Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-11

damental principles in accordance with
these notions l have here suggested to-
night. Among them ! said that our gov
ernment springs from and was made for
the people-fiot the people for the gov
er1Inient. To them 1t owes allegiance:
from them It must derive its courage,
strength and wisdom. But, while the
Government Is thus bound 10 defer TO the
people, from whom Il derives its existence,
It should, from the very cOnsidera-
ton of its origin, be strong in its power Of
resistance to the establishment of inequali-
ties. Monopolies, perpetutieS, and class
legislation are contrary to the genius Of free
government, and ought not 10 be allowed.
Here, there is no room for favored classes
or monopOlies;the principle Of our Govern
Inent Is that Of equal laws and freedom Of
industry. Wherever monopoly attains a
foOthold. it is sure to be a source Of danger,
diseord and trouble. We shall but fulfill
our duty as Legislators by according "equal
and exact justice to all men," special priv
ileges to none. The Government is subOr-
dinate 10 the people; but, as the agent and
representative Of the people, It must be
held superior to niOnOpolies, which, in
themselves, ought never to be granted, and
which, where they exist, must be subordi-
nate and Weld to the Government.
We find that the Changers have tried to
regulate railroad freights. Let us see what
this pamphlet-which is one of my mes
sages to Congress-has 10 say on the sub
jet Of freights:
"rhe Constitution cOnfers ON Congress
the right 10 regulate commerce among the
several States. It is Of the first necessity,
for the maintenance # the Union, that that
commerce should be free and unobstructed.
No State can be justified in any device TO
tax the transit Of travel and commerce be
tween states. The position Of many States
is such that, If they were allowed 70 take
advantage Of ii for purposes Of local reye-
nue., the commerce between States might
be injuriously burdened, or even virtually
prohibited. II is best, while the country
is still young, and while the tendency to
dangerous monOpolies Of this kind is still
feeble, to use the power OF Congress so as
10 prevent any selfish impediment TO the
free circulation Of men and merchandise.
A tax ON travel and merchandise, in their
transit, constitutes one Of the worst forms
OF monopoly, and the evil is increased If
coupled with a denial Of the choice Of
route. When the vast extent Of our coun-
try is considered, il is plain that every OBJ
stacle 10 the free circulation Of commerce
between the States ought 10 be steInly
guarded against by appropriate legislation,
within the limits Of the Constitution.
Agriculture, when we come TO consider
Il. is one Of the foundation rocks Of all
good s0ciety-Of all good government, but
agriculture would be very feeble without
mechanics. We begin with agriculture
first, then We include mechanics, and then,
with these two we class labor. man
NAV have his broad acres aud productive
fields. He may have them well Watered;
he may have a favorable climate; the sea-
sons may be regular, but there is some
thing else required. What can he do with
out mechanics? He is pOwerless. But
when he brings To his aid the pillow, the
reaper. tie mower and all the implements
used in huSbaE,lrT, he is imposition to
utilize his possessions.
But even after having secured all tie i'm
plements necessary to carry on bis farming
operations, there is something else needed.
However productive his land may be, his
tlo,s will be Of no service To him without
some one 10 hold the handles and guide il.
These three. then, are dependent one upon
the other. While We have agriculture, we
must have mechanism, ard while We have
agriculture and mechanism, We must have
labor. When we put the three together,
we have the foundation stone of the Gov
ernment ITSELF and We find that all the
great interests OF the people are directly
connected with agriculture, mechanism and
labor.