The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-12-21
The Absence of Southern People
from Washington and its Cause.

j WAsHrSGroS. Dec. Is, fs85.-Notwith-
standing the many predictions thal have
been made Of q lively time at the National
/ Capital this winter, I doubt If Washington
has ever presented more dull and uoiR-
teresting aspect, socially OF politically, than
Al present. and the prospect Is rather against
thsn in favor Of an Improvement It was
| expected that the people Of the South wouid a
/ be here IN fell representative force, knock
/ ing Tor admission to the floors OF Congress.
and thronging the lobbies as in DAYS OF
yore yet there is very little Of exaggeratiou
in the statement, that C is almost a. hard
10 mud a South Caro,iniaa or IN Alabauiiau
here now, as II was a year or two ago
harder, indeed, if we tslSe into consideration
the squads Of chivalry that used % pass
through every day Of tive under CONVOY OF
a corPoral's guard, for e soiourn at Camp
Chase or Johnsons island.
In this fact apparently trivial in itself
there is food for reflection foe all, and cause
for deep concern on the part Of that great
majority Of the people who desire 30 see re-
established a. the earliest possible hour. the
era Of peace and fraternal union between the
two sections. So far the object Of the pres
ent Congress seems 20 have been to humili-
ate the south, rather thau % restore the
Union. Bitterness and animosity towards
those lately in rebellion, has been made the
test OF craftsmanship, and be is most ad-
mired as a leader who is most uncompr0-
missing in his hostility 70 those whom We
must regard as citizens OF commou coun-
try II We are not prepared 70 acknowledge
that the work ofsecession has been theore ic-
ally successful. What the rebels failed TO
do under the leadership Of Davis and Lee,
Congress j. striving 10 accom- piish under The
leadership Of Sumner and Stevens. What
war failed 70 do legislation steps in 70 ae-
eomphsh. The bloody strife Of lour years, /
ending in terms Of capitulation which /
stamped the victors as not less magnanimous /
TO forgive than powerful 70 overcome, falsi- /
ned the Oft-repeated declaration OF our enc
mics, that the North hated the nth. /
But, the foes Of National concord /
and unity now find in the halls Of |
Congress an echo to their worst calumnies.
and a confirmation Of all the ssserIioDs
which laid the foundation for rebellion aud
treason. A letter received few days since
by a distinguished member Of the present
Congress, from an old friend in the south. |
states that the Southern people begin 70 be-
lieve that the North really desires no union /
with them, and that there is e determine
ton here to effect peaceable disruption.
This sentiment is expressed By one who
knows whereof be afirms, and s fully
TO express the views Of the
people with whom he associates. He looks
upon the caucus resolution Of the committee
)f fifteen as a virtual warning TO the South
hat their representatives are not wanted in
Congress, now or at any other time, and
hence he says, you will not sc many Of
our people in Washington thss winter.
And in what other light can the dozen Of
bills and resolutions already proposed N
he Senate and House be regarded
Neither the radical "Unionists" Of the
North, nor the radical disunionisis Of the
south, who are 50 happily playing into each
,ther's hands lust now, are Of the men who |
oOk active part in the strife closed last
pring, and IN this fact there is at least
SEEMING argument for the repeal Of the Con-
,ressional test cath. It is stated that q man
lot long ago said to General Joseph +.
Johnston, that he didn't feel whipped, and
hat Johnston asked him what command |
le had been lighting in. "Not any" was
he reply. "Nell, 4" said the veteran rebel,
Il have been ighting, and am whipped. |
20 it is through the entire South. The real |
Union party Of the South is 10 be found l
lmong the men who surrendered 10 Grant
md sherman last April and the real Union
PARTY Of the North is made mp % a great /
.xtent Of the men who fought at D0nclsOn /
md Vicksburg and Richmond, under the
federal Tag, scarcely one Of whom will be
ound 10 endorse the ultra measures Of the !
PRESENT Congress. The basis Of Union in
hese two parties is very nearly the same.
u the South, Johnston and Bea1regard say
hey have been fighting tor slavery and |
lave lost the stake in the North, sherman
md Grant ssy that slavery has been abol
shed BY the results Of the war, and the rank
nd file on both sides concur in this verdict
But when the ultra measures of factiouists
re advanced, they find little sympathy
rom the active participants in the late
truggle on either side.