North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-03-07

ton of the States. Their people are Mt
subjects Of Government for the collection
of taxes, but when they ask to participate
10 tie legislation of the country, they are
met at the door and told no, you must pay
taxes. YOU must bear burdens of Govern
ment, but you cannot participate in its leg
islation which is to affect You through all
time to come. Is this just? Is it fair
r. No" "No.'
repeat am tor the Union. | am for
preserving all the States am tor admit
ting into the councils Of the nation all the
representatives who are nnmistakably and
unquestionably loyal. A man who &C
knowlcdges allcKience to the Government,
and who swears to support the Constitu-
ton. must necessarily be loyal
A man cannot Jake that oath in good
faith unless he is loyal. A mere mpli-
fication of the oath makes no differ
ence as to the principle. Whatever test
is thought proper as evidence and as proof
of loyalty, is mere matter OF detail, about
which care nothing but let man be
enthusiastically and unquestionably loyal,
let him acknowledge allegiance to the Con-
stitution of the United States. and be will
ing to support the Government in lis hour
of peril and its hour Of need, and | am
willing to trust him. [Applause.]
know that some do not attach as much
Importance to this point as do, but re
gard it as fundamental one One princi-
cple that carried US through the rcvolu-
tion was that there should be no taxation
without representation. | hold 10 that
principle, which was laid down as funda-
mental by our fathers. If it was good then
it is good now. Ifit was worth standing
by then, it is worth standing by now. 1t is
fun Iamental, and should be observed as
long as free government lasts
Ian aware that in the midst of the re
bellnn it was said by some that the Con-
stitution had been rolled up AS piece of
parchment and laid away; that in time of
war and rebellion there was no ConstitI
ton. We know that sometimes, in great
necessities, undrr great emergencies, un-
constitutional things must sometimes neccs-
sarily be done, in order to preserve the
Constitution itself; but it, while the re-
rolled up and laid away, if it was violated
in some particular in order to save the
Government-whichm may be excuse and
justified, because in saving the Govern
ment YOU really saved the Constitution
now that peace has come, now that the war
is over, we want again the benefit of q writ
ten Constitution, and | say the time has
come to take the Constitution down. to un-
roll il, to re-read it, to understand It's pro
visions thoroughly, and now, in order to
save the Government, We must preserve
the Constitution.
Our only safety is in strict adherence
to and preservation of the Constitution of
our father. 1t is now unfolded 1t must
now be read, it must now be digested aud
understood by the American people ]
am here. to dav, then in making these re-
marks, to vinAicate the Constitution and
to save it, As | believe, for it does seem as
if encroachmert after an epcroachment is
proposed upon it, As far as | can, have
ever resisted encroachmPnts upon the Con
stitution, and thereby preserve the Consti
tuition and the Government of the United
States. Great applause.
1t is now a time of peace, and let Us
have peace let US enforce the Constitu-
ton: let US live under, and according to
its provisions; let it be published and
pri ted in blazoned characters, as though
it were in the heavens, and punctuated by
the stars. so that all can read and al! can
understand. Let us consult thai instru-
ment ard 6e guided by its Provisions. Let
II. understand them and, understanding,
abide ty them.
tell the opposers Of this Government
care rot from what quarter they come.
East or West, North or South, "You that
are engaged in the work of breaking mp
the Government are mistaken. The Con
stitution of the United Safes and the prn-
cpIes Of free Government are deeply root
ed in the American heart and all the DOW
ers combined, cannot destroy that great in
strnment, tat great chart of Freedom "
Their attempts. though they may seem to
succeed for a time. will he futile. They
might as well undertake 10 lock up the
winls or CLAIM the waves Of tn" ocean and
confine them within limits. They might
as well nnd' rtake to repeal the Constitn-
tion, and indeed it seems now to be sup
posed that it can be repealed bv a concur
rent resolution Laughter. But when
the question is submitted to the popular
Judgment. and to the mass of the people.
these men will find that they might Just as
well introduce resolution TO repeal the
laws Of gravitatior. The attempt to keep
this Union from being restored is Just
about as feasible As would he resistance to
the great law OF gravitation. which binds
all to common centre. The great law of
political gravtation will bring back these
States and replace them in all their rcla-
tions to the Federal Government Clique.
and cabals. and ronspiracies, and machina-
tions. North or South. cannot prevent this
great consummation. Tremendous ap-
nlause 4 II that is wanted Is tim- of