Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-03-08

of affairs and in reference to mat
tiers in my own State. l said that
we had called a convention and
had amended our constitution by i
abolishing slavery in that State,
a State embraced in his proclama-3
ton. This met his appreciation
and gave him encouragement, and
in talking on the amendment to
the constitution he said: "When
the amendment tothe constitution
is adopted by thlee-fourths of the
States, we shall have all or pretty
near all. lam in favor of amending
the constitution if there was one
other adopted" Said |, "What is
that, Mr.. PRESIDENT" Said he.
81 have labored to preserve this
Union, have toiled four years,
z I have been subjected to calumny
and Misrepresentation yet my great
desire has been to preserve the
Union of these States intact under
the constitution as they were be-
fore" "But," said ], "Mr. Presi-,
dent, what amendment do you re-
ferto2" He said, "He thought there
should be an amendment to the
, constitution which would compel
all the States to send their Sena-
tors and Representatives to the
5 Congress of the United States"
Yes, compel them!
20 The idea was in his mind that
il was a part of the doctrine of Sc
cession to break Up the Govern
ment by the States withdrawing
their Senators and Representatives
from Congress, and therefore he
desired a constitutional amend
melSt to compel them to be sent.
How now does the matter stand
in the constitution of the country?
Even that portion of it which pro-
vides for the amendment of the
organic law says that no State
without its consent shall be de-
prived of its representation in Con-
eress. Now where do we find the
{ position taken that the States
shall not be represented; that we
may impose taxes; that we may
send our tax gatherers to every
. region and portion of a State; that
the people are to be oppressed with
taxes, but when they come here
to participate in the legislation of
the country they are told you must
pay your taxes, you must bear the
burdens of the Government but
you must not participate in the
legislation of the country which is
to affect You for all time. Is this
Just? No, no. Then / say let
us admit into the councils of the
nation those who are Enthusiastically
and unequivocally loyal; those
men who are Enthusiastically loyal ;
those men who acknowledge their
allegiance to the Government and
swear to support the constitution.
1t is all embraced in that. The
smplifcation of an oath makes nc
difference if 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 s
piece of parchment. If it was vi
olated in some particulars to save
the Government, there may have
been some excuse to justify it, but
now that peace is come, war is over.
we want written constitution
and | say the time has come. to
take the constitution down, unroll
it and understand its provisions
I came here to vindicate the con-
stitution and to save it, for it does
seem to me that encroachment at.
ter encroachment is proposed, ]
stand to-day prepared, SO tar as
can, to resist these encroaehments
upon the constitution and Govern
ment. / tell the opponents OF
this Government, | care not from
what quarter they come, YOU who
are engaged in the work of break
ing up the Government by ameud
ments to the constitution, thai
the principles of free government
are deeply rooted into the Amerl'
can heart. All the powers com
bined, / care not ofwhat character
can not destroy that great lnstru
ment, the great charter Of free
dom. They may seem to succeed
for a time, but their attempts will
be futile. They may think now
that it can be done by o concur.
rent resolution, but when it is
,suhmifted to the popular Judg