Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-24
AN ELOQUENT EXTRACT.
Is Liberty TO be Lost in CentraIiza


lion? s.
From brilliant and powerful speech By
Richard O'Gorman, Of New York, before
the Tammany Society on Thursday last,
we extract the following fine passage:
The people have acquitted Andrew
johnson. They know that his only sin is
that he has been too true to the Constitu-
ton and too faithful to the oath of Office by
which he swore to protect and defend it.
The people know this. In spite of every
effort TO confuse and hoodwink and deceive
them, they have got at the truth. The i'm
| peachers of the President discover too late
that they are themselves on trial, held
! themselves to answer for high crimes and
misdemeanors against the majesty of the
| people and against the Constitution, which
is the peoples sovereign will. They fear
that verdict. They stand perplexed and
appalled,, for they hear the first whisper of
that word Of terror which will soon swell
into the outcry OF indignant millions-the-
word which pronounces, not Andrew john
son, but the impeachers, guilty" and con-
signs them to the retirement where they
may ponder on the opportunities they have
squandered and the disasters they have
caused. But if they succeed in ousting An
drew johnson from ofice-and they have
nOt yet despaired Of doing it--how Wouldit
stand with the republic then? Why,
thus: the Radical party nov own Congress
Congress would then control the So
preme Court and the Executive and the
| Treasury and the army and navy, and
would have the Constitution under its feet.
| The coordinate branches of our govern
ment which the founders Of the republic,
with jealous care, kept separate and dis
tinct, each being a check on the other--the
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial, all
three would be then absorbed and concen-
trated into one branch-the Congress
that is the mere tool and servant of fac
ton, which to-day lord it with arbitrary
power over ten Southern States, and would
tomorrow lord it likewise over the remain
ing States of the Union, if it were found
necessary for its interests so to do It is
| yet only a beginner and scarce through the
primer of revolution. But il learns fast
and if it progresses in seven years time as
| it has done in the seven years gone by, it
is not unfair TO expect that the worst follies
and crimes of the terrorists and distrac-
tionists of the old world would be out done
by the reckless faction and fanaticism which
precedes the suicide of the republic of the
New World. The whole government of
| the United States is now in the hands of a
party, and that party is the party of
revolution. 1t may be that this
revolution cannot now be STAYED but
must run its course. 1t may be that
the people have been apathetic too long,
and cannot rouse itself in time II
may be so. This year will tell But it is
worth an effort on the part Of all patriotic
/ men. For in this year the republic will
/ be lost or saved. There are many men
amongst US, citzens-it is useless to con-
ceal it-who have ceased to believe that it
car be saved, who think they see in the
events OF the last seven years, steady in
creasing tendency in American society TO-
wards Capitalization and imperialism,
| which cannot now be arrested-who fear
| that the people will either be unable to
shake of the lethargy under which it has
lain, or be again delivered, and be welded
\ by false issues, or by such appeals to its
| passions or prejudices as have succeeded in
unsteadying it heretofore. They say it is
the old story. History repeats itself Lib
erty again LOST by the apathies or treachery,
or corruption of those who had injured its
splendor, and never knew the real valne of
what they enjoyed.
There is one moral Of all human tales,
IT'S but the same rehearsal of the past
First, freedom, and then glory. when thatfails.
Wealth, vice. corruption, tyranny and last,
And history, with all its volumes vast
Hath but one page" -.satHH.t
Shall it be so with the United States
Shall this nation take its place in history
the grave yard, where lie the dead repub-
lies You that are young may live to an
swer whether this calamity can occur.