Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-03-15

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dians Of industrial rights. II Is the sheet
anchor Of our safety abroad and our peace at
home, and was ordained to form more per-
feet Union, establish justice, In ure domestic
tranquility, promote the general welfare,
provide for the common defense, and secure
the blessing, Of liberty to ourselves aud our
posterity. These great ends have been at
tanned heretofore, and viii be again by
faithful obedience TO It; but they are certain
to be lost II We treat with disregard its ga
cred obligations. -. al
II was to punish the gross crime Of defy
ing the constitution, and vindicate Its su.
preWe authority, that we carried on bloody
war OF four years duration. Shall we now
acknowledge we sacrificed million Of lives
and expended billions Of treasure to free
constitution which is not worthy Of repect
and preservation Those who advocated
the right of secession alleged in their own
Justification that we had no regard for law,
and that their rights Of property and liberty
would not be safe under the constitution ss
administered by the United States, as we
now verify their assertion; we prove they
were in truth and in fact fighting for their
liberty, and, instead of branding their lead
ers with the dishonorng name of traitor
against a righteous and legal government,
we elevate them in the history Of selfsaeri-
ficng patriots, consecrate them to the admi-
ration OF the world and place them BY the
side OF Washington, Hampden, and Sidney.
No, let us leave them to the infamy they de-
serve. Punish them rs they should be pun
Ished according to law and take upon our
selves no share OF the odium which they
should bear alone. II Is part OF our pub
lie history which can never be forgotten thns
both Houses OF Congress, in Jsly, 1861, do
clared In form of a solemn resolution that
war was and should be carried on for no
purpose Of suhugation, but solely 10 enforce
the constitution and laws, and that when
this was yielded by the parties In icbeliion
the contest should cease, with the constitu-
tional rights OF the States and individuals
unimpared. The resolution was adopted
and sent forth to the world unanimously by
the Senate, and with only two dissenting
voices in the House. 1t was accepted by
the friends of the Union IN the South Ms
well as in the North as express ing honestly
and truly the object Of the war, and on tho
faith OF 1t made thousands in both sections
give their lives and fortunes TO the tause.--
10 repudiate II now by refusing to the States
and individuals within them the rights which
the constitution and laws of the Union would
secure to them, is breach Of our plighted
honor, for which can imagine no excuse,
10 which | cannot voluntarily become
party. The evils which spring from the un-
settled state of our government will DO &c.
knowledged by all. Commercial intercourse
Is suspended, capital is in constant peril,
public securities fiuctuate In value, peace
itself is not secure, and the cause of moral
and political duty is unimpaired 10 arrest
these calamities from the couutry. II Is i'm
peratively required that we should immcdi-
ately decide upon some course Of admins
tration which can be steadfastly adhered TO.
l. am thoroughly convinced that any settle
ment or compromise, or plan of action
which is inconsistent with principles Of the
constitution, will not only be unavailing,
but mischievous; that It but multipies the
present evils, instead Of maintaining the
constitution In its whole integrity aud vigor
throughout the length and breadth OF the
land is best of all compromises. Besides our
duty does not, In my judgment leave us 4
choice between that and any other. be-
lieve that it contains the remedy that is 30
much needed an liz ths coordinate branch-
es Of the government would unite upon Its
provision they would be found broad enough
and strong enough to sustain In tune of
peace, nation which they can bear through
the orieal of protractcd civil war. Tho
most sacred guarantees Of that Instrument
are those which declare each State shall have
at least one representative, and that no State,
without its consent, be deprived oi equal
suffrage in the SENATE each House is made
Judge Of it's own members, and may, with
N fwn-thlrdg h.T