The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-07
..ssIf supportinE.,,

every pass given cut and also for all
licenses 10 cell merchandise, or TO follow
any profession or trade.-E5ohange paper
Gen. Bepjamin F. Butler should have
full credit for zeal in the cause Of bis
country; but bis fellow-citiIsns have =
right to question whether thst zeal is
manifested in every instance, according
10 knowledge. When armed insurgents
threatened the nationsl Capital, Gen.
Butler displayed such alGcdty in its de-
tense, and was so unhesitAting IN sup
porting the Government, both by word
and deed, that loysl people, and etpec-
tally the loyal press, snshrined him at
once, as canonizsd beyond the reach Of
public criticism. They were stimulated
&c this pitch Of pstriOtic rapture the more
violently, because Berjsmin seemed 70
deserve the coat Of many eOlOrs and the
double portion in this, that be had been
q Breckenridge Democrst-had pGrIici-
pated in the Charleston convention
thus creating an expectation Of ice iqst
where She 1sno of loyal devotion
burst forth. With his new admirers, it
was as it is with the saints when con-
vsrting grace TeclGims some notorious
sinners celebrated gambler, q profesEed
infidel, OF 3 scoffiog blasphemer. There
was more joy over him than over ninety
and nine who had not been delegates to
Charleston. Nothing else could have
been expected, and it was all well
enough, and might have continued in
definitely, If the idol Of our fresh love
hsd been settled permanently in the
third heaven, beyond the reach Of those
temptations which inevitably bsset falli-
bic humanity, especially when clothed
with temporal power.
Bsnjamin was not removed beyond the
temptations of this world-this world in
which Mtmmon still wars against God,
in which ali need to pray, g Lead us
not into temptAtion"-th world whose
Establishments the valiant piOus David,
and the wise Solomon, could not with
stand. 1t is therefore we think the loyal
press Of the country should not raise
huzzA for everything he may DO, or pro-
pose to do, without inquiring whether il
is right or wrong. We know that the
fervor Of loyal men is intensified toward
him by the additional fact, that JEFF DA-
Wis hates him, and COppsrhesds have
marked him for denunciation; but this
is true of many brave Generals whose
conduct has not been spared BY loyal
Journals, when it has seemed to them
questionable. With due Difference, then,
let il be suggested here, that our favor
tie Ben has bis faults, and Mr Lincoln
should have an ere to them.
B. F. B. Is progressive, innovstive, in
Notwithstanding too absolute, per
hans. 20 steer entirely clear Of things
which do not well compOrt with the
msxims Of OR Puritan fathers, in whose
heart Of hesrls the supremacy of civil
law was cherished. And there is
greater cause for anxiety when his in
ventive genius enters the Geld of taxa
tion than when he turns tbs mind 10 any
other subject. Taxation is field which,
above all others, had the flaming sword
suspended at its gate by the primitive
New Englanders. They knew how So
cred is the grOund-hOw prone the Devil
is to enter in disguise. Those New
Euglsnders were wise. Nothing better
than this aversion 20 arbitrary taxation
hath come out Of Boston. 1t is a feeling
of jealousy which should be cherished as
the apple of the pablo eye. For if you
may tax without authority, you may tax
without limit. IL you may do it in that
which is least, you may in that which
is much. If you may do it to rebels,
you may call all rebels for the convent
ence of taxation. If Ben Butler may do
Il, 90 may Ben Bolt.
Already, in parts insurrectionary re-
covered by cur soldiers, the people are
subject to numerous methods of taxa
ton without their consent; and yet many |
of them are just as loyal to the Govern
ment as Gen. Batter. Not . few have
sons and brothers in the Government
army, sharing all the hardsbips of war
Shall new burden be imposed on men
aud women who were already impOver
ished by rspscious rebels, before our
army come TO their relief? On all the
food aud raiment whichmerchants bring
from blessed Kentucky and the north
bank Of the 0Aio to this State, tax Of
five per cent on the invoice cost is paid;
and they are required, in addition, to
write down carefully that on such day
of the month, John Smith, who lives At
such place, bought such and such Srti-
cIes-ssy q quart Of vinegar, pound Of
salt and an ounce Of pepper. To do go
much writing, instead Of making = sim
pie cash entry, the merchant must have
additional clerks, and 10 provide for such
expense OF course be charges higher
prices. Then most of the business
houses have been seized, and rents are
high, still farther swelling the price OF
goods. After the poor consumer has paid
this accumulation of taxes, direct and in
in the purchase Of = few COM
mon necsssaries Of life, be must go to =
treasury officer and pay twenty cents for
e permit 10 carry than hone, if he lives
beyond the post pickets. AT every step
he feels the friction of self-sustaining
machinery wearing the flesh from his
bones. Is it not enough? We should
think 50, even if the victim is a repentant
rebel Bat it may be vel TO intimate,
for she benefit Of some who admire Ben
Bntler, that not few who are compelled
to bear their share Of the burdens thus