The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-09-26

down our arms, and gave up our prop
erty, and submitted to every suffering
and humiliation as evidence of our good
faith in returning to the Union, and yet
will trust set Of men who daily de.
ceive you. who daily keep the Union
dissolved, and who daily violate their
oaths and tramplc on the Constitution ?
Are you mad that you may be destroy,
edY Return, enraged but doluded peO-
ple of the North, return at once to q
sense Of reason and justice, if not for
us, at least ior yourselves; and let us
all learn, by the horrors Of the past,
that the only way to peace and pros
pcrity in the future is through the uni
versal supremacy Of the Constitution,
and by its glorious old spirit'of mutu.
al concession and harmony. BY the
memories ofBumker Hill and Yorktown
I beseech you let us forget Manassas
and Gettysburg, and drop tears of mu
tual forgiveness on Andersonvilc,
Rock Island and Fort Delaware. Then
may our children be rs were our faith
ers. and, taught by our errors, escape
our misfortunes forever.
In the history of every nation-espc-
cially ofevery Republic-periods occur
which furnish may be called opportu-
mites for the development of great men.
The greatest of these opportunities do
not often occur, and sometimes pass
by unperceived. At times circumstan
ces conspire to make the smallest most
legitimate act turn these opportunities
to the greatest account. Rcgulus has
been loved and honored for two thou
sand years because he valued his coun-
try's welfare and his personal honor
above his life. Washington was great
in that he won liberty, but greater when
he refused crown, and greatest of all
when he surrendered his sword rs a
symbol Of the submission of military
power to the supremacy Of civil law.
No period in the history of this or
any other country ever furnished a more
glorious opportunity to win imperish-
able reno wn than is now furnished to a
few men in America
1.-THE President would refuse to per.
nit the execution of q law which seeks
his own official demolition and dishon-
or, and boldly enforce the Constitution
and the rights of all the States, no
character in republican annals would
go down through all republican gener-
ations more honored and loved. And
Congress, in the effort to destroy and
disgrace him, has furnished the occa-
sion for their immortality. He has but
to defend the integrity ofhis office. He
may remember, too, that the Southern
people surrendered slavery, and, in all
things submissively complied with all
the terms of the fight and the condi,
tons of the surrender, and far more,
because Of his assurance that they
would then be received in the Union,
and secured in all their rights. The
very State Governments Congress is
destroying by overthrowing his power
we're formed by the confidence reposed
in him. If they now go down he, too
mast faH-fall forever. He Can save
them, save the Federal Constitution
save the whole country, save Constitu
tional liberty, and prevent Il war of IA
ces, by simply defending the integrity
of his own office, and suppressing Il
reasonable attempt to usurp its func-
tions.
But Gen. Grant has the opportunity
of winning, if possible, greater renowI
and with more ease than the President
His word can win the victory. He has
been selected by Congress as the mar
through whom they will execute theil
abolition of the executive and judicia
powers. The leader of the Union ar
mics is chosen to execute the demoli
ton of tile Constitution!
The simple question is, will he con
sent to be used? Ifso, his reputation
will inevitably be lost. There are ma
ny now who insist that Gen. Grant il
not really a great man. They say III
, took command Of the Union armies a
u fortunate time, and was only u chilc
of luck. from Corinth to Petersburg
The question of his greatness will soo'
be settled, and settled for all time. |
he has the wisdom to perceive and tn
courage to appreciate and perform hi
duty now, neither Cesar, nor yelling
ton, nor Washington can be remember
ed longer, nor honorcd more. AM
how simple is that duty and easily per
J formed.
If Gen. Grant will say to Congress
| "The Constitution vests all eXccutiv
power in the President, and l will no
, be made the instrument for usurpin;
| it; the Constitution makes the Prcsi
dent the Commander-in- Chief; l vii
obey his orders, and not consent to b
legislated into insubordinatiOn; peac
has been proclaimed and civil law re
stored, and l will not execute bi
, which seeks to subordinate civil al,
l thority to military power" thrill q
joy would elcctrify the nation, Rad
: cal pow ,r would disappear in twink
, ling. The Constitution and the Unio
g would be restored prosperity and goo
feeling would revive, the name of til
Government would be loved and chel
Q ished in every section and by ever
: class, as no name ever has been love
f and cherished in America or Europe
t If we fail, it will be melancholy proc
c that be did perceive the opportunity
j.. rescuing his country from ruin, an
: was unequal to the great crisis. Silenc
C will not do Neutrality will not do
D Negative acquiescence will not do. II
t must speak plainly. He must act dec
), sively. He must protect the Constit'
ton and save the Union, and thereb
b also, relieve and protect from this hars
Il unconstitutio nal domination, the pet
i pie Of the South, who laid down the
}. arms TO him under promise that thu
s should remain in the Union and recei'
c its benefit by obeying it's laws. I
C ought to remember, too, that witho
C him the radicals are powerless, and