Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1865-07-28
Address to the Democratic Party

3D. a
The Chairman Of the Democratic Resident Com,
mittee at Washington, has issued an address to the
Democracy of the United States, from which the
following is an extract: iu
"And now we stand at the commencement of a
new political era. Old things have passed away
Let the dead bury their Dead while we turn our
thoughts to the living and to the future. Whatever
we may thinko of accomplished facts they must re-
ceive our acquiescene. Let us then accommodate
ourselves to what is inevitable and direct efforts
into channels where they An still produce useful
results I,s.. t...--..7 --s.-,.r
Those who have been foremost in urging on this
war of emancipation now insist that the new freed
men shall at once be inadeo political equals. To
this we are unitedly and unalterably opposed not
only because rs class they are not so educated as
to qualify them for the exercise of the important
and delicate rights of an American citizen-what-
ever might be their natural capacitiesbut for the
still stronger reason thatawe believe the African to
be by nature greatly inferior to the Caucasian. To
amalgamate or to intermingle politically would be
to lower the standard of average human intelligence
in this country, either individually or collectively
Even with that standard undebased there are grave
doubts whetherw we are capable Of mainaing, a pop
ular government like our own. How then will it
be when we shall have infused an inferior element
into the body polite, and our European civilization
and scale Of understanding shall have become adul
terated with those of Africa or Asia3651I
We can, therefore, all unite in maintaining that
this is white mans government which must be
preserved by preserving undiminished the standard
of popular intelligence and eapaety--that the
negro like the Chinese is foreign element which
cannot be successfully assimilatedthat he is mere
ly here az school, where he should be kindly treated
and instructed, and that when his education is COM
pleted, he may, in some congenal situation, seek
his own happiness in his own way. But let us
ctnodi1v md Mutually tho cnnnniu nlinu nf
what God and nature have so unnIstakahly' y'intend-
ed to preserve separate and distinct
Again, they who assume to lead the party which
triumped at the last election seem bent upon hold
ing the late revolted States in attitude Of perma-
nent subjugation. While they have urged, at any
cost of wealth, or blood, or principle the sudden
emancipation of individuals who had all their lives
been in bondage, they would reduce whole commu-
mites that were once free and equal to ourselves
into a state Of subjugation and slavery. To this
also we can all unite in unchangeable opposition.
We believe that the Federal Government cannot
exist while portion of the States which compose
it are free and another portion enslaved. Freedom
or slavery must be the portion Of ALL The erring
members of our political family are now anxious to
resume their wonted, places in the sacred circle.
Let them be welcomed as was the prodiga son in
the parable, and received back with all their rights
and privileges unabridged. Let the prompting of
resentment and revenge meet no favor from those
who may perhaps feel that they need some forgive
ness themselves. Let statesmanship and not child
ish animOsity control our conduct
The exhibition Of feeling Of federation and
charity is no novelty even in our own history Its
blessed effects have in principles been exhibited in
the organization Of our Government, and in its sue
cessful administration through all the palmy days of
the republic 1t would have preserved us from the
tragic exhibitions Of the last four years 1t can
even yet heal the wounds that have been inflicted,
and replace us in our career of unrvaed prosperity
and freedom and splendor. '-
Nor have we to labor and wait for years before
the harvest will commence. The means are already
provided which promise immediate success Com
binations of circumstances seem to have been pro-
vidcntially prepared to suit our purposes. The
800 600 voters who constituted the effective
strength of the great conservative host at the last
election, and which would even then have been
triumphant but for extraneous influences are still
organized and ready TO ac.0 Add to these the num-
bers then estranged by causes now obsolete, and
there can be. doubt that on the issues pre-
sentej the majority will be Overwhelmingly with
us. sai-..l.-.. .-T '
| But on these stupendous Issues We shall be sure
Of the cordial sympathy and sup, eof the great
body of the people of the South. Their almost un
anmous aid can be implcitely relied upon swell
ing our numbers TO as great a majority as is desi
rable The two houses of Congress will be moved
by the popular impulse, they will at least soor
give way before the popular will.p i -ia
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