Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-03-03


s,itution, be said, "when the amendment
to the Constitution now proposed is adop-
led By thTee-fnurths of tie States, should
he pretty nearly or quite done as regards
forming amendmenIs 10 the Constitution
ii there should b- one other adopted.
asked what that other amendment sug-
ge=Ied was and he replied, II have laboTed
to preserve this Union. have tolIeJ
four years. have been subjected to
caiunny and Misrepresentation, and my
great and sole desire has been TO preserve
these States inlac, under the Constitution,
as they were before; aud there should be
An amendment 10 the Constitution which
would compel The States TO send their
Senators and Representatives to the Con-
gress of the United States" He saw as
pert Of the doctrine Of secession that the
States could, if they were prepared, with
draw their Senators and Representatives;
aud he wished to remedy this evil by the
adoption Of the amendment suggested.
! Even that portion Of The Constitution
which differs from other organic law says
/ that no Stale shall be deprived OF lis rep
resenlation. We now find the position
taken that States shall not be recognized;
( that we will impose taxation; and where
taxes are to be imposed the Representa-
/ lives elect from thence are met al the
door, and told : "No; YOU must pay tax
es, but YOU cannot participate in Gov
ernment which is 10 affect you for all
time" Is this just? Voices-"No y
"No !'1 We see them where we are
going. Irepeat tha, am for the Union.
| am for preserving oil the States. They
may have erred, but let US admit those in,
10 the councils of the nation who are un-
misIakably loyal. Let the man who ack
nnwledges allegiance to the Government
and swears TO support The Constitution,
(he cannot do this IN good faith unless he
is loyal; no amplIicallon Of the oath can
make any difference; it is mere detail,
which care nothing about3 let him be
uhqHes stonahly loyal TO the Constitution
Of The United States and lis Government,
and wiling TO support it in It's peril, and |
| c Il wiling to trust him. | know that
some DO not attach so much importance
to the principle as | do. One principle
| thst carried US through the Revolution
vas, that there should be no taxation
without representation. | hold that that
principle which was laid down by our
fathers for the cOuntry's good then is i'm
lporlant TO lis good now. Ifit was worth
battling for then it is worth battling for
now. Ii is fundamental, and should be
preserved so Tong as oar Government
lasts. know it was said by some do.
ring the rebellion that the Constitution
had been rolled up as \ piece Of parch,
menl, and should be pu away, and that
in time Of rebellion there was no Con.
silu,ion. Butlt il now unfolding; il
must now be read and aiJus'ed aud On.
Iderslood by the American people.
come here to-day to,vIndicate, in so
far as can in these remarks, the Consr,
tuition; 10 save il, as believe, for it does
seem that encroschmenl after encroach.
ment is 10 be pressed and az resist ell
croachmenls on the Government, | stand
to-day prepared 10 resis, encroachments
on the Constitution, and thereby preserve
the Government. Iti is now peace. and
let US have peace. Let US enforce the
Constitution. Let us live under and BY
its provisions. Letit be published in
bIaZoned characters, as though it were in
the heavens, so that all may read and all
may understand it. Let US consult that
instrument, and, understanding its princi.
pies, let US apply them. | tell the oppo-
nents Of this Government, and care not
from what quarter they come, East or
West, North or South, "you that are en-
gagged in The work of breaking up this
Government are mistaken. The Con
siiiuion and the principles Of free gov.
ernment are deeply rooted in the Ameri-
can heart" All the powers combined, |
care moi of what character they are, can
not destroy the image OF Freedom. They
may succeed for time, but their at
tempts will be futile. They may as well
attempt TO lock up the winds or chain the
waves. They may as we'll attempt 10 re-
peal it, (aJ it would seem the Consiilu.
ZION can be, by concurrent resolution;
but when it is submitted to the popular
judgment, they will find i, just as well to
resolution repeating the law
Of gravlls.ion; and the idea Of preventing
the restoration of the Union is about as
feasible as resistance TO the great law OF
gravity which binds all TO great com
mon centre. This great law of grayila-
ton will bring back those Sia'ss to har
mony and their relations 10 the Federal