Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1865-08-18
DUTY OF THE SOUTH.

The violation of the freedom Of election in Rich
lnond has done much to strengthen in this section
the cause of civil government at the South. The
policy of prevention has been revealed before the
North in actual reality; and, condemned as it is by
The Iost The C0mmereiQb and even1he tme-serg-
ing Herald will, undoubtedly learn in future to
act less violently The contest which the destruc-
tives are still anxious TO maintain against the peo-
pie Of the South, has, in fact, changed its con-
ditions; and every blow which they deal in it
hcnceforth but serves to swell the tide Of popular
reaction The battle is not always with the strong
and will not remain much longer with the faction
in power, provided only that the South show in
peace as she certainly did in war unshripking faith
in her sense of right.
5 The or crriding Of the Richmond election is of
piece with such violcncess that Of the suppression
OF many papers in Georgia. and in North Carolina.
The object in all these cases is 10 break down the
Independent spirit of tho Southern people in the
hope that they viii 60 through the forms Of sfce-
dom in manner to subserye the desperate necessi-
ties of the revolutionary faction that keeps its bands
upon the reius of power.
The desperate necessities Of the lestructivcs seek
10 force the restoration they cannot resist into
the hands of Southern tools of their will. The
perjurers or towards who came to them with lying
declarations Of constant devotion 10 the Union are
therefore, the very men for their purposes. These
"loyal" scoundres, forced upon the acceptance
of the people, the work of restoration" will have
become shorn Of its terrors and the crimes for
which lawless faction stands now trembling in
apprehension of justice, win have become amnes-
tied forever by new lease OF power consequent
on the concession Of negro sufrage .sr
The design Of the faction in office is not more
clear than the duty of the people of the South
Their honor came untarnsled out Of bloody wal: :
let it not now be sullied in Frightening peace
If rights of freeman are placed in their hands, let
them not by oringing to any violence degrade
themselves by exercising those rights otherwise than
with independent spirit of freemen No trim
ming, gentlemen-no shrinking--if you wish to
maintain the level Of your great namel II mif-
tary rule be the form of government thrust upon
you let it be military rule; & popular liberty be
the form, you to it that IL he nothing else If
good aud true men, the best known 10 your con-
sciences for the purpose present themselves to yon
at any election, be sure that no base expediency
tempt you to,vote for any one else II armed vio
lence Rnnul the election and order another, vote
according TO your conscience still for the same men
again, it, on an honest independent reconsideration,
you hold them the best and truest and abest in the
field; but, in any event. for only those men that
you hold TO he the best the truest and the ableSt
If armed power tell you to play at freedom, play
Ito the last as we know, in our soul, you viii,
honestly, Independently
The hour of retribution is not far off Lawless
violence he's had its day, and we approach rapidly
TO that stern justice. The South can afford to
wait; her most pressing duties are, in fact, those
Of material prosperity. Her political fortunes in
her own hands. As solid phalahx she offers 10
party the irresistible power of sixteen States; and
rs the offer must necessarily have forced itself into
the form of practical value before the next Pres-
dental election, she, even though she did not
nO~ enjoy, as she does, the deep sympathy Of
the great party Of reaction here may, therefore,
mistress Of her own fortunes feel perfectly secure
in repelling all the rowbcatings Of power while
she watches and waitsI Courage, Southern broth
ers; courage to spit upon all pleadings Of "ex-
pcdiency" in disregard of the positive dictates oi
your conscience l-Kelo York ReIrs. t