constitution,
unr0ll it, and understand its provisions. 1
come here to Yiudicate the Constitution, and
10 save it, for It does seem to me that en-
croachmGut after encroachment is proposed.
/ stand to-day prepared, so far as can, 10
resist these encroachments upon the Coustl-
tuition aud Government. i tell the Oppo
uenis Of this Government, care not iron
what quarter they come, you who are en-
gagged in the work Of breaking up this Gov
eminent by amendments to the Constitu-
ton, that the principles of free Government
are deeply rooted into the American heart.
All the powers combined, I care not of what
character, cannot destroy that great iustru-
meut- the great charter Of freedom. They
may seem to succeed for a time, but their
attempts will be futile. They may think
now that il can be done by a concurrent
resolution, but when il is submitted TO the
popular Judgment and the popular will, ,
lhey will find that they might as well IN
dertake TO introduce a resolution 10 repeal
the laws Of gravity, as TO keep this Union
from being restored. 1t is Just about as
feasible toresi5t the great law OF grayitation,
which binds all to q common center, as that
great law which will bring back these States
to their regular relations with the Union.
] have detained you longer than I in
tended. "a voice, 90 ou.) We are in
a great struggle. / am your instrument.
Who is there that have not
toiled and labored for? Where is the man
or woman, either in public or private life,
who has not always received my attention
and time in proportion to cgOti=m? They
say that msn johnson is a lucky man; that
no man can defeat him. | will tell you
what constitutes good luck: 1t is due to
right, and being iOr the people. That is
what constitutes good luck. Some how or
other the people will find out whois for, and
who is against them. ! have been placed
in rs many trying positions as any mortal
was ever placed in, but 60 far | have not
"a. no hat haN not
desert me. What principle have l vio-
lated2 what sentiment have swerved from2
Can they put tlIcjr finger upon it2 Have
you heard them point out any discrepancy
Have you heard them quote my predeces-
sor, who fell a martyr 10 his country's
cause, as going in opposition or contradic-
ton to that I nave done The very policy
which am pursuing now was pursued under
his administration, was being pursued by
him when that inscrutable Providence saw
81 to summon him, trust, 10 q better world
than this above. Is there one principle
adopted by him in references TO this resOlu-
tiou that / have departed from? None,
none.
The very policy that I am now pursuing
was pursued By me under his administra-
ton, having been appointed by him in
particular position for that purpose. An
uscrutable providence saw proper 10 re-
move him from this to, / trust, better
world, and ] came into hIs place and there
is not principle of his in reference TO the
restoration of the Union from which | have
departed. Then the war is not simply upon
me, butt is upon my ejecessor. / have
tried to do my duty. | know that some are
enyious aud jealous, and speak Of the White
House as having attractions for the Presi-
dent. Let me say to you the charms of the
White House have as little influence upon
me as upon any individual in the country,
and much less than upon those who are
talking about it. The difference between
the little that suilice5 my stomach and back
is more than enough, aud has no charms for
me. The proud and conscious satisfaction
Of having performed my duty to my coun-
try, 10 my children, and to the inner man,
is Oh the reward that ask. (Great applause. j
In conclusion let me ask this vast con-
course here to-day, this sea Of upturned
faces, to come with me, or I will 20 with
you and stand around the Constitution of
our country. 1t is again unfolded. The
people are invited to read and understand.
sustain and maintain its provisions. Let us
stand by the Constitution Of cur lorefathers.
Though the heavens fall though factions
should rage; though courts and juries may
come thOugh abuse and vltuperatiOn may
Az.
mean to be found starding by the Con-
ssituion, as the chief ark Of our safety
as the palladium Of our civil and cur re-
ligiOus liberty. Yes, let US cling to il as
the mariner clings to the last plank
when the night and the tempest closed
around him. Let US 90 away, forgetting the
past and looking 10 10 the future, resolved
TO eudeavOr TO restore our Government To its
pristine purity, trusting IN Him who is on
nigh, but who controls ali here below, that
ere long our Union will be restored. and
that we shall have peace, not only with all
the nations Of the earth, but peace and good
viii among all parts Of the people OF the
United States. When your country is gone
and you are about that place, look out and
you viii find the humble individual who
now stands before you, weeping over its final
dissolution.
CIzcIxxArI, Feb. 30. G. Murray was
shot and instantly killed last night. by IL
A. Edwards. The affair caused considerable
excitement, both parties being Well known
here Edwards gave himself up.
The steamer Gilmore, bound 10 Nashville.
While entering the canal at Louisville yes-
terday, struck one Of the abutments and I'M
mediately sank. The steamer was valued
at 5000; her cargo al S75,OUO, mostly in
sured.
PIrrsEUEG, PExS., Feb. 23.-The new
steamer Winchester, laden with petroleum,
and containing passengers from Parzers-
burg TO This city, took FIRE about ten miles
above Millsville, and was entirely destroy
ed. IL is reported pboat twenty-five lives
were lost.
WELLsvIILE, OHIO, Feb. 22.-The steamer
Winchester was burned this morning about
o'el1ck, one mile above Liverpool, at the
loot OF Ba5b's leland. She Wa8 run ashore
immediately, as soon as the cry Of FIRE was
gwen. She struck q bsr as she neared the
Virginia shore. The boat was laden with a
heavy cargo Of freight, including hay and
OIL IN q very few minutes aftsr the ire
was hrst discovered the boat was entirely
in flames, the OIL taking Gre at once. Tie
boat, cargo and BOOKS, together with all
personal baggage, are lost Capt. Shepard
lhinks as many IS i0ur;eeu were drowned.
The cause Of the IRE is unknown, but the
Captain thinks an accidental spark came
in contact With The hay. She had about
one hundred passengers aud crew.
81. LOUIS, Feb. 28.-Both houses OF the
Missouri Legislature passed the following