The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-07-18

1OOU WHICH III IL clulIlcQ VIII como .
the acceptance Of these measures, viii
come and Il only come Of their re
lection and that all the evils which ]
is alleged will result from their rejec
ton will necessarily and naturally re
suit from their acceptance. But / fine
it very difficult while writing and impos
sible while speaking, to exhibit what
do not feel; and, while making thu
analysis, it will be a task to exhibit any
respect either for these positions or foI
those who use them. For the educatct
politician-the nan who has experience
in public affairs and who aspires and Ia
bors to be a teacher and counsellor 0
the people-and who urges these teach
ings and ~counsels, 81 am exceedingly
filled with contempt;" because l cal
but believe that such q mar conscious
ly desecrates the truth, and recklessly
but with most c%onciliating address, haz
ards every interest of the people only
that he may take the benefit Of being
"on the strong SIDE" Alas, what pei
shall wei be able to recount the count
less horrors which have resulted from
been wrought by--that demoniat
spirit Of our political leaders to be OF
the strong side, and to make issues and
pander to passions "to keep the strong
side" This spirit made "bleedine
Kansas rent the Union in twain
drenched the country in blood and clat
the people with mourning; demorali
zed, deceived and betrayed the most
gallant people under the cycles of the
sun to the most humiliating subjnga-
ton, and now counsels, urges, threat
mi to compel dishonor to q people
who have nothing but honor left.
But | know there are many people
who are honest, and even intelligent on
most subjects, who commit grave po-
litical errors and mistakes, 1t would
be strange if they did not when there
are so many influences to deceive. In
popular governments, therefore, and
more especially now, since so much
poweri is proposed to be given to so
much ignorance, it is necessary to an
swer the knave in his argument lest he
make q fool Of his nearer.
First, then, it is said we are helpless
and cannot prevent the success o fthese
Military Bills. Well, if this is true,
why ash oar CONSENT? If success does
not depend on consent, why beg and
coax and threaten to secure consent?
If we must be ~disfranchised and have
an "encmy's government forced upon
us, spare us the gratuitous dishonor Of
conserving! If Il liend, with the pow
cr, should come to burn your house, or
rape your wife, or kill your family, and
should cody ask your consent, saying
you had better consent, for if you did
not, he would burn, or rape, or kill
anyhow, and perhaps, being incensed
by your refusal, do all; would you con-
sent? l like the spirit Of the old Ro-
nan centui:"n A decemyir-a ruler
If the strong side-became enaln"cred
the humble centurion's "daughter."
lie first persuaded, but persuasion fail
ne to secure consent, he resorted to his
'ower, the power Of his office. When
he hour OF supposed helplessness was
cached the father snatched a knife and
lunged it into the breast ofhis daugh
er, exclaiming, "This is all my dear
st daughter, L can give thee to pre-
erve thy chastity from the lust and
iolence of tyrant." And what was
he result in heather Rome? The sol
iers and people honored the father, and
ose with Indignation and abolished the
powero of Rome forever, and
lie guilty dccemvirs siew MemselOes.-
md to this day this thing is told as q
memorial of the noble father, and of
lie glorious army and people who
venged him. And the daughters name
as Virginia. The virtue of all our
aughters, and the pride of all our sons
re secure only in our sense Of honor
5 u people.
But We are helpless? If we contem
late resistance by arms, l concede that
ow we are helpless. But our strength
not in arms. Our strength is in the
constitution. If the Constitution is
.rong we are strong, and if we are
the Constitution is helpless
have shown il these military meas
res be forced upon us the Constitution
destroyed. On its parapets let us
Iount Il guns and fire on. The most
evidence Of our progress to-
ards anarchy, is the idea with some, |
AZ with many of our people, that the
constitution a do us no good. The
thought should alarm every man
4 the continent who has property, or
ocrty, or peace, or who desires to get
to keep either. The only possible I
,pe | have in the future for anything :
'od or safe to the people of any sec {
IN and of any color. is founded in the
lief that the Constitution is not dead 4
is not helpless. 1t has sadly been c
sregarded, abandoned and trampled G
/, | admit. But its enemies are too y
lel. They insist upon dealing their L
ows too often, too quickly and too h
,klessly. Their motives are ,becom- t,
J manifest. The murdercr's intent W
last being e The people will l.,
me to the rescue; they will come in tt
ath, and these long rioting enemies ii
call on the very mountains to hide o.
IN. If I am mistaken if the Con- d
tuition is dead ifthe people have lost le
will to ave it; these patriots and in
ristians, and all order-loving men o.
re but one duty to perform. That I'll
~ is to pray-pray carnestly--pray S,
,easingly, hat the Cesar of Amerl-
hicfnrv ro,,lJ oo,po ,,1 ..