Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-04-16
ment can be either made or re
jected, with due elaboration.

jected, with due elaboration.
OLD TIMES.
The Wings aud Democrats had poiiti-
cal contests, bitter ones, and they INST
each other on the stand or through the
newspapers. In these contests l met
soma OF you, and shiVered q lance upon
you, or you broke a javelin upon me,
but when the contest was over we met
each other as friends snd brothers. The
contest was in the Constitution. The
difference between the two parties
was that the Democratic contended for
a strict construction of the Constitution.
The Wing c0ntendef for q little more
latitude, q more liberal construction
Of government under the Constitution.
But both agreed on one pOint-thet there
was q Constitution. These two great par
| ties-would to God we had them now
"A voice-Amen! Tue best in the WORLDLY
both moving 10 the limits Of the COnstl-
tuition, both sdhering to it, and only diff
fsriug in the little more strictDess, Or q
little more latitude. But the great essen
tisl was there-R constitutional govern
ment.
While I am not a fanatic-wOuld to
God l could inspire some fsnatlcism-I
would inspire the people as Peter did,
though Peters Inspiration was partly fsi-
~lsci0us; but 1 wish l had the power OF
Peter when he was preaching the cru
ssdes, regardless Of Richard and
S4ladia, when he moved the nations and
peoples OF Europe, IS Z man, to pre-
serve the Holy Sspulcbre. Bat 1 have
no sush powers. II I had, I would
arouse the whole American people to the
Importance OF preserving the Constilu-
ton of cur fOTefatheTs, the combined
| and expressed Will Of the people, and
would say TO tbs usurping Congress,
"thus far shait thou go and no fUrtner."
(Applsuse.)
CONGRESS.
When we take this Congress, that hes
been riding over the Constitution, and
ask what it has done, "A voice" moth
iug.u Another" tell Us, ANDY. ~ 3 friend
says nothing An, they have done
wOrse than nothing. Tney have done
too much. Laughter, aud cries Of
'tthat's so, u lie best in the world, "
etc.
Let us turn to the history Of this ma
iority that has been acting with such ut
ter disregard Of the Consii- utiOn. W4ile
pubic attention has been carefully n
constantly turned to the past and ex-
plated sins Of the South, the servants OF
the people, in high places, betrayed their
trust, broke their Osths OF obedience u
the Constitution, and undermined tue
very Quotations OF the G0vernment.
When the rebellion was being suppressed
by ne volunteered services Of pat
riot soldiers amid the dangers Of the
battlefield, these men cTept, without
question into place and power in the
national councils. After the danger had
passed, when no armed foe remained,
when a punished and f~epenta1t people
bowed their beads to the flag, snd re-
neWed their allegiance TO the Govern
ment OF the United States, then 1t was
these pretended patriOtSSap2esrsd 0eiGre
the nation snd began 20 pirate ABOUT the
thousands Of lives and millions OF money
sacrificed in the suppression Of the rebsl-
lion. They have since persistentIy sought
to inf lame the prejudices en~gendered be-
tween the sections, to res2rd the restora
ton Of peace and harmony, sad by
every means 10 keep open and exposed
20 the poisonous breath OF party passion
the terrible wounds o! . four years war
They have prevented the return Of peace
and the restoration OF Uaion; ia every
way rendered dslusive the purposes,
promises and pledges by which the army
was msrshsled, treason rebuksd and re-
beilion crushed and made the liberties
Of the people and the rights and powers
Of the President objects Of constant at
tack.
They have wrested from the Presi-
lent his constitutional power OF the SUI
preme command Of tbs army snd navy
they have destroyed the strength CT tbs
Executive Department by making sub
ordinate officers independent Of and able
to defy their Chief Magistrate they have
attempted to plsce the Pfes;dsnt under
the power Of s bold, defiant and treGCh-
erOus Cabinet officer; they hsvs rObb=d
the Executive OF the arer0gative OF par
don /; rendered nUll and void the scts Of
ciemency granted to thousands CT per-
sons under the provisions of the Cous'i-
tuition, and committed gross U%surpstiOus
oy legislative attempts to exercise this
power in favor of party Sdherents they
have c%onspired TO change the system Of
our Government by preferring charges
against the Hrsiedent IN the form OF sTCi-
cles Of impeachment, AID contemplating,
before hearing or trial, that he should be
placed under arrest, held in duranca, and
when it became their pleasure to pro
nounce his sentence, driven from place
aud power in disgrace; they have in
time of peace. increased the national
debt by a reckless expenditure OF public
moneys, aud thus added to the burden
which already weigh upon the people;
they have permitted the nation TO suffer
the evils of q deFaDged currency to the
enhancement in price Of all the necessa-
ries OF life they have maintained s large
standing army tor the enforcement OF
their measures of oppression they have
engaged in class legislation; built and
encouraged ~mOnOpOliss, inst the few
might be enriched st the expense Of the
many ; they have failed to act upon i'm
portant treaties, eudsngering cur peace
ful relations with foreign powers. Their
course OF usurpstiOn hiss not been limited
to inroads upon the ExeL-Ns Depart
ment by unconstitutional and oppressive
ensctments. The people of ten states Of
the Uni0n have been reduced to 3 condi
ton more intClsrsble b s. that from
which the patriots of the Revolution
rebelled. Millions of American citIzsns
can now say OF their 0ppressOrs with
more truth than their fathers did of Brit
ish tyrants, that they have forbidden the
State governments to pass laws OF imme-
dlste and pressing Importance uolesS sus-
pended until their assent should be ob-
tanned. That they have refused TO pass
other laws for the accommodation of
large districts Of people, unless these pe0-
pie would Teliuquish their right o. repre-
sentation in the Legislature, 8 right in
estimsale to them and formidable TO ty-
rants only. That they hsve made judges
dependent on their will alone for the ten
ure OF Offices and the amount and paw
ment of claims. That they have erected
a multitude OF new offices and sent
thither swsrms OF officers to hsr-
rass our people and take out their
substance. That they have affect
cd TO render the military Independent
of and superior to the civil power
combined with others to sutj7cs US TO
3 Jurisdiction foreign to cur Constitu
ton and unscknowledged by OUT laws;
quartered large bodies OF armed troops
among US and protected them by q mock
trial from the punishment Of shy muir
ders which they should commit Of the
inhsbitsnis imposed taxes pa US with
out our CONSENT deprived u, in many
cases, of trial by jury ; taken away our
charters; excited domestic Instruction
among US; abolished our most valuable
Laws; altered, fundamentally, ths form
Of our Government; suspended cur own
Legislatures; and declared themselves