The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-07
The Progress OF Reoonstruetion.

Ahe southern Conventions, II they would
secure an early represents ion Of their States
IN congress, should take care 70 leave as
little ground as possible for the opponents
Of that admission to stand upon. 30 solid
ground is now left cave what relates 10 the
freedmen The renewed loyal spirit Of the
the southern people has so distinctly mani.
Tested Itself through these convent rs and
other public channels, that the North can
no longer doubt j., and noae Of ou- repre-
sentatives IN Congress viii seriously ina
pugn IL. The question that will be made is
not whether the late rebels have sincerely
returned 70 their allegiance TO the Govern
ment, but whether they mean 10 do justice
TO that race whom circumstances have made
the wards Of the Government. If il can BE-
shown that no such justice is done or in
tended, the restOra ion Of the Southern
States TO full civil capacity viii be contested
strenUOusly, and, in al likelihood, effectu-
ally. The rehabilitation Of the States in
Wolves remission 10 them Of eli their old
municipal power over all within their linn
its, white and black and the Government
must find some kind Of security in advance,
express o implied, that this power VIII not
be abused TO the harm Of the freedmen.
The denial Of suffrage to the freedmen,
we believe, cannot be made bar to the ad-
mission Of the Southern Representatives, for
the reason that It is no real denial Of justice.
No man, white or black, has title TO a civil
power which he has not the intelligence 10
exercise. The fact that the late slaves Of
the South are in benighted Ignorance cannot
be denied by their best friends. Il is one Of
the sccarsed crimes Of slavery that it kept
them 30. Years viii be required, at best, 20
bring them up to the grade Of intelligence
demanded by such responsibilities as attach
10 the elective franchise. This considers
ton we CHS upon the Northern people with
great force and, even without reference TO
The constitutional difficulties, il disinclines
them TO insist upon the establishments Of
negro suffrage IS a condition precedent 70 re-
insiatement. Il is believed that IN the pres
ent coalition Of the freedmen they can be
secured justice by other methods than by
putting ballots in their hands which they
cannot read. Theref re the denial Of the
suffrage will not, Of itself, be q fatal objec-
ton.
Bat the denial to the freedman Of the
power to testify in court against the white
man, we believe, would be a fatal objection.
Il sirisss not at q mere civil franchise, but
at a natural right-the right Of protecting
life and property. When q white man may
take freedman's life CT property with i'm
punity, II no other white man be present,
the freedman has no security Tor either. We
to consider the continuance Of that mon
ftrous feature Of the black code as proof pos
tive Of g design TO make the iret oman sill
a victim Of all practicable injustice aud OPP
preston, and Therefore proof positive of the
unfitness Of the Sou hern States TO be re-
stored 10 their old power. The Government
has never hesitated to recognize its duties
10 the freedmen in relation TO this crest
point. Il has required all Judicial cases ia
which freedmen are concerned 10 be tried IN
the military courts, and that no distinct on,
founded upon co.or, shall be made an these
urts, ia the re option OF testimony
Whether the Southern people would 80
overcome their old prejudiees and habi rs
70 come up 10 this principle was for a time
doubted
The first convention-that OF Missis ippi
took no action whatever upon the sub ect.
It only passed q general ordinance, deyOlv-
ing upon the Legislators the du of passing
laws necess ary 10 the pro ection Of the freed
men. That might or might not be deemed
70 touch the particular duty Of giving them
a siauding IN court ss witnesses. This in
dehniteness was not favorable sligo. The
second convention, in order Of tims-that Of
Alabama-took a more decided course. II
Suspended all legal disabilities Of the color
ed man 10 testify in court, until the
end OF the session OF the next legisla-
fure, in order 10 give that legislature the
opportunity 10 make the many necessary
a ter lions Of the statute book required by
the change. The convention might have
taken action Of more permanent and per-
emptory character; yet Il committed itself
definitely to the principle. The South Car
olina Convention, If our correspondents not
mistaken, viii make q We further advance
aud come squarely up TO the mark of an un-
qualified and final efacement of all distinc-
ti,n between the races, in respect 10 the
right Of testiiying-
AL this denotes a rapid progression Of
Southern sentiment in the right direction.
Il goes 10 show that every new day helps to
break up the old wayso thinking, ana gives
a clear apprehension Of what is due % the
freedmen. Weexpect 10 see the Legislatures
Of Mississippi and Alabam, which will soon
be elected and convoked, making clean
sgeep OF the old black codes, and giving TO
the blacks substantially the came equality
with he white man before the law, that
prevail in the Northern States. Every
o her uthcrn State, we believe, viii adopt
the seine wise policy, so that when the ques-
lion Of re-sdmusion comes before Congress,
there will be absolutely nothing LEFT 10
make a contest upon, save the one point OF
the Withholding OF the franchise FIR IN he
freedmen. If ID comes 70 merely that, the
struggle will quickly find its issue, and the
Sou hero delegation, probably before The
close of the year, viii ref J the seats which
have been for four Winters standing va
aauf- Ag4r I-oVt Vi4neq