Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-23
WHERE STALL WE LAND

The federal government, under the
Constitution, commenced its career under
the most favorable auspices. The object
of the people and the first President was
to carry out that instrument in perfect
good faith, leaving the States to do all the
governing not provided for in it. The
attempt under his successor to make the
federal government a machine for con-
trolling the political action of the people,
through the alien and sedition law, over
threw his administration and brought
Jefferson into power. The principles an
nounced and practiced upon by this great
Apostle of Liberty, with limited excep-
lions, were recognized and acted upon for
sixty years, producing prosperity and
happiness among the people, until Lin
coin was elevated to the Presidency
when, one by one, they gave place, says
the Albany argus, to those of an oppo-
site character, eliminating in q reign OF
intense hate, unequalled in the civilized
world. His administration had its origin
in the hating of one-third of the Union,
by the majority in the other portion.
During its existence its principal susie
nance was drawn from hatred Its most
important acts were based upon hatred.
Their execution was a striking illustration
of the power of hatred in land where
Christianity is at least professed. Instead
of preaching the love of God anu good
will to man, pulpits overhowed with ha-
tired, and churches had become recruiting
wigwams, where Sharpe's rifles were COM
mended as all powerful in argument, and
superior in usefulness to the Bible
in converting sinners from their
wicked ways. The road to Heaven,
as now pointed out by these teachers,
is found only in political guide books, and
those not taking the road there indicated
are summarily denounced and speedily
consigned tc regions of utmost woe. Even
children in schools are sought to be con-
verted into cadets in this army of political
haters. Congressional legislation has be
come an engine of favoritism for one por-
ton of the country, and of oppression to
others. The Federal government instead
of being a simple, inexpensive and hap
piness-producing machine looking after
our interests abroad and protecting us at
home, has become more complex than the
wonderful astronomical clock of Stras-
bourgh; and costs more annually in
time of peace than the whole revo-
lutionary war, or that of 1872;
and instead of affording protection
to the people, is now the most power
full and unyielding instrument of oppres-
sion in the civilized world. Instead of
combining itself to its constitutional duties,
its argent energies are devoted to stripping
the States of their powers and reducing
them 10 insignificant and helpless munich
pal corporations, existing only at the I'M
regulated and varying will of Congress.
The rights and powers of the States are
fast being abolished by the Federal gov
eminent. Not a State Legislature dare
speak in vindication of its own powers;
and, except in New York, scarcely an
L7roopt;ve has Ventured even TO remon-
straie against those fatal usurpations,
Congress is spreading its political drag
net over the States ard they are falling
victims within its meshes, unable, like the
lion when similarly entangled, to release