Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-04
THE CONSTITUFION-AN ELOQUENT
APPEAL.

The election is over. At this writing
the result is not ascertained. Whatever
it may be, the following extract from a
speech of George II PendletoD, delivered
at Hartford, Connecticut, last Friday, is
wisdom either in victory or defeat. 1t IS
indeed an eloquent perroation. The
Constitution, unaltered and undeliled, is
the true American Democracy for the
times. There be those who say that as
the country develops, as the people
change in their modes Of thought in their
business pursuits, in their interests, the
Constitution must be adapted to suit
them. This is not a sound political
philosophy. 1t was not that Of the
fathers and trainers. They hedged the
original instrument around with pro-
visions to make the process Of amend
ment deliberate. Sudden and ftful
gusts of popular feeling looking to change,
are to be reprobated by all Conservative
men. Mr.. Pendleton spoke like States
man IN these words:
"But, gentlemen, passing away from
this subject CT the material inter-
ests of the country, on which l have
dwelt Longer than l intended, let me again
call your attention to this fact-that the
great pole star Of the Democratic party is
the Constitution Of the United States.
Do not, my fellow. citizens, in the heat Of
that arduous contest, do not forget that
great lesson. The Republican party
believe that they can amend it that they
can change it and make it better Con-
stitution than our fathers made it in the
days of old. l charge it upon you, De-
mocrats, who are here to -night, never to
either to its abandonment or its
Do not seek to amend it;
do not seek to change it; do not seek to
evade it. Obey it. 1t was good enough
for your fathers. 1t is good enough for
you. If you obey it, it will be good
enough for your children for a hundred
years to come. Study it D.; understand
it. Carry it about with you, as living
presence in all the walks Of your daily
life. Takeit to your home read it to
your wife, teach it to your children; put it
upon your family altar, that when you
bow your head in supplicating prayer, it
may be there next to the image of God
himself Do this and then in His own
good time you will be able to raise it up
to that place and power to which the
brazen serpent in the wilderness was
raised in order that the plague might be
stayed Do this, and you will be able to
rear it up to that high place Of honor to
which the Ark ofthe Covenant was reared,
round which the unseen legions of the |
Almighty kept watch and ward, that he
who touched it with impous hands should |
lie. Remember, fellow. citizens, that the |
contains within itself all that |
S good in the experiences of the past, and
IL that is hopeful in the prospects of the
uture. 1t is the ark of safety in the
lOod which is upon US. 1t may be tossed
n the blackness of darkness upon the
weary waters for many days, but it will
est upon the mountain top at last; the sun
viii shine; the dove will leave itnever to
etuTn, and, now as then, emblems Of
urity and liberty and peace, she will seek
D rebuild her habitatiOns amidst the
Gene OF her former life. do not despair
have hope in the aspirations of men. |
ave faith in the providence Of God. |
now that the pathway Of history is
rewn with the wrecks of empires and
eOplv, and constitutions and liberty and
may be in the providence of God that
lis country Of ours will follow in the
axe Of all the nations that have gone
efOre. II it shall be so, let, it not be
wing to the faults or misfortunes of the
emocratic party. If it must be so, let )
be known that it was the party of our
We that stood to the last, with heroic !
rtue to the principles of civil liberty.
it must be so, let us, fellow citizens,
Ike consolation in the thought that in ,
6 eternal circle of God death is but the
Of resurrection and that the q
me principles which hasten nations to /
cay contain within themselves the =
arks of living fire which secure indy a
, youth to our immortal r-ce.
inc writes no wrinkles on its fair young
brow,
III as creations dawn beheld. it sees thee
now
Amidst the wrecks Of time its progress
still ORward and upward, higher and I
Il higher. l.
And from the sky serene and far, ID
A voice falls like falling star. =,
Excelsior! Ii