Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-08

of union, as to the individual citizen il
the interest of freedom.
Resolved, That States, with proper
limitation of power, are essential Il
the existence of the Constitution
of the United States. At the very
commencement, when we assumed {
place among the powers of the earth,
the declaration of independence was adopt
ed by States; so also were the articles OF
confederation; and when the people OF
the United States ordained and establish
ed the Constitution, II was the assent OF
the States, one by one, which gave it vi
tally. II, the event, too, OF any amend
ment to the Constitution, the proposition
of Congress needs the confirmation OF
States Without States, one great branch OF
the legislative government would be want.
ing, and, if we look beyond the letter OF
the Constitution to the character of oul
country, its capacity fol comprehending
within its jurisdiction vast continental
empire is due to the system of States.
'fResolyed, Thst-the best security fo,
the perpetual existence of the States il
the supreme authority of the Constitu
ton of the United States. The perpetui-
| ty of the Constitution brings with it the
| perpetuity of the States; their mutual re.
latIon makes us what we are, and in ouI
political system their connexion is indiso.
luble. The whole cannot exist without
the parts, nor the parts without the whole;
so long as the Constitution of the United
States endures, the States will endure, the
| destruction of the one is the destruction
OF the other; the preservationo of the one
is the preservation of the other.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this
Convention no State has the right to Sc
cede from, or, of its own will, to re-
bounce its place in the Federal Union
without the consent of the other States
which ratified the Constitution. The
Constitution when ratified formed the
Union without any provision whatever
| for its dissolution. The Constitution was
adopted by The States in toto and for
ever, without reservation Or condition y
While we deny the right of State con-
stltutionally or of its own will to secede
or renounce its place in the Union, we
admit the great and inherent right of rev.
olution, abiding and remaining with
every people; but right which should
not be exercised except in extreme cases
and in the last resort, when grievances
are without redress and oppression has
become intolerable.
''ResOlved, That the Congress of the
United States has no authority or right
whatever under the Constitution to eject
a State or States from the Union or to ex-
clude any of them from an equal footing
and perfect equality with the other
States composing The UniOn,- nor has Con-
gress the right to deny airy State or States
their full representation, nor to amend or
even to propose any amendment TO the
Constitution, which would deprive any
State of its equal suffrage without its con-
sent in the Senate, and that most, if not
all the laws passed by Congress in refer
ence TO representation and reconstruction
of the Southern States were arbitrary as
sUmptions of power and palpsble viola
tions of the Constitution.
''ResOlved, That the Federal Govern
ment springs from and was made for TIE
people, not the people for the Govern
ment. To them it owes allegiance; from
them it must derive its courage, strength,
and wisdom. But while the government is
thus bound to defer to the people, from
whom it derives its existence, it should,
from the very consideration of its origin,
be strong in its power of resistance to the
establishment of inequalities. Monopnlies,
perpetuities, and class legislation are con-
trary to the genius of free government,
and ought not to be allowed. Here, there
is no room for favored classes or mOnOp-
Olies: the principle of our government is
that Of eqssl laws and freedom of indus
try.
wherever monopoly maintains foot
hold it is sure to be source of danger,
discOrd, and trouble. We shall but fulfill
our duties as government by according
equal and exact justice to all men,
special privileges to none The Gov
eminent is subordinate TO the people; but,
as the agent and representative of the
people, it must be held superior to mo-
nopolies, and, which, when they exist,
must be subordinate and yield to the
Government
Resolved, That it is well and publicly
known that enormous frauds have been
perpetrated on the revenues of both the
Safe and Federal Government, and that
cOlusSal fortunes have beea made at the
public expense.
81 his species of corruption has increased,
is increasing, and if not diminished will
bring us into total ruin and disgrace. The
public creditors and the taxpayers are
alike interested in an honest administra-
ton of the finances, and neither class will
long endure the large-handed robberies of
the recent past. For this discreditable
state of things there are several causes.
Some of the taxes are so laid astO present an
irresistible temptation TO evade payment.
The great sums which members of Con-
gress and revenue officers may win by
connivauce at fraud create pressure
which is more than the virtue of many
can Withstand; and there can be no doubt
that the open disregard of constitutional
obligations avowed by some of the highest
and most influential men in the country
has greatly weakened the moral sense of
those who serve in subordinate places. /"
s'The expenses of the United States, in
Guiding interest on the public debt, are
more than six times as much as they were
nine years ago.
'Resolved, That the attention of our
Senators and Representatives in Congress
is earnestly invited to the necessity of q
thorough revision of our revenue system.
1t has been assumed that the revenue of
the State in fact is the State; in effect all
depends upon it, whether for support or
reformation of the government. Through
the revenue alone the body polite can act
in its true genius and character; and,
therefore, it will display just as much of
its collective virtue as it is possessed
of a Just revenue. Our internal
revenue laws and import system
should be SO adjusted as to bear most
heavily on articles of luxury, leaving the
necessaries of life as free from taxation
as may be consistent with the real wants
of the government, economically admins
tered. Taxation would not then fail IN
duly on the man of moderate means; and
while none would be entirely exempt
from assessment, all, in proportion to
their pecuniary abilities, would contribute
towards the support of the State.
"a modification of the internal revenue
system, by large reduction in the num-
Der of articles now subject to tax,
would be followed by results equally ad-