The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-28
The Political sitnntinn.


The address Of President johnson 10 the
soathern delegation, ths action.of the Mas
saehusetts Republican Convention, and the
utterances Of the sO-ealled radical press and
orators, within the past two weeks, indisate
very clearly q divergence Of views between
She executive and the more active-and, we
may add, 0nscientious-members Of his OWL
party ar. johnson has made cut his pro
/ gramne for the restoration Of the Souther.5
states, (which does not adisit Of any inter
serence with those States on thesubiect ii
equal suGrage between the whites and
blacks. he refuses peremtorily 70 interfere
ia any way with the action Of he S0rf;hern
! people so far as regards self eovernmept.
Il Is further stated, and very generally be-
LEVIED, that the President agrees with the
late Senator Douglas, that this is exclusive
f'white man's government" and that he
has no sympathy with, and viii give no
eountensnee tos any measure which viii
make the black man the political equal Of
the white. This position is beginning 10 be
very well understood by the leaders Of Mr..
Johnson's own party, and Il occasions them
no small embarrassment. They are honestly
desirous Of aiding him in the difficult task
he has before him but, as their public de
llverances show, they believe that, to settle
this matter Of the restoration of the South
ern States so that it viii stay settled, the
block man must have the same political
privileges as the white, and that he shonld
be his equal in the eye Of the law. They
do not even demand universal suffrage;
only equal suffrage for blacks and whites
There are, 1t is true, number Of active,
earnest men in the Republican party who.
believe in system eff general eonhscation,
and the remsndiDg back Of the Southern
States to a territorial condition. These are
represented By Mr.. Thaddsus Stevens how
strong they may be it viii be impossible 10
say until the meeting Of Congress; but We
do not believe that they rep esent the ave
rage sentiment Of the Republican masses.
Ii is TO the credit Of the Massachusetts
Republicans that they have realized the
delieacy Of the political situation, and have
drawn up a platform which betrays rare
political sagacity in its construction. With
some notifications, II would serve as the
platform Of the New York Union party.
The effect Of this carefully and wisely
worded series Of resolutions was somewhat
marred by the speeches Of Senator Sumner
and General Butler, presenting views which
made apparent the wide difference there il
between those they represent and the views
held by President johnson. Il seems in
eyita5le that this question Of reconstruction
will lead to a reorganization Of parties,
probably during the next session Of Con-
gross. Inc very STRIKING cnange Of base
effected by the Democrats at the Albany
Convention the boldness with which they
adopted 8 new political platform for the
party, and the vigor with which they are
pursuing the canvass in this State show that
they have determined 10 place themselves
in accord with President johnson, and that
looking 70 future eyentualities, they hope to
form a controlling part of the coming ad-
ministratiOn party. The contest in the State
Of New York viii probably determine
whether the Democratic party, headed BY
Dean Richmond, or the Union party, con
trolled by Thurlow Weed and other friends
Of Secretary Seward, will be chosen by the
President 10 reOrganize his ADMINISTRATION
party. There is not likely TO be any change
IN the cabinet for some time 10 come, for
Mr.. johnson could not afford to add the
friends Of his yet powerful ministers to the
discontinued elements Of the Republican
party, until his own policy had developed
political organization competent 10 sustain
him in all his public measures. The con-
test IN this State, therefore, will attract
widespread attention throughout the coun-
try, as it viii indicate, in part, the men
under whom the administration party is to
be reorganized.-R0uHd Table.