The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-02-25
For the Nashville Union.
ASuggestlOn to Consider.

suggestion 10 Consider.
Mn EDITOR
On this day the people of Tennessee
have voted upon the constitutional
amendments proposed by the Conven>
ton recently assembled in Nashville,
and ali good men-4l men who are for
law and order--I am sure, sincerely
hope tkat the good anticipated there's
from by the friends of the proposition,
may be realized. In this wish and
hope join heartily, and hope freely;
but in order that the tree that is ex-
pected to bear such golden fruit may
not prove barren, or bear fruit that
shall turn to ashes, it must be well
nurtured by the powers that be, both
civil and military, as well as by all good
citizens The enemy we have most to
fear is the Generalization that exists n
the community, which shows itself ia
The utter disregard Of the command,
Thou shalt not steal 1 care rot
whether the perpetratoF has on blue
coat, gray coat, or coat Of many
colors--or without color. I care net
what he ia alled,-whether scout,
guerrilla, rebel, or by his own pro-
per cognomen Of rogVe-by any and
every name he is the enemy of the
Union-is in these times the enemy Of
mankind; and as such must be treat
ed. You are ready to'say, all agree
that this is the c1trcuho likely to destroy
the fruit-can you give US a remedy {?
am not confident, but I will offer one,
which, if it does no good, it viii at least
90 no harm and in that at least it has
more TO commend it than the nostrums
already administered in this and other
States. 1t is simply this Let the eiti-
zens in each county draw up an agree.
ment in something like this form We
whose names are hereunto subscribed,
are honestly and sincerely opposed to
all irregular warfare, and sincerely de-
sire the restoration Of law and order,
and to promote these ends we solemnly
pledge ourselves to each other, that we
will at all times assist each other in
hunting down and bringing to punish-
ment all thieves, robbers, murderers,
and guerrillas, and we do this without
uniting ourselves with any army or
army movements.
Let this paper be presented to each
citizen of the county by citizen, and
let them have chance to sign it.
and if there be any who do not choose
to. sign it, let there be no threat
against him, for the efficacy Of all
remedies in such cases consists in the
free agency of the man. When this is
done, let one copy be fled with the
Clerk of the county court, and one
with the Military commander of the
nearest post Let each man when he
signs his name, place opposite to it
his civil district. Nine hundred and
ninety-nine out of every thousand viii
sign it; and every man who refuses
votes himself a rogue ard nasrIsrsr
How many will keep the promise
Nine hundred and ninety-e;ght at least,
upon the condition following: When
this paper shall have been thus signed
and deposited, let the commander of
the post endorse upon the back Of it,
will cordially sustain the citizens in
carrying out the within undertaking
and they shall be, in good faith, freely
protected in their lives and liberties as
citizens, and in their property, so long
as they in good faith keep their pro
mise, and until they are convicted Of
violating the same Should they vio-
late, they shall be punished as a court
martial may determine" The chief
efficacy of Mr.. Lincoln's amnesty is
that it is a pardon only so long a. the
beneficiary keeps his obligation So Of
this agreement The citizen gets for
his own good conduct, and for his ef-
forts to find out and apprehend evil
doers, protection for life, liberty and !
Does the government make (
any sacrifice in this Certainly not; it 1
is only what every citizen who behaves
himself has a right 10 demand any .
how. This plan furnishes the comman- (
ders Of outposts with the name and
location Of every citizen in his district
an important desideratum
But enough for the present
kfoRF Avog