Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-31

II, say this class of reasoners, the Souther
States, either through our dread of their cor
cealed rancor, or as punishment are ker
in isolation and dependency, it is to be feare
that the spirit of their people will becom
more estranged and sullen, instead Of betteI
Their treatment of the freedmen will TAX
on harsher features even, which nothing bu
the presence of an extensive military fore
can mitigate or avert. We shall have b
govern them as Austria governs Hungary
or Great Britain ireland, or France Mexico
by practices little in consonance with tn
genius of our institutions or the temper o
the people.
On the other hand, restore them to thei
functions in the Union, and good natur,
nature and suspicion, and we shall govern
them less directly, but far more effectually
by friendly intercourse, by judicious legisla
tion, and by that mighty agency Of publ,
opinion which in free nations is more po
tent engine of enlightenment and progress
than either the sword or the edicts CT State
Exiled from their old relations, and prey
to the uncertainties of their position, the
South will lose hope and elasticity, while
the old sectional controversies, which we are
all weary of, viii draw out their tedious
length. But the Union once restored, we
shall spring forward to new activities new
industries, new combinations of interest and
! sentiment.
A terrible incubus will fall from our
shoulders as soon as this long, painful, and
at length bloody contest of sections shall be
closed. Democracy, in its noble and un-
partisan sense, will then haye a free and
! glorious course throughout We nation, and
We shall see transformation at the South
and advancement at the North that will
surprise the hopes of the most sanguine.
| With the objects of the more extreme
Republicans, then, this journal confesses a
most ardent sympathy. We are determined
so far as we can assist, that every man in
every State shall enjoy net only his civic
but his political rights; we pledge our
selves now and henceforth to the party
which shall surely and triumphantly carry
this point; but as to the method by which
the end is to be reached, we incline to the
views of the President as the more liberal
just and wise. Our national system is pc
euliar in style as well as principle, and be-
cause we believe it better than any other,
we are willing to trust it now as in times
past.
The Cincinnati Commercial may be Justly
classed among the leading Republican jour-
mails of the West. Though extreme, and in
excusably unjust, its editorials have been
marked by spirit of independence and
frankneSs that have somewhat softened our
feelings towards it. As may be seen from
the article below the more radical element of
the dominant party is giving way to more
temperate views:
Political Reorganization--New Parties.
Amazement and dismay sit upon the fee
BILE nurslings of the Caucus, when, in the
course of events it becomes manifest that
there is to be reorganization of the political
elements of the country, and that new parties
are to appear; and they who first announce
such changes will probably find their faith
fulness rewarded with imputations of heresy
and treason.
1t would be strange indeed, if such con-
vulsions as this country has experienced
within the last five years, should not break
in pieces the old political parties; and he
must be of dull perceptions who does not see
that process going on; and poor student of
history and logician VINO does not feel reason
ably certain of the result; and shabby sort
of philosopher who does not believe good
will come Of it. Yet the use in this connec-
ton of the words "new parties" has almost
bereft some of our neighbors of their wits
and certainly destroyed their peace of mind
for season.
Our doctrine is that under Republican
form Of government there are two legitimate
political parties-the party of the Admins
tration and the party Of the Opposition
that parties should have no other attachments
than those naturally belonging to the friends
and opponents of certain measures-that
they should arise upon specific issues and
disappear VIII n the questions that called
them into being are settled-that the Demo-
cratic partisan idea of perpetuating the party
regardless alike of principles and circum-
stances is very wrong and injurious, and not
to be initiated by those who are wise and
patriotic-that parties should conform them
selves to the progress of the country, and not
embarrass mankind by an obstinate adhe-
renee to the things obsolete.
Mr.. Lincoln was not elected by the Abo-
litionists and to abolish slavery, but by the
Republicans who accomplished the mission
of their party in electing him. That mis-
sion was to prevent the extension of slavery,
and as slavery could not be extended except |
by the use of the power of the General Gov
ernment in furtherance of the slave interest,
its restriction was decreed when the people |
placed the Government in the hands of those |
who however cautious they might be in di- |
recting its power against slavery certainly |
would not use it for slavery.
1t was the determination of the slave |
power to rule or ruin, and it insisted upon |
war Those who had voted for Mr.. Lincoln |
were minority of the whole people of the |
United States, though it can not be ques- |
toned that y majority were in favor of |
slavery restriction, and would have voted |
to that effect if the question had been |
nakedly presented.
The shock of war threw the country into !
two parties-those who were for the rebellion |
and those who were against it or, those |
who would fight, vote and pay taxes for the
of the integrity of the Union,
and those who preferred "the South" to the |
Union. The Union party was necessarily |
the war party. 1t was not composed Of Re
publicans only. 1t was not the Republican
party, but new party-one that was de-
veloped according to the occasion, and that
was equal to it. as the saved and regenerated
nation will be the immortal witness.
We have arrived at new point of depar-
.ure. The nation is saved. There is no
md of political quackery, and abundant
lostrums are prescribed, but the fixed fact
IS that the nation lives and is strong. There
S another fact The freedom of all the in
labitants had been proclaimed and establish
ID throughout the land. There is no "going
oack," as they said in the army, on either Of
hese propositions. We have, Liberty and
Union, one and inseparable now-and we
hink it is not presumptuous to declare that
We will have it so forever.
The gulf that Webster shrank from gaz-
ng into, we have passed through, and the
ong of Miriam has been sung by our maid
ms on the safe side of the Red Sea. The
var party, as well as the Republican party,
has accomplished its mission. That new
PARTIES viii arise, who can question That
hey ought to arise, who shall dispute?
They are demanded, and the demand in
politics as well as political economy, is al
ways supplied, and the partisans who are
irst to rail at the deductions of science will
presently forget their foolishness and claim
o have invited the situation and to have
)atent right on the principles of the party TO