Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-07-26


solve at will, so we seeded and declared
ourselves out of the Union. On the
other hand, it was contended that we
we're not out Of the Union-notwith'
standing our secession acts-and that
the Constitution was not compact, but
a binding law upon the States resulting
from the compact and therefore no one
OF the number could dissolve the con-
nection at will. Upon this issue wo went
10 war The war was fought till we laid
down our arms and agreed to what our
enemies said-thst We were in the Union.
But there Is now another question TO
settle. II is still within the range of ar
gument. Its proportions are huge. The
issues are startling. 1t is not differ
oace Of opinion as to what the Constr
tuition means, and what are our rights
under it; but its object is plainly, un-
mstakably, to set aside the Constitution
and provide something else. have
never doubted that we were coming to
this issue. In speeches made by me,
FIVE, six, eight, and ten years sgo, pre-
dictad this, and every page OF our histo'
~ since that time has verified the cor
rectness Of the prediction. The people
of the North honestly love the Constitu.
ton, but the leaders there hate IT and
intend to destroy it, and the convulsion
through which we have passed has thrown
the opportunity Of making the effort into
their hands, and the present military
bills and the one which is not yet pro-
mulgated as law, are the means adopted
to accomplish their design. These bills
are proposed for our acceptance There
is a remarkable feature in these meas
ures, that while force is employed to
execute them they are yet nominally
submitted to US for our acceptance or
rejection. ......
I object to the whole scheme, because
il is unconstitutional. A distinguished
man-pardon me, ought to say noto-
rious individual-said to mo a few days
ago, that ought not TO waste time to
prove the unconstitutionality OF these
measures-a thing which every man,
woman and child in the country knew
and yet he was for accepting He spoke
truthfully. That tottering, gray haired
candidate in Pennsylvania, for perpetual
infamy, who is building for himself a
monument of mslignity that will overtop
the pyramids of Egypt, said the Consti.
tuition had nothing to do with it. shall
never get done shuddering, and horrors
will never cease TO rise up in my mind,
when see men taking an oath to sup
port the Constitution, and then legisla-
ting to put in force measures which are
outside of it. A great many Of our own
people Hippantly say the Constitution is
dead. Then your rights, and hopes for
the future, and all hope for your children
are dead. / ask every man, if the Con-
stitution is dead, why are we always,
every day, and at every new step,
required to take an oath to support it?
Now, affirm that these military bills
are not only contrary to the Constitu-
ton. but directly in the face of the am
nesty oath you were required to take
after the surrender. The Government
thought proper, in accepting your sub
| mission, to take your oath to support
| the Constitution of the United States and
the Union of the States. Why was that
oath required if the Constitution was
dead ?
But it is said the Constitution does
not apply to US, Then don't swear to
support it.
Bat it is said again that we are not in
the Union. Then why swear to support
the Union of these States2 What
"Union does that mean2 When you
took that oath was it the Union OF the
Northern States alone that you swore to
support? What business have you with
that Union No, it is the Union OF all
the States known to the Constitution
that you have sworn to support.
But they say that oath was prescribed
blythe President, lnd that he is not loyal
Then / must answer fool according 10
his folly, and a traitor according to his
treason. What do they require who
passed these bills-this military jugger'
naut? They require every man who
registers his name to vote, to swear to
support the Constitution, and counsel
and persuade others to do so-and still
II is said the Constitution has nothing to
do with It'll They say the scheme is out
| side of the Constitution, and yet III the
process of carrying it out, they require
an oath to support the Constitution and
To counsel and persuade others to do so
That is more than Mr.. johnson ever re
ouired in the cath which he prescribed
It is my business to support the Con
stituticn, and my duty and pleasure to
persuade Others to do so. Some OF you
who favor the acceptance of the military
hills take an oath to this effect, and still
intend to vote for convention which you
admit to be ordered contrary to the Con
stitution / How'is this2 If you have 8
conscience, | have said enough. II you
vote for the convention, you are PER
JUREDl Tremendous applause y
7 nity the race of colored people, who
have never been taught what an oath is
nor what the Constitution means. They
are drawn up by o selfish conclave o
7 traitors to inhiet death blow upon thu
life of the Republic by swearing them t'
a falsehood They are to begin thel
political life by perjury to accomplish
treason would not visit the penalty
/ upon them. They are neither legally
nor morally responsible, but 1t is you
educated, designing white men-who thu
devote yourselves to the unholy work
who are the guilty parties You pratt
about your loyalty / look you in tn,
eve and denounce you lApplause.
You are morally and legally perjurec
traitors. You perjure yourselves an'
perjure the poor negro to hsl Up you
treason. Immense applause 3 You
can't escape it. You msy boast oft now
while passion is rife, but the time wil
come when the very thought will withe
your soul aud make you hide from thu
face Of mankind.
J.. | shall discharge the obligation Of th'
amnesty oath. Il required me to sup
port the Constitution and the emaneipa
. ton Of the negro, and ! do. will no
bind my soul to a new slavery, to hell
by violating it 1 talk plainly, but