The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-11-17
The Late Elections a Lesson to the
South.

it behooves them 10 mark we'll the NoTther
will, As evInced in the late elections. II
: Democratic party, IS Of old, sets itselfup /
their particular friend. Its manner Of doin
this was different in different Ststss. I
. Pennsylvania, its convention resolution
, deplored the war and denounced the name
. in which il was prosecuted BY the Govern
ment. In New Jersey, the main rally wa
made sgainst the Constitutional Amendmeu
, interdicting slavery. In New York. th
csnvsss w.s conducted chiefly on a clair
o. special approval Of the policy Of Presideu
johnson, which was falsely represented {
have for its end an immediate and uacondi
tional restoration Of the Southern States. II
every Northern State where an election ha
been held, the Democratic party has takel
a position that il believed 10 be specially
agreeable TO the South. 1t has everywher
been beaten. Il has been thrown deepe
into the dust even than when striving 9,
hamper the Government in the war. In
every Stale, from Maine, on the Atlantic, &
Oregon, on the Pacific, this party, which
has tried to be the special patron Of tbs
South, now lies prostrafe and powerless
II would be the greatest Of errors 10 takl
TINS new Democratic overthrow ss evidences
OF continued Nesthern hostility = The seulh
No such Northern feeling exists, 70 any ap-
preciable extent. Hardly a Northern nsn
can be found Who does not wish well 70 the
South; hardly a msn who would not TO-
morrow, II he could, secure to the South ths
fullest measure Of true prosperity. Nobody
wishes to keep the South down, in mere ma
| hgnity. The war has left beaind no vim
dietiveness, no raneor. The last trace Of M
| feeling has disappeared in the splend0r Of
the national triumph. The spirit OF the
hour everywhere is that Of reconciliation
/ Not only the generous spirit due to fellow
/ eountrymen, but every material interest
urges that Northern people should seek the
| speediest redemption Of the South from its
ealamites- Southern staples are Of vast
consequence % Northern commerce, and to
the regulation Of the exchanges with Eu-
rope. Every taxpayer in the North has
ditect personal interest in the earliest re5to-
ration Of Southern thrift, whereby the great
burden Of the national debt may Be hight
ened- 1t was not because the Democratic
party prom sed 70 redeem the South that il
has been ovsrthrown, but because its spirit
and policy, past and present are at v. r
anee with the security and Ne honor Of the
country.
The same Irresistible Northern majority
which maintained the war, have an immov-
able determination that the peace they have
conquered shali be solid, aud free from
every stain Of dishonor. They know that
there would be great danger OF failure in
TINS, were the Southern States left absolute
ly 10 their own bent, in coming back to their
old places They recognize that every sue
cesstul war, like the decision Of every other
ultimate appeal, involves its appropriate
consequences. They mean that the legiti-
mate consequences Of overwhelming this |
rebe lion shall have their full eonsumma- !
ton.
To this end, they are determined, iirst, /
that slavery, the cause OF the rebellion, 1
shall be snnihilsted beyond all possibility /
OF a future revival in sny form. Il IS not |
enough that the lately rsbelious States
abolish the institution in their present State
conventions, inasmuch as that action is no
bar against new constitutions at some future
time renewing the servitude Of the African
race. The Northern people do not intend
10 leave this matter 10 lhe discretion Of the /
present or any future generation Of south
erners. They will understand that there
are tens Of thousands in the old slave States
who are longing for the old order Of things,
and that there are hundreds Of thousands
whose faith in the practicability Of free Arr
can labor is but feeble and quite unequal 10
any Of the serious difficulties that may 0ccur.
There can be no ab,oluts assurance that,
three or i've years hence, the Southern Leg
# free from ali external re -trcint,
devise ard establish new relations between
the races, which would make an eni Of the
freedom now gained by the weaker race.
The Northern people intend 70 impose that
external restraint by en- amendment Of the
Federal Constitution prohibiting slavery
forever, and making it the duty Of the ma
tiOnal governments 70 take care that this prsi-
hibition is respected. The Northern States
have already ratified that amendment. OH
er rathcations are required. Until they are
given, it must be assumed that the Southern
States are unwilling to debsr themselves
permanently from reviving involuntary
8ervitude- Therefore there can be no resto-
ration until this guarantee is furnished.
So there must be some substantial repudi-
alton of the fatal doctrine Of secession. come
Of the SoHtaerH States which attempted to
5ecede, have shown a virtual adherence 70
The Theoretical right Of secession, by simply
repeating their "Ordiuance Of secession, " a.
they would any legislative enactment that
had been found inexpedient. They have
refused to declare it contrary 10 the Federal
Constitution, and therefore absolutely, G5
Hitio, null and void. There are States
which hold that the debts contracted TO
fight the Federal Government have every
essential Of legal validity, and that taxes
must be levied upon al persons within their
limits, loyal and disloyal, to satisfy the
'laims thus entailed by what the national
government treats as treason. Nov, al
though a formal renuneiation OF the dogma
lf the right Of secession might not be in
listed upon, no act Of these Southern con
ysntious which implies the existence Of that
right can be accepted. The conventions
Ehieh adopt such measures must be eousid-
sred as representing a people still sloydl
and still unfit 10 be restored to their old
re atoms.
So there must be some substantial earnest
yiven that the race which has been emanci-
Dsted by the act Of the nstional Government
will be protected in their great national
lights OF person and property. The infa-
nous black code must be swept out Of exist
,nce 70 the last atom. Laws must be estsb-
ishec calculated to ra.se the eolored man
% full manhood instead Of forcing him down
o the level ofa brute The Southern Stales
nay rely upon it that they viii not be put
q possession Of the unlimited control Of the
resdmen until they prove that they intend
10 be riend and not persecute, to benefit and
lot injure- No such prOofhas yet been given.
We trust that the Legislatures, which will
loon assemble, will do all that can reasona-
bly, be required Of them in this respect. Bus
here can be no taking for granted in ad-
rance. The responsibilities Of the national
government, the protector Of these helpless
millions, are too solemn 20 be shifted over
o the lately rsbelious States without posi-
i've certainly that they viii be faithfully
fulfilled.
These are the purposas Of the Northern
people, and Of the administration 70 which
hey have sgain, with such emphasis, re
pledged their support. They are warranted
BY every consideration Of patriotism and
ustice The Southern people cannot too
ioon recognizs and conform TO them Let
he false lights Of the Democratic party be
rested with contempt. They beguiied be-
ore the rebellioa, as the South has found 20
T. cost. They are equally deceptive now
rks free and loyal ,Pirit Of the land will
'ule the land as surely a. the sun shall rule
he dsy.--N. j. Times.