Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-05

in Congress relative TO the amendment pro-
posed by the joint resolution, the Governor
concludes ii only requires iwo-thirds Of a
quorum, or Of those present, to impeach,
but to propose an amennment twO-thirds Of
both houses Of Congress NUT concur; not
two-thirds Of 4 quorum or those present,
but two-thirds Of both houses. The reso-
luton submitting the proposed amendment
does not come to US with the sanction OF
two-thirds of the members chosen by the
several States to the House Of Representa-
tives and Senate-twenty-tw Senators,
chosen by eleven States, and tiity-fye mem
bers of the House Of Representayes, chosen
by the people of eleven States, not being
/ admitted to seats nor counted in the passage
/ Of the res5lution-and it Is not therefore,
constitutionally submitted.
lit be objected that by this construction,
, c0ntumacy or neglect, upon the part of the
States and people in refusing to elect mem
bers would defeat the powers of Congress,
the objection is met by the language of the
constitution which constitutes the mem
bers chosen to Congress. None are mem
bers, and to be counted as composing tht
Congress, until they are chosen by tn,
people of the several States to the House O
Representatives, and TO the Senate by .h,
respective Legislatures. The objection tina
the withdrawal Of members, and refusal t,
attend, would defeat the powers Of Con
gress Is equally untenable, because by tn,
provision before quoted less even than
majority is vested with power to compe
the attendance of absent members in suCl
manner and under such penalties as eac
house NAV provide 1t is idle to propos
amendments TO a constitution the eXlstln
provisions of which are held at naught b
those proposing the amendments. Ia
them first learn TO obey that which alread
exists before proposing amendments thereto
In the language of my inaugural addres
| a departure from constitutional faith Il th
, | foundation Of all the evils now upon u
/ and r return is the only fundamental rem'
/, dy.
Kentucky has ever kept this faith 81
has given her blood to maintain and ei
force the obligations Of the cOnsututio
upon her own people Of the SoutheI
States, and will not now falter in demand
ing and enacting a like Obeyance fro
others by all appropriate means at h,
command. We cannot consent to II
overthrow and destruction of our govern
ment in the hour of its triumph. The col
stitutional unity Of the States and the RICH
full obligations it imposes, have been SUI
cessfaly solved and vindicated, by the vs.
r lor and blood of our sons, and we will nc
S now consent to the destruction of State
= whoses stars gem our national flag, and who
people are our people, whatever may hay
e been their past errors.
o True allegiance now is the only prop,
:. test of loyalty to the existing government
d Let its test be applied, admit or eXcluC
: whom it may To make the support Of
/ proposed change in the forms of governmel
S a test of loyalty to the existing constit
g tional government is far more iniquitOl
y and unjust than to make past disloyalty
= perpetual test. The former abuses an
e destroys manhood, the latter denies repen
!. ance and reform. Pledges to support an
: maintain 4 government may be written {
4 paper, but they can only be grown in II
heart. The voluntary consent to suppo
It and maintain a government is the only trr
|, pledge This cannot be obtained by
+ policy in conflict to right, and which o.
e presses and abuses those from whom Il
pledge is exacted. 4 true statesmanshi
T never yielded principle to the fears of tt
timid the factions Of the covetous, nor Il
= desires of the partisan. If these be di
5 carded from our national councils the tret
+ dom of the constitution will prevail, Il
D heart of the patriot revive, our discor'
7 be ended and our security established