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

said article, when ratified by three-fOurths of thl
States, read as follows, to wit:
stThe Senate of the United States shall be com
posed of two Senators from each State, choseI
by the persons qualified to vote for the members
| Of the most numerous branch Of the Legislature
thereof, for six years, and each Senator sinai
Sec. 4. And be it further resolved, That art
| Ill, section /, be amended by striking out the
words "good behavior, . and inserting the follow
! ing words, viz: "the term of twelve years
| And further, that said article and, section be
amended by adding the following thereto, VIZ
HAnd It shall DO the duty of the President OF the
United States, within twelve months after the
! ratification of this amendment by three-fourths
OF all the States, as provided By the CONSTITUTION
of the United States, to divide the whole number
OF Judges, as near as may be practieaole, into
| three classes. The seats of the Judges of the
first class shall be vacated at the expiration OF the
| fourth year from such classification; OF the
second class at the expiration OF the eighth year;
| and OF the third class at the expiration OF the
| twelfth year, SO that One-third may be chosen
| every fourth year thereafter"
The article as amended viii read as follows:
ARTICLE III,
SECTION 1. The judicial power Of the United
States shall be vested in one Supreme Court and
In such inferior courts as the Congress, from
judges, both of the Supreme and inferior courts,
shall hold their Offices during the term of twelve
years, and shall at stated times, receive for their
services q compensation which shall not be di-
minished during their continuance in office.
And it shall be the duty of the President of the
United States, within twelve months after the
ratification of this amendment by three-fourths
of all the States, provided by the Constitution
of the United States, to divide the whole number
of judges, as near as may be practicable, into
three classes. The seats of the judges of the first
class shall be vacated at the expiration OF the
fourth year from such classification; of the sec
ond class, at the expiration of the eighth year;
and of the third class, at the expiration of the
twelfth year, SO that One-third may be chosen
va WOO fh.ara Flor
THE PROPOSED PLATFORM.
The disastrous civil war, which recently di
vided the people aud the States of the Federal
Union Is now over, we earnestly hope, for ever.
The angry causes which produced it, with all
we trust, passed into impartial history. We
must there leave the whole matter to be dealt
with in the future by the just and enlightened
Judgment of mankind.
We, portion of the people of the State of Ten
nessee, without reference to the late unhappy
differences, growing out of the war, and ire
spective of old party affiliations met in cOnven-
ton for the purpose of recurring to the funda-
mental principles of the government, and the
time-hOnored doctrines, as taught and practiced
by sages of the Revolution, who founded the Re-
public, do soemnly announce and declare to all
who favor ga representative Democracy" as es-
tablshed by the Constitution of the United
States, contradistinguished from a mOneyed
aristOcracy or central despOtism, our political
position and the creed of our political faith.
i. There are now but two national parties; the
one the Radical Republican party, latitudinarian
in principle, wasteful and partial in its DISPOSE
ton of the public domain, reckless in its expendi
lures of the peoples money, partisan and pro-
scriptive in its legislation and utterly regardless
Of the safeguards of the Constitution; the other
the National Democratic party, battling for con-
stitutional rights, economy ia the administration
Of the government, the reduction of taxes and
the restoration of the government to its ancient
landmarks, and Is composed of all men-by what
ever names heretofore known-who seek TO wrest
the country from the dominant power and save
il from utter ruin. With one of these parties ev-
cry man in Tennessee who would cast his vote
and contribute his influence in the direction of
his political faith must unite. No middle ground
can be occupied, and neutrality at this juncture
would, in the opinion of this convention be GRIM
inal Entertaining such sentiments, this Con-
vention, as the representatives Of large MAORI
ty of the people of Tennessee, declare that they
are in full accord with the National Democratic
party; and in order to prevent further discussion
among ourselves about names, in order that our
Northern friends may not be chilled by doubts
of our sincerity and c0nstaney, and that our
Radical opponents may not be encouraged with
hopes of detection in our ranks, because of our
adoption OF the name universally borne by the
opponents of Radicalism everywhere in the
North, zee HnhesitGtingly announce ourselves Dem
Ocrdts.
