Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-03-09

tiOD made IN conformity viii tuo " IL "
this congress, and must declare those
states entitled to representation IN Dotn
houses. The whole question remains
open and unsettled, and must again oc'
cupy tue attention OF congress IN tne
meantime the agitation whleh now pre-
walls will continue 10 disturb all portions
of the people.
The bill also denies the legality of the
governments Of ten States which partlcl-
Pated in the ratification OF the amend
ment to the federal constitution, abolish
ing slavery forever within the Jurisdle-
ton of the United States, and practically
excludes them from the union. Ii TINS
assumption Of the bill be correct, theli
concurrence cannot be considered as
legally given, and the important fact is
made to that the consent OF three
fourths of the states the requisite num-
ber) has not been constitutionally OBJ
\ tanned to the ratification of that amend
ment, thus leaving the question OF
slavery where il stood before the amend
ment was officially declared to have
become a part Of the constitution. That
the measure propose by this bill violates
| the constitution in the particular men
toned, and in many ways Is TOO clear 10
admit Of the least doubt.
1t only remains to consider whether
| the Injunction of the instrument ought
| to be obeyed or not. l think it ought to
/ be obeyed for reasons which | will pro-
ceed to give as briefly as possible. In the
! first place it is the only system OF free
| government which we can hope to have
| as q nation. When il ceases to be the
rule of our conduct we may perhaps take
our choice between complete anarchy, a
| consolidated monarchy and total disso-
| luton of the union. But national liberty
regulated by law will have passed be-
yOnd our reach. 1t is the best form of
government the world ever saw. No
other is or can be so well adapted to the
genius, habits or wants of the Amer
| ican people. Combining the strength of
| the great empire with the unspeakable
blessing of local self-governments, hav-
| ing a central power to defend the general
interests and recognizing the authority
of the state as the guardians OF industrial
rights, Ii is the sheet anchor of our safety
abroad, and our peace at home, and was
ordained to " form more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic tram
guilty, promote the general welfare,
provide for the common defence and
secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our pOsterity." These great ends
have been attained heretofore, and will
be again, by faithftl obedience to 1t,
but they are certain to be lost If we treat
with disregard its sacred obligations. 1t
was to punish the gross crime of
defying the constitution and vindioate
| its supreme authority that we carried on
a bloody war of four years duration {;
shall we acknowledge we sacrificed a
million of lives, and expended billions of
! treasure to force q constitution which is
not worthy of respect and preservatioDS
| Those who advocated the right Of seces-
sion, alleged in their own justification,
that we had nc regard for law, and that
| their rights of property, life and lihaFty,
would not be safe under the constitution
as administered by the United States.
AS we now verify their assertion, we
prove they were in truth aad In fact
| fighting for their liberty, and instead Of
! branding their leaders with the dishOnor-
| ing name of traitor against righteous
and legal government, we try to
| elevate them in history as self-sacri-
| icing patriots, eonsecrate them to the
admiration of the world, and place
! them by the side of Washington, Hamp-
| den and Sydney. New, let US leave
| them to the infamy they deserve; pun
| ish them as they should be punished,
according to law, and take upon ourselves
no share OF the odium which they should
| bear alone. 1t is part of our public
| history which can never be forgotten,
| that both houses of congress, in July,
| 1851, declared in the form Of q solemn
resolution that the war " was and should
be carried on for no purpose of subjugS,
| ton, but solely TO enforce the coDstitu-
| ton and laws, andI-hat wheE this was
yielded by the parties in rebellion the
| contest should cease, with the oOnstitu-
| tiOnal rights Of the states and individuals
unimpaired" !" This resolution was adopt
ed and sent forth to the world uPaui-
mously by the senate, and with
only two dissenting voices in the
house. It was accepted by the friends
| of the union in the south as well as in
| the north as expressing honestly and
1 truly the objects of the war. On the
| faith of it many thousands in both sec
| tions gave their lives and their fortunes
| to the cause. To repudiate 1t now by re-
| fusiDg to tie states and individuals
within thenNche rights which the eon-
stitutiOn and laws Of the union would 81
cure to them, is breach OF our phgnted
| honor for which can imagine no tx-
cuse, and to which / cannot voluntarily
| become a party. The evils which spring
| from the unsettled state of our govern
ment, Will be acknowledged by all-cOm-
mercial intercourse is impeded, capital is
in constant peril, public securities hue-
| tuate in value, peace itself is not
/ secure, and the cause of moral
| and political duty is impaired.
| To avert these ealamities from
the country it is imperatively re-
0uired we should Immediately decide
| upon some course of administration
which can be steadfastly adhered to. L
am thoroughly convinced that any set
| tlement or compromise, or plan OF action
| which is inconsistent with the principles
/ of the constitution, will not only be
unavailing, but mischievOusi that 1t but
multiplies the present evils instead OF
| removing them. The constitution, IN It's
whole integrity and yigor throughout the
! length and breadth OF the land; Is the
| best of all compromises besides, our
duty does not, in my judgment, leave US
| q choice between that and any other. 1
believe that it contains the remedy that
is so much needed, and if the coordinate
branches of the government would unite
upon its provisions, they would be
found broad enough and strong enough
to sustain in time of peace the nation
| which they bore safely through the or
deal of a protracted civil war. Among
the most sacred guarantees Of thatinstru-
meut are those which declare each state
shall have at least one representative,
and that no state, without its consent,
shall be deprived of equal suffrage in the
senate, Each house is made judge ol
the election returns and qualifications oi
its own members, and may, with the
concurrence of two-thirds Of Its mem
bers, as heretofore urged, agree IN tnt
admission of senators and representatives
from apy and all the states. There car
be no Just ground of apprehension thsi
persons who are disloyal will be clothed
with powers Of legislation, for this coulC
not happen when the constitution anC
laws are enforced by q vigilant and faith
fIIl congress. When q senator or repre-
sentative presents his certificate OF cleo
tion. he NAV be at once admitted or re
ieeted or should there be any question
of his eligibility, his credentials may bt
referred for investigation to an appro
priate committee. If admitted to seat
II must be upOn evidence satisfactory t
1.-THE house Of which he thus becomes
member, that he possesses the requisite
constitutional and legal qualifications
and if refused admission as a mem
, ber for want of due allegiance
to the government and returned
| to his constituents, and admonishe'
! that none but persons loyal to to-
: limited States will be allowed voice il
f the legislative councils of the nation, tn
politieal power and moral influence o
congress are thus effectively exerted il
the interests of loyalty to the govern
mept and fidelity TO the union; and Is i
not better for that the work Of resto
ration should be accomplished by simpl
3 compliance with the plain requirement.
l of the constitution than by recourse {
. measures which in effect destroy tn
/ states, and threaten subversion OF tn
5 general government All that
] NECESSARY to settle the simple bu
: importaf1t question without furthe
I agitation or delay is q willingness
on the part of all to sustain the con
: stitution and carry its provisions int
: practical operation. II tomorrow
/, either house of congress would declaT
t that upon the presentation Of thei
0 credentials members constitutional,
e elected, and loyal TO the general gov
I ernment would be admitted to seats /
0 | congress. while others would be e1
e cluded, and their places remain vacant
!, until an election by the people Of th
Q loyal states of qualified persons, and
: at the same time assurance were give
t that this policy would be continued unit
g ali tbseststes are represented, it woul
Q send . thrill of Joy throughout the eI
!. tire land, as indicating the inaugurs