Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-04
THEDEmAxDx OF rHnHorrp


of States, founded upon consent, is
converted into one of force. Co.
equal States are degraded into prov
inces, governed by tho sword. The
legislative department usurps the
prerogatives and functions of the
executive and Judicial, and Con
gress asserts, assumes and exercises
supreme power in the administra-
ton of government. Step by step
the successive stages in the process
of subversion have been reached.
An act, at the close of the war, en-
bodying all that has been done
since, would have reused the in.
dignation of the people from Maine
to California. They would have
driven Congress from the capitol,
and asserted their supremacy and
held public liberty as the para
mount end land aim of govern
ment. Such a revolution was i'm
possible; but gradual one--not
less certain and sweeping-was de.
vised, and has proceeded with the
apparent consent and appreciation
of the people. The masses have
been deceived into the belief that
it was necessary to overthrow the
constitution to preserve the gov
eminent. They have been per-
suaded that the fruits of
the victory over rebellion,
could only be secured through
the Intervention of a bas,
tard politico- military despotism.
They have been beguiled with such
clap-trap as "loyalty," progress"
"liberty," "manhood rights" etc,
ETC., into forgetfulness of the great
truths and principles of free and
equal government. The real de-
signs of the enemies of the consti-
tuition have been thus clouded and
concealed, till the subversionists
have gained a strong foothold for
further advances. The danger has
at length grown alarmingly great,
and demands the prompt and deci-
sive action of the people.
During all these four years Ten
nessee has been voiceless. Disfran-
chisement and test oaths, a bur
lesque ballot-box and the bayonet
GENEROUSLY endorsed Radical usur-
pations. That is now changed.
Her people are once more about to
be free. What has she now to say
to the enemies of free government i?
In our elections to come, every
citizen will be required to answer
through the grand fundamentally
of free ballot tn ese questions
Shall the States of the federal
Union be and continue free and
equal?
Shall each and every one ofthem
possess and exercise all such rights
ofindependent sovereignty, as are
not specifically delegated to the
federal government, or not neces-
sary to carry out the powers grant,
ed to it?
Shall the right to the writ of
hadeas corpus be suspended in time
Of peace?
Shall any State be ruled by the
sword?
Shall the military power be su-
perior, and the civil subordinate,
either in the Union or in the States?
Shall the life and liberty of the
citizen be placed at the disposal of
military commissions, or drum
head courts-martial?
Shall the executive and judicial
departments of government, be in
dependent of each other and of the
legislative?
Shall Congress usurp the entire
powers of government, or only ex-
ercise such as are delegated to it
by the constitution
Shall we have a constitutional
republic, with its admirably adj
justed system Of checks and bal
ances; or a government wherein
absolute and unlimited power is
vested in an ever-changing Con-
gress?
Upon correct answers to these,
and other questions constantly
arising, involving the same results,
depend the future integrity Of our
republic and the perpetuity of pub
lie liberty amongst US. Important
and deep as the interest of our
people in the domestic policy and
internal economy of the State adj
ministration unquestionably is, the
question whether we are to be
of the federative Union be-
queathed to us by our fathers, is a
still greater and more important
one. For, if the general govern.
ment is changed-if the rights of
States, and communities, and indi-
are swallowed up in the
vortex of consolidation, it will then
be Of little consequence whether
there be any States or State lines.
Then State Legislatures would have
no higher dignity than town coun~
Gil, and State administrations would
be subject to the overruling powers
of the central authority.
To avert such a calamity, i t is
for every citizen to be on
bio o,nrd Thnrr Shnnld got THAR