Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-25


guest of that Association.
l am also directed to say that while tn
Association IFS earnestly DESTROYS OF th
honor of your presence, yet il it should no
be possible for you to come, it would b
gratifying 10 have some expression Of you
sentiments on such topics as may seem Il
you most appropriate. am, with greai
respect, very truly yours,
MALCOLM HAY,
Chairman Committee.
PRESIDENT JoHEsoNs REPLY.
GREENEvILLE, TENN, Jan. 81, 1871
Malcolm Hay, Esq.-Dear Sir: Your lettel
of the 31st of December last IS chairman
of the @Young Mems Jackson Associs
tion," inviting me to be present at 8 ban
guet to be given In the city Of Pittsburgh
on the 9th of January, 1871, was not re-
ceived in time sufficient TO enable me to be
present in person, or TO respond by letter
which would have reached you by the or
binary course Of mail, before the day desig-
mated for your festivity.
am free to say, however, that if it had
been received in time, and other circum-
stances had been favorable, It would have
afforded me much pleasure to have been
present, and participated in the Inequalities
rendered by an association bearing the name
Of the illustrious Jackson" and more es-
pecizlly so, to commemorate the 9Th OF
January, the fifty-sixth anniversary of the
nations second birth.
The success of our civil polity up to the
Sth of January, 1915, and the complete re-
pulsion by arms Of our ancient enemy from
the plains Of New Orleans, establishing the
fact that the Government OF the United
States had 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 jeslousies, the hate
and ll-Will engendered by the recent civil
war, the large handed robberies that have
been practiced, and the deep corrodigE cor
ruptions which have fixed themselves upon
the vitals Of the body polite.
The nation was safely conducted through
the periis Of the field in 1915, and from 1929
70 1887 in. the cabinet by Jackson upon the
principles Of the constitution.
The constitution was bis guide, the pub
lie good his aim"
1t would therefore seem that the shortest
and safest way to the nations deliversnce
would be 8 speedy and direct return to the
principles and doctrines inculcated and prac-
ticed by him while the nation at times ap-
peared to be in the last throes Of dissolution
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 deplorabls
condition, and would not an early return to
them be the surest and most effective rem
edy for the evils we now endure? A re-
to the names of Jefferson, Jackson,
to the battle of New Orleans, to the danger
Of monopolies, to banks, to the creation Of
permanent national debts, an unqualified
Of the doctrine Of secession as
a heresy, or the right Of any State of its
own will to withdraw from, or renouRce its
place in the Federal Union without the con-
sent Of three-fourths of the other States
rStifying the constitution, or the exercise Of
any power directly or indirectly BY Con-
gress, excluding any State from the Union,
or from an equal footing with all the other
States, or an unrestricted enjoyment of all
the rights, privileges and immmities guar
anteed by the 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, sour Federal Union: it must be
as formed and designed by the
trainers ofthe Constitution.
For the time is approaching when the
doctrine Of secession win again come up
from its native home, Massachusetts,, in
stead Of South Carolina, and will be assum-
ed and publicly avowed as it was by Josiah
Quincy in the House Of Representatives in
1911, on the bill for the admission of Or
leans Territory as a State in the Union,
and will be resorted to again when the !
sceptre Of power shall pass from their grasps
IN the hands Of honest and patriotic men,
who will measure out even and impartial
justice to all parts Of the nation in the dis
tributiOn OF the patronage and appropria-
tions from the National Treasury.
The formation of jackson Associations"
would be so many symbols significant of
events aud men in the better days Of the
Republic, and should at once be organized
in every county. town and hamlet through
out the eonfederacy, taking a firm and un-
yielding stand in favor Of democratic form
of government, as established by the Con-
setting forth and enumerating the |
leading tenets Of their political faith. De- |
2aocracy can then come into power, if it |
comes at all, upon principles advanced and |
a creed understood and approved, and not |
upon a negative, or mere opposition to the |
now dominant party. !
A party coming into power without prin-
ciple, without q creed, can have no tie, no
common bond OF union, which will hOl it
together, other than the spells Of Office, and |
public plumber, which is the condition of |
the party now in power, and on account OF |
which it will be retired, by common con- |
sent, TO the shades of private life, amid |
heir reezing corruption and fragrant disre- |
gard of principle, having justly incurred the |
of an injured and betrayed |
people. The people of the United States |
need aud ought to be reindoctrinated in the |
.heory of our Government and the princi- !
Dles Of the Constitution. For it does !
really seem TO a very great extent, that all |
correct notions Of our system have been |
.faced from the public mind, and know |
emo better place to commence the work |
han i'm the State of Pennsylvania. II my |
memory serves right, Pennsylvania was the
1rst State that nominated Gen. Jackson as
he people's candidate for the Presidency In
,pposition to Congressional caucuses, and
n The end succeeded in making him Presi-
lent of the United States, which dispensed
nth all Congressional caucuses in the fu-
ure, The same objections now APP
Div with equal or greater force to National
Conventions, than they then did to Con-
caucuses; and, if possible, should
Be dispensed with now as they were then,
With ali their anti-constitutional and CEN
,ralizing influences, and the people I'M
based be permitted to elect President OF
heir own choice. In fact State and Ma
ionsl conventions have become mere con-
.rivances to distribute offices and the emol-
lments Of office, among politicians and
who are more distinguished
'or intrigue and corruption than they are for
honesty and talent.
The nomination of candidates by ire
,ponsible conventions is practically taking
.hs election of President and Vice-Presi-
liant out of the hands Of the people, and is
q objectionable, If not more so, than elect
no by the House Of Representative in the
vent of failure to elect by the electoral
College, as now provided by the Constitu-
ion. -. =
n IS time the convention system was
Al. 10 s.nr,fala- haa ~ hp /