2. That sthe Union of the United States of
America was intended by its authors to last as
long as the States themselves shall last 'The
Union shall be perpetuGL,' are the words
of the Confederation. ITO form a more
the United States, is the declared purpose of the
Constitution. The hand of Divine Providence
was never more plainly visible in the affairs of
men than in the framing and the adopting of |
that instrument. Its, beyond comparison, the |
greatest event in American history; and is it |
not, OF all events in modern times the most preg-
nant with consequences for every people of the |
earth d? The members of the convention who pre- |
pared it, brought to their work the experience |
Of the COnfederationo of their several States and
Of other republican governments, old and new |
but they needed and obtained wisdom superior |
to experience. AID when for its validity it re- |
CURED the approval of a people that occupied |
large part of continent and acted separately in |
many distinct conventions, what is more wonder |
full than that, after earnest contention and long
discussion, all feelings and all opinions were III
dmately drawn in one way to its support?
The Constitution to which life was thus i'm
parted contains within itself ample resources for
its own preservation. 1t has power to enforce /
the laws, punish treason, and ensure domestic |
tranquility. In case of the usurpatiOn of the |
Government of State by one man, or an oil
garcby, 1t becomes a duty of the United States
TO make good the guarantee to that State of a re-
publican form of government, and so to main
tain the hOmOgeneOusness of all. AS the lapse of
time reveals defects, simple mode of amend
ment Is provided in the Constitution itself, so
that its conditions can always be made to con
form to the necessities of the people and advanc-
ing civilization.
8. That no room is allowed even for the
thought Of possibility OF its coming to an end
and these powers eff lself-preseryation have al
Ways DS6n hSe6TLcu IDSI complete integrity hV
Every patriotic Chief Msgistrate-by Jefferson
md jackson, not less than by Washington and
Madison. The parting advice OF the Father of
MS Country, while yet President to the people of
he United States was that the free Constitution,
which was the work of their hands, might be sa-
,redly maintained;' and the inaugural words of |
President Jefferson held up 'the preservation of |
he general Government, in its constitutional
7igOr, as the sheet anchor OF our peace at home
md safety abroad The Constitution is the work
If the people of the several States, and it should
De as indestructible as the people themselves.
{. That the maintenance of the Union brings
With it 'the support of the State Governments in
III their rights but it is not one of the rights of
my State Government to renOunce its own place |
n the Union, or to nullify the laws Of the Union.
The largest liberty Is to be maintained in
he discussion of the acts Of the Federal Gov
'rnment; but there is no appeal from its laws ex-
'ept to the various branches of that Govern
he members of the Legislative and of the Exc |
;utive Departments no tenure but limited one,
md in that manner always retain the power Of
edress.
g. "Tha' the sovereignty of the State is the
anguage of the articles of confederation, and
rot the language Of the Constitution. The latter
contains the emphatic words: The Constitution
md the laws OF the United States which shall be |
made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made,
IT which shall be made, under the authority of
he United States, shall be the supreme law of
he land; and the judges in every State shall be
,ound thereby, anything in the Constitution or
avs Of any State to the contrary notwithstand-
n.y.
8. That the Government of the United States
a limited government; and so, also, is every
state Government limited government With
Is, tie idea OF limitation spreads through every
Orm of dministrRtiOn-general State and mr-
licipal, and rests on the great distinguishing
principle Of the rights of man. The ancient re-
'ublics absorbed the individual in the State
his religion, and controlled his activ-
ty. The American system rests on the assertion |
II the equal rights OF every man to life, liberty
md the pursuit Of happiness; to freedom of con-
cience; to the culture and exercise of all his
aculties. As q consequence, the State Govern
nent Is limited-as to the General Government |
the interest OF union, as TO the individual citi
ZEN, in the inteTe st OF freedom.
Z. That States, with proper limitations of |
'Ower, are essential to the existence of the Con-
titution of the United States. At the very com |
when we assumed a place among |
he powers OF the earth, the Declaration of In |
dependence was adopted by States; so also were |
he Articles of Confederation; and when sthe
'eOple Of the United States ordained and estab-
ished the Constitution, it was the assent of the
ltates, one by one, which gave 1t vitality. In |
he event, too. of any amendment to the OOnsti- |
tuition, the proposition of Congress needs the !
of States. Without States, one |
reat branch of the legislative government would |
10 wanting, and, if we look beyond the letter of
he Constitution to the character of our country, |
IS capacity for cOmprehending within its iuris- |
lotion vast continental empire is due TO the
ystem of States. !,
8. That the best security for the perpetual ex-
,tence of the States is the supreme authority |
the Constitution of the United States. The
erpetuity OF the Constitution brings with it the