Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-10

"The labOrs of the Convention were con-
cluded, and the Constitution they formed
was submitted to and ratified by the peO-
pie of the several States, after full, free
and elaborate investigation and dis
cussion of lis every clause and pro-
yision-ils merits and dement's. Under
the Constitution new Government
was called into existence and
put into operation, with such powers only
as were by that Constitution delegated to
the United States. The members of the
COnvention-honest men and patriots
Tin Article 81 prescribed the manner and
the means by which that Constitution
might be amended, as time and expert
ence should suggest and to fully per-
feet and secure the great objects for the
accomplishment of which the Constitu-
ton was framed and adOpted-cOnscieus
that what they had done, like all human
institutions, had imperfectlons.
"To amend means to change, TO alter
for the better, TO make more perfect, 10
more certainly insure the full realization
of the original purposes and objects in
tended. Certainly it never entered the
thoughts Of those who framed and those
who breathed vitality into the Constitu-
ton, by ratification, that under this pre-
scribed mode of the instrument, TO
amend, that power was given TO mar, to
make worse, to destroy liberty, to pun
ish for offenses, real or imaginary; or
to change the structure, character and
powers of the Government. Nothing
could have been further from the inten-
tions of the trainers or the Tatiiers. By
amendment you may improve, but you
| cannot make worse; for that would not
he amendment.
"Thc Government of the United States
was organized under the Constitution in
1889. Within two years after that, in
1891, ten amendments were made, in the
manner therein prescribed. In 1898 al
other amendment was made, and, in 1904,
| the twelfth amendment was proposed and
ratified. Not one Of these twelve amend
mcnts increases, cnlaTgcs or extends the
powers Of the United States Government;
but, rather, they limit and define its pow
ers. The paramount objects Of these
amendments were to protect, guard and
secure the personal right and liberty of
individuals.
"Thc ninth amendment is: The Gnu
mcration, in the Constitution, Of certain
| rights, shall not be construed to deny OF
disparage others, retained by The people. )
"Thc tenth amendment reads: The
powers not delegated TO the United States,
| by the Constitution, nor prohibited 10y it
TO the States, ABE RESERVED TO THE
STATES respectively, OR TO THE PEOPLE.
BY these two amendments the Con
sti.ution was improved, by defining and
making clearer the primary objects and
purposes of the establishment of the Fed
eral Government, and its powers. BY
| the provisions of these amendments, the
rights of each individual State, and the
| people thereof, were confirmed, including
the right 10 prescribe the qualification of
| voters not to say OtheTs-tO control their
| domestic affairs and internal government
| without LET, hindrancc, or interference of
| the United States Government. Had these
| clear and inConrOvertible principles of the
| Constitution been observed, and honestly
| adhered to, controlling the actions of the
Federal and the State governments, all
parties and sections and people actuated
| by patriotism, rather than unhallOwed am
| bition and the selfshncss of avarice, con-
filming the general government strictly
within its delegated powers and apprOpri-
| ate sphere, and leaving the several States
| in the free exercise OF all their reserved
rights, unlrammelcd, there would not and
could not have been any cause for Seces-
sion, Disuuion or Civil War. On The
contrary, this American system of Fede
raj and State Governments could have
| been administered tremendously and bcne
| ticially for all interested, to the end of
time. Yes, to the end of time!
"But Civil War WIS inauguIated, and
for four long years was prosecuted in 3
manner unprecedented in the history of
civilized man. The Rebellion was
suppressed, and the GIRL party in
power at the Capital of the National
Government, in their lust for power and
glecd for grain, aCtuated only Ivy the
motives 10 pcrpctuate their party in pow
er. for an indefinite period, endeayOred to
appropriate the military success in sup
pressing the Rebellion, as the means of
effecting these objects. What Is called
the nineteenth Amendment to the Con
stituiion was declared adopted, without
the consent of the States in which il Was
20 operate effectively and in violation OF
the fundamental principles embodied in
the Constitution, and without which the
Constitution never would have been pro
posed by the Convention of 1887 to the
people of the States for ratification.
'sThc adoption Of the fourteenth
amendment followed. Ii contains several
sections, all Of which are repugnant to
and in violation of the principles en-
bodied in the Constitution, and subver-