The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-03-22
Are We a Nation2

/
following resolution. in the House.
on the 18th:
Resolved. that the people or the
| United States, constitute one ma.
tion and not a mere Confederacy OF
States or nations; that the constitu-
tion was formed by the people act.
ing in their primary and individual
capacity through their delegates
thereto duly constituted that the
government under the constitution
is one of the people. by the people
and for the people; and that in its
appropriate sphere the government
of this nation is sovereign and su-
preme; that in its nature it is per-
manent and indissoluble except by
the action and consent of the whole
people; that no State has any right
or authority TO judge of the consti-
tutionality of laws enacted by Con-
gress or to nullify the execution of
the same; and that all other acts by
the State or people thereof of Sc
cession therefrom. or of rebellion
against the same, constitute treason,
and that the late war of the rebel
lion, for the dismemherment of the
Union was causelt and in defensib' e
on any theory of right or of consti-
tutional law.
He moved the rules be suspended
and the resolution adopted, and he
called for the yeas and nays, which
were ordered.
Mr.. Stone. of Maine. moved the
House adjourn. Rejected.
Mr.. Cox asked whether the reso-
luton was divisible.
The Speaker responded that a
motion to suspend the rules and
adopt a resolution was not divisible.
Mr. Cox asked whether it was in
order to read from the constitution
these words Done in convention
by the unanimous consent of the
States
GEORGE WAsHINGTON."
The Speaker replied that that
would be in the nature Of debate
and was not i'm order.
The motion to suspend rules and
adopt the resolution was rejected
yeas, 81; nays. 72. two-thirds not
having voted in the affirmative.
Very few Democrats voted for it.
Among them were Messrs. Dnrand.
Hardenburg. jerks, New, Phelps,
Potter. Vance of Ohio. and S. S.
Williams of Michigan. ALI the Re-
publicans voted for it. and most all
the Southern Democrats against,
and most all the Northern Demo.
Gratis refrained from voting.
Before the vote was announced.
Mr.. Baker called the attention of
the chair to the fact that many
members were present who were
not voting, and he made the point
of order that they be compelled to
vote.
The Speaker overruled the point
of order.
Mr.. Randall remarked that there
was a good deal Of truth in the reso-
luton, and also good deal Of false
principle.
The result of the vote was then
announced.
Mr.. Cox. Of New York, then offer
ed the following resolutions:
Resolved, that the people of the
United States constitute a nation in
the sense to the extent and for the
purposes defined in the Federal
Constitution.
Resolved, that the Government Of
the United States is Federal Union,
and was formed by the people of the
several States in their sovereign ca
pacity that the rights and powers
of the United States Government
are defed and limited by the Federal
Constitution, and these rights and
powers cannot be enlarged or dimin-
ishe except by amendment to the
Constitution.
Resolved, that the rights of the
States have the same sanction OF Sc
curity in the Constitution as the
rights and powers of the Federal
Government. and that the local do
mestic government by the several
States within the limits of the Con-
stitution. is absolutely necessary for
the preservation of the liberties of
citizens, and the continuance of our
Republican system of government.
Resolved, that the doctrine that
any State has the right to secede
from tue Union. is in conflict with
the idea of a perpetuation. as con-
templated by the Constitution, and
should be regarded as being forever
extinguished by the result Of the re-
cent civil conflict.
Mr. Holman called for the yeas
and nays, and they were ordered.
Mr.. Blaine expressed the hope
that every union man in the House
would vote against the resolution.
The motion to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution was adopt
ed-yeas, $50; nays. AZ. The Dom
ocrats and few of the Republicans
voted for the resolution. Among
the Republicans voting "aye" were
Messrs. Kelly, Levenworth, McDill,
Phillips. of Kansas. Townsend, of
Willard, w. B. Will
liams, OF MichigaH. and Wilson. The
rest Of the Republicans voted mo"
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