The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-08-07

81 We have had q war which ragged furious
~ for four years. 1t originated simply in o
difference of opinion as to ourrights under
the Constitution. This difference existed
from the first. 1t existed among the fra
mlers of the Constitution. 1t could not be
settled by argument, and an appeal was
made to the sword. TWAS an open, man
ly fight. There was nothing secret or am
biguous In the issue. 1t was waged by
men influenced in the masses by patriotic
emotions on both SIDES; and it was not to
destroy the Constitution, ,bnt to assert on
each side their different views. On our
side it was asserted that the States were
separate and independent soyereignties,
and that the Constitution was a compact,
which each party was at liberty to dissolve
at will, and SO we seeded and declared
ourselves ont of the Union. On the other
hand, it was contended that we were not
cut of the MISUNDERSTANDING our
secession acts and that the Constitution
was not a compact, but a binding law up
on the States resulting from o compact,
and therefore no one OF the number could
dissolve the cennection at will sUponthiss
issue we went to war; The war was
fought until we laid down our arms and
agreed to what our enemies said-that we
were in the Union nE ~ gtf.y3a 8g4
= Bnt there is now another question to
settle. It's still within the range Ofargu-
ment Its proportions are huge The is.
sues are startling. 1t is not a difference OF
opinion as to what the Constitution means
and what are our rights under it; bnt.its
object is plainly, enthusiastically, to setaside
the Constitution and provide something
else. I have never doubted that we were
coming to this Issue. In speeches made
by me five, six, eight, and ten years ago,
I predicted this, and every page OF our his
tory since that time has verified the cor
rectness of the prediction. The people OF
| the North honestly love the Constitution,
but the leaders there hate it, and intend
to destroy it, and the convulsion through
which we have passed has thrown the OPP
portunity of making the effort into their
hands, and thespresent military bills and
the one which is not yet promulgated as
| law, arc the means adopted to accomplish
! their design. These bills are proposed for
our acceptance. There is a remarkable
feature i'll these measures, that while force
is employed to execute them, they. are yet
nomimally submitted to us for our accept
ance and rejection. aid u.aIZs5as $3.50 g
!. / object to the whole scheme, because it
is Unconstitutional A distinguished man
pardon me, ought to say a notorious
lindiyidual-said to me a few days ago
that ought not to waste, time to prove
the unconstituriona1ity of these measures
"a thing which every man, woman AND
child in the country knew-and yet he
was for accepting! He spoke truthfully
f,Aat lettering, gray-haired candidate II
pennsylvania for perpetual infamy, who u
building for himself o monument of maifg
nifty that will overtop the pyramids o
Egypt, said the Constitution had nothing
to do with it. T shall never get done shud
dering, and horrors win never cease t.
rise up in my mind, when Isee mentakins
an oath to support the Constitution, ant
then legislating to put in force measures
which are outside of it, great many Q
our own people Gppantly say the Consti
tuition is dead. Then your rights, ant
hopes for the future, and all hope for you
children are dead. ask every man, fth,
Constitution is dead, why are we always
EVERY day, and at every new step required
TO take On oa1n 70 supppfe IL ,:,:4., Ia,
NOW, afnrm tnat the a m nal;ly 4im ,a
are not only contrary 10 ohe Gohseleu'iol'
but directly IN the lace loi me a,hne y,
foath you were required 70 tahe at.ef 'n
surrender, Inc government tnougne p,o
per, in accepting your submission, to tax
your oath to support the Constitution OF tn
Umted States and the Union Of the States
why was lhat oa'h 'e4oi'''' - 'n' 0'n'''
tn1lon was oeiM ~. no..+;4,,+;on 7,os - q
Butt is saiG the oonsViOuSion uoss ,,u
apply 10 u.s. ! ne'i uoi '"oa. - 'Np =
III, " il, 49,. :, ~; i, n
But IL Is sala aSaih an,ss WY apm nnO ~
Union insn WY ~ ea' u M Il T1n;nn
Unlon " 'Hese Sss u,1y, mao nL tla
does sthat means ,,s. hsh Sou so 81. w..
oath was ~ me oi.'oil ~ ono 49, NV.
states a'oae thaC you sMug ~ tba 51PpH ~,
nat gusllosn n~,o =, Ill tre stntss tnow
NO. ltls tne ps.om 81 ~, no n sworn 4
to the Constitution that younase s"o ela'
support. # Z $500 1'E 9 -, .
I But they say that oath was prescrloea 2
the President, ana thas ne Is not loyal.
Then / must answer q focl according 10 ID
/ folly and @ traitor. according to hlstreas0i
Whatdo theyreQuire who passed these bill
this military Jnggernaut They regain
every man who registers his name aa TO vot'
to swear to, support one tonStst01soh, an
counsel AID persuade others TO 90 so- !, y
still it is said the Gonstltntlon mas nooi ~
to do with it! They say the scneme -
outside Of the Constitution, and yet IN I'd
:. process of carrying it out, they require a
oath to support the Constitution and
counsel and persuade others to 90 So
, That is more than Mr. johnson ever r
, quired in the oath Whioh ne prescrlpea..
! 1t is my business to support the Gonsa1
, tuition, and my duty and pleasure 70 Pc
suade others to do 50. Some Of you WI va
! favor the acceptance OF the military Dill
! take an oath to this effect, ana SILL lhlel
| to vote for convention which you aan
| to be contrary tothea CONSTITUTION no
) lis thisa Hyou have conscience ~ nay
i said enough. If you vote for the conyel
ton you are PERJuREDs. ldI 20 ea1aes
, applause U, l pity 1ne race.o sol s'he
! people who have never peen. tauglv y y. !,
| an oath is, nor = What tne Gohstilu luz.