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

fairly and fully reflected at the hallot-bo1
in the election of President and Vice Pres
dent, and carried ont in faithful admins
trati0n Of the government. Let Jacksol
!. Associations be formed all over the country
! adopting the same creed Of political faith
and then express their preference for som
suitable person for the Presidency
: who will reflect their principles ant
sentiments-also let the people holt
primary meetings, expressing their view
I and preference, and in little while
public sentiment will be formed and poin
with almost unerTing certainty to the pro
per man, to be taken up as the standard
bearer.in the approaching Presidential cleo
ton. If your association win move off il
the right direction, and in good earnest, il
will be responded to by the people proper
from all parts of the country.
The young men of the nation have the
Government to save, and they had as well
commence the work first as last. The old
men who are patriots and have some hope
of the Republic left, will help to push the
good work forward as a matter Of course.
It must be apparent to all unprecedented
minds that the bad men Of the nation have
combined and taken possession of the
government for selfish and corrupt
purposes, the good and wise men must as
sociate and have concert of action, or they
will fall one by one in hopeless struggle.
! Go to work; have confidence in the people.
They must be trusted. They need friends;
! advocates who are able and willing to de-
fend them, and resist all Entertainments up
on their dearest rights. 1t is their interest,
oc rxynll thar to do riorbf and
| especially so in all governmental offices.
| They want the best government they can
| get, and if furnished with the truth and
correct information, they viii have it in the
end, and appreciate those who are instru-
mental in giving il to them.
The "Young Mems Jackson Association"
can, if they win, lay The basis of an organ
izstion, upon which the genuine Jefferson
and Jackson Democracy Of the nation can
be united and rallied to its support.
Let the great cardinals of their creed be
set forth in a clear, cogent and concise
manner, in the shape of propositions, or re-
solutions, that all can read and compre-
bend. A party to be successful, and of
long duration, whose existence is depend
ent on popular will, must have something
to do; measures to be aecomplished-it
must be party of honesty, principle and
progress. Its chief business should be the
support of fundamental principles, and the
accomplishment Of great measures.
Office and the emoluments of Office should
be the mere incidents to the carrying out of
great principles and resources. The con-
verse of the proposition is the policy pur-
sued by the party now in ,power-ofice
and the emoluments of Office, and the cor
ruption of Government, are the great objects
with them, and the interest and happiness
Of the nation, the mere Incidents. should
feel proud, indeed, if / could contribute
anything towards bringing the Government
back within the pale of the Constitution as
designed by its founders, and then for it to
progress in accordance with its provisions.
If the Constitution needs amendment, as
many think it does, let it be done in the
manner designated in the Constitution,
never assuming or venturing to act
outside of its prescribed limits.
have forwarded to your address, by to-
days mail, copy of a message which
was transmitted to Congress, recommend
ing three amendments to the constitution,
which hope you will do me the favor to
read with much care.
l. The election of President for one
HAAA " bAAO POCPtCs hONlAN IL BiOb-
ability be very acceptable at this time, with
the unpopulaTity Of conventions, and Grants
determination to force himself upon the
country for a second term, they of course
would take ground against it, which would |
place them in the attitude of being afraid |
to trust the people with the election Of |
President and Vice-President.
2. The election of Senators ought to be |
FOL bon ho 7 80 l.
States, and given to the people. The Legis- |
latures of the several States have proved to |
be as unreliable, and corrupt as the Con- |
gress of the United States, and ought not |
longer to be trusted with the election of |
Senators TO the Senate of the United States. |
8. The alteration proposed by the amend |
ment in the appointment of the Judges of /
the Supreme Court would be great and |
s@lutary improvement on the present mode,
and in few years regenerate the Court by
3 gradual incorporation of wiser, purer and
ADLER men than a majority of those who
now occupy the Supreme bench.
The adoption of these three amendments
10 the constitution, or something like them
IN form and substance, would be very fit
ting and important work to be accomplish
ed by the followers of Andrew jackson. l
1loO CAAOlOoC JOu - 5OIACo vi lCSOlublOuS,
which were made the platform of two Con-
gressional districts in this State during the
asst canvass for members of Congress.
Most OF these resolutions are national, and
are sound in principle, and have a popular
zing tendency in regard to all
Of our institutions, and place |
.he Democracy where it ought to be-On
he side Of the people. Also send you my
ole |
ng propositions contained in the series of
resolutions can be found, together with my
7arious veto messages. Also please find
,opy of my address to the people of the
United States, which was issued on the 4th
Of March, 1869, the last public act before
retiring from the Executive Mansion.
If anything suggested in letter, messages,
etc, will do to incorporate as a
enet or tenets in your creed when made
)ut, shall feel amply compensated for any
hing | have done, or can do to promote
he good work in which you and your As
iociation are engaged. l have the honor
o be, etc, ANDREW JOHNSON.
hRssAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITRD |
STATES, RECOMMENDING CERTAIN AMEND
MBNTs TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED |
STATES.
10 the senate ana house OF representatives
Experience has fully demonstrated the wis
lOm OF the trainers of the Federal Constitution.
Jnder all the circumstances the result of their |
abOrs was as near an approximation to perfec-
ion as was compatible with the fallbility OF
nan. Such being the estimation in which the
Constitution is and has ever been held by our
,OuntTymen, it is not surprising that any pTOpO-
itiOn for its alteration or amendment should be
eceived with reluctance and distrust. Whilst
his sentiment deserves commentator and en-
enlargement as a useful preventive of unnecCs-
AIRY attempts to change its provisions, it must be
conceded that time has developed imperiectiOns
md omissions in the Constitution, the refOrma-
ion of which has been demanded by the best in
erests of the country. Some of these have been
emeded in the manner provided in the COnsti-
utiOn itself. There are others which, although |
heretofore brought TO the attention of the people,
ave never been 50 presented as to enable the pop
IlaE judgment to determine whether they should
,e corrected by means of additional amendments.
dy object, in this communication, is to sug-
rest certain defects in the Constitution, which
eem to me to require correction, and to recon-
mend that the judgment of the people be taken
N the amendments proposed.
The first of these defects, to which l desire to
lirect attention, is in that clause of the Con-
titution which provides for the election of Pre- |
ident and Vice-President through the interven-
ion of electors, and not by an immediate vote of
he people. The importance or so amending
his clause as to secure to the people the election
t President and Vice. president by their direct |
Otes was urged with great earnestness and abil-
ty by President jackson in his first annual mes
Al, A,.Ns |