The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-13

1t would seem that true nobility could
not labor so long, win SO much, and then
turn and trample it under foot, ct the
crack of the despOt's whip, or the thr. ats
o. sn snpy NIB. Butin lts' than thIes
short days, with paricidal hand, the man
news in pieces his own person, and with
s still more impOtent will be lays the
mutilated body of his mother upon the
table as Tepast at the Bacchanalia Of
the traitors. l do lot recur to this to
wound the sensibilities Of the gentleman
and his friends. It is 10 suggest the
great legacy this war has thrown away.
But this is not all would to God it were.
Mr.. EwiDg's great qualities and imPo-
sing character, carried power and inhu-
enee to the cause of Jefferson Davis and
against the cause Of that glorious inher-
itance left US By our Adamses, Washing
tons, Jeffersons and HamiItOns. he led
whole legiOns of young men into that
fatal contest of slavery against liberty;
of brute force against intelligence and
Christian civilization. They, alas poor
victims, now fill dishOnOred graves, over
which no tombstone shall ever arise;
on whose bosOms only the rank weeds
will grow.
The contest RACES for three long years;
two millions of men, the pride and
strength Of the world, contend for the
mastery. The lines Of freedom daily
advance, the territory spreads wider
and wider; her white tents encircls tbe
new COnfederacy. The giant and cre-
atiVe power never reeedes, the dawn Of
final triumph is seen, and the whole
world begins to rejoice in the new morn
ing of our national life. Mr.. Ewing,
too, sees the result of the coming strug-
gle, and comes up to the bar of pardon
and embraces the prOffsred terms. He
takes the solemn oath prescribed by the
President. His friends say be is truth
full, and means to keep it. I hope it
may be so. Judas hanged himself;
Harris may do likewise and / still have
hope. Peter denied his Lord, 1 know,
but "he went out and wept bitterly"
and l confde in time. Let him do so,
now, and will trust him. He may
then enter on . bright work in this the
early dawn of our national day.
How stands the case. Mr.. Ewing &C
cep,s the pardon. He comes without 4
regret, or the apparent sense of wrong.
He comes as unconscious of crime as
the prattling infant in its mothers arms.
Would that be had returned with the
same simple innocence not so. He
comes doubling the need Of pardon to
himself, and presuming to sit IN judg-
ment and criticise the loyal men that
have stood by the nation and aided TO
unfold the majestic energies Of the New
World. Had be wept in silence and
then approached the tomb of his mur-
dered country, we would listen TO his
words. he claims q universal amnesty.
He asks that Isham Harris, the Tennes-
see Judas, be brought back. The wicked
man cannot do that. The vile hypocrite
that betrayed his country cannot submit
to that; no would hang himself first, and
trust even in the wicked. Surely there
cannot be found in Tennessee a spirit so
lost to shame.
NJ. Ewing, strange to say, would char
acterize the sanctions Of law that pun
ishes treason in this case, as mere Ven-
geqnce. This singular perveraiOn is rather
the reflection Of the authors heart, than
his judgment on the nature Of punish
ment inflicted by law. Appended to this
remark is = note that contains q most
unjust and spiteful misstatement. Among
the people of the North, there are but few
who thirst for the blood Of JEFF Davis.
The man who presumes to interpret the
motives OF others, should first produce
his facts, and scan narrowly HE own
intentions.
It is not my design to enter into re-
view Of the causes which placed the
people Of Tennessee in false relation to
the Union. It was done. They, the
people, suffered it, and deeply have they
repented their want Of personal inde-
pendence; their base reliance upon un-
faithfel counsellors.
The grounds Of the distinguished gen.
tleman's acceptance is found in 3 cold
merchantile calculation. The balance
sheet shows q few dollars and g few
negroes on the side Of the Union at pres
ent Another opportunity may have
swept away the last slave. Prudsrce
dictates immediate action, and the gen.
tleman is not void Of decision Of char
acter.
No mention is made Of country, no
patriotic word is spoken, no appeal is
made to the past gloFies of Tennessee,
under the National banner, no reeogDi-
ton Of the gallant men Of the State, that
now stand so firmly and manfully by /
their ancient faith. Some allusion is
made to the poor deluded fellows in the /
Southern army. They are wisely left 70
their fate. This is all that could be
done for them now. But the man who
shouted, con to Washington before the
Yankees are prepared" 50 early in the
war, might drop a tear over the fate Of
ihe poor dsludsd boys that were ssduesd
by bis words Of wisdom and force Of
will
There 10 much good sense, much ress-
oning that would satisfy the whole cal
herd. Many may be influenced
By considerations no higher than self
interest. So FAR, as the problem is one
Of dollars and cents, It is very nearly
solved. We commend it 70 the figuring I