Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-06
EX-PREsIDENT JOHNSON.
Letter 70 the Jackson Association of
Pittsburgh. ,fe

Ana.Soiu nay, Esq.-Dear Sir: I our lette
OF the 3lst of December last as Chairman
OF the " Young Mems Jackson Association,
inviting me to be present at the banquet tt
0e gwen In the city of Pittsburgh on th,
Sen OF January, 1871, was not received il
Time sufficient to enable me to be presen
mperson, or to respond by letter, which
would have reached you by the ordinary
course OF mail, before the day designated
for your festivity.
am iree to say, however, that If it hat
peen received in time, and other circum
stances mad been favorable, it would have
anoroeo me much pleasure to have been
present, and participated in the hospitali
Ties rendered by an association bearing the
name OF the illustrious Jackson" anG
more especially so to commemorate the 8tt
OF January, the ffty-sixth anniversary ot
the nations second birth.
The success of our civil polity I'D to the
9th OF January, 1915, and the complete re.
pulsion by arms of our ancient enemy from
the plains of New Orleans, establishing
sne Iact that the Government of the United
states hao passed its second ordeal, and
was competent in hostile conflict with the
other powers of the earth to maintain its
national existence, as established by the
constitution.
The nation is now passing through its
third ordeal, and it is yet to be ascertained
whether it will be able to overcome and
control the intestine elements of discord
growing out Of sectional jealousies, the hate
and ill-will engendered by the recent civil
war, the large handed robberies that have
been practiced, and the deep corroding cor
ruptfOns which have fixed themselves upon
the vitals of the body polite.
The nation was safely conducted through
the perils of the field in 1916, and from
1929 to 1887 in the cabiuet by Jackson
upon the principles of the constitution.
The constitution was his guide, the pub
lie good his aim"
1t would therefore seem that the shortest
and safest way to the nations deliverance
would be speedy and direct return to the
principles and doctrines inculcated and
praeticed by him while the nation at times
appeared to be in the least throes of disso-
luton and political death. A departure
from these principles, and recent palpable
violations OF the organic law by Congress,
has brought the Government to its present
deplorable condition, and would not an
early return to them be the surest and most
effective remedy for the evils we now en-
dure? A recurrence to the names of JEFF
ferson, jackson, to the battle of New Or
leans, to the danger Of monopolies, to
banks, to the creation of permanent national
debts, an unqualified reputation of the
doctrine of secession as a heresy, or the
right of any State of its own will to with
draw from, or renounce its place in the Fed
eral Union without the consent of three
fourths of the other States ratifying the
constitution, or the exercise of any power
directly or indirectly by Congress, exclud-
ing any State from the Union, or from any
equal footing with all the other States, or
an unrestricted enjoyment of all the rights,
privileges and immunities guaranteed blythe
Constitution of the United States.
A constant iteration and reiteration of
the ever memorable sentiments uttered by
the patriot soldier and honest statesman in
1880, on the birthday Of the immortal JEFF
ferson, "Ow Federal Union: it must. be
preserved" as formed and designed by the
trainers of the constitution.
For the time is approaching when the
doctrine of secession will again come up
from its native home, Massachusetts, in
ed and publicly ayowed as it was by Josiah
Quincy in the House of Representatives in
1911, on the bill for the admission of Or
leans Territory as q State in the Union,
and will be resorted to again when the scep-
tire of power shall pass from their grasps in
the hands ofhonest and patriotic men, who
will measure out even and impartial Justice
to all parts of the nation in the distribution
of the patronage and appropriations from
the National Treasury.
The formation of jackson Associations
would be so many symbols significant of
events and men in the better days of the
Republic, and should at once be organized
in every county, town and hamlet throughout
the Confederacy, taking firm and unyield-
ing stand in favor of Democratic form of
government, as established by the Constitu-
ton, setting forth and enumerating the
leading tenets of their political faith. De-
mocracy can then come into power, if it
comes at all, upon principles advanced and
a creed understood and approved, and not
upon negative, or mere opposition to the
now dominant party.
A party coming into power without prin-
ciple, without creed, can have no tie, no
common bond of union, which will hold it
other than the spoils of office and
public plumber, which is the condition of
the party now in power, aud on account of
which it will be retired, by common con-
sent, to the shades of private life, amid
their reeking corruption and flagrant disre-
gard of principle, having justly incurred the
condemnation of an injured and BETRAYED
people. The people of the United States
Y,nrl,f 20 ho rain nIAa
theory of our Government and the princi-
pies of the Constitution. For it does really
seem to very great extent, that all correct
notions of our system have been effaced
from the public mind, and know of no
better place to commence the work than in
the State of Pennsylvania. If my memory
serves right, Pennsylvania was the first
State that nominated Gen. Jackson as the
peoples candidate for the Presidency in op-
gosition to Congressional caucuses, and
in the end succeeded in making him Presi. |
dent of the United States, which dispensed |
with all Congressional caucuses in the fu- |
lure. The same objections now apply |
with equal or greater force to National |
than they then did to Con-
yressional caucuses; and, if possible, should |
be dispensed with now as they were then,
With al their anti-constitutional and cen.
ralizing influences, and the people un-
biased be permitted to elect President of
heir own choice. In fact, State and Ma
ional Conventions have become mere cor
rivanceS to distribute offices and the enIol-
lments of office, among politicians and
,fice- seekers, who are more distinguished
or intrigue and corruption than they are
,r honesty and talent
The nomination of candidates by inc.
ponsible conventions is practically taking
be election of President and Vice-Presi-
lent out of the hands of the people, and is
s Objectionable, ifnot more so, than elect
ng by the House of Representatives in the
vent of failure to elect by the electoral
Jollege, as now provided by the Constitu-
ion.
1t is time the convention system was
bandoned; and that the popular heart be
airly and fully reflected al the ballot box,
D the election of President and Vice Pres
lent, and carried out in faithful admins
ration of the government. Let jackson
associations be formed all over the country,
dopting the same creed of political faith,
nd then express their preference for some
uitable person for the Presidency, who
Till reflect their principles and sentiments |
also let the people hold primary meetings,
expressing their views and preference, and
! a little while public sentiment viii be
ormed and point with almost unerring GER
Unity to the proper man, to be taken up as
he standard bearer, in the approaching