The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-02-28
aashrille Aninll.
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY Is. 1866.
TO the citizens Of Rutherford County.

to represent Rutherford county in the Leg
islature, which is coon to assemble undei
the amended Constitution, deem it proper
10 address you through the press, as can
not meet most Of you between this and the
4th Of March. shall feel highly eompli
mented if the people Of the county in which
I have been raised shall rstify the selection
made BY the State Convention. Il would
be fattering to me, and place me under tho
strongest obligations to serve you in thii
crisis zeelously and honestly, if I should
not be able TO serve you with ability. It il
known TO most Of you that never had any
political aspirations. have been content
hitherto to march as a private under the
banner Of the old Wing party. I stood in
1850 where I have ever since stood, upon
the platform Of " the Uniosi, the CoDStitH-
ton, and the Enforcement q tie Laos. "
-Four years have furnished as with terri
bic record, written in bloody lines on the
pages Of the Nations history, q record
bIaclened indsllibly with the crime and
infsmy OF the conspirators who attempted
70 break up this Government.
Old party lines have been oblitersted.
New issues Of vital importance affecting the
peace, security and liberty OF the citizen,
the permanency Of government, and the
prosperity and safety Of the State, are
thrust upon the people by the memorable
logic Of events. These issues must be met.
We must act with reference to things as
they nre-not sc wo would have them.
Facts stare US in the fsce. We must not
close our eyes and refuse to see the changed
condition Of things bought about by war,
because it is UNPLEASANT 20 behold the
change. We would be untrue TO ourselves,
untrue 10 our fathers, and untrue TO those
who are % come after US, if we continue 70
adhere to the cause Of an apparently hope
less rebellion, and by this adherence pro-
long q strife which ia devastating the
country and numbering the rest Of our
young men now in the rebel army. We
would be equally untrue, not to say guilty,
If We fold our arms in moody ind ference
or sullen opposition 20 the effort Of the
friends Of the Government to bring about
the enforcement Of the laws and the resto-
ration Of good order, in the place Of anarchs,
to civil rule in the place Of military gov
eminent. What brought about the war ?
That is not the question. Who is response
bic for the abolition of slavery? We need
not discuss this question. Is it abolished
in Tennessee in point Of fset7 Does any
man in mis- senses dream that the $50 600
negro soldiers now in the army Of the
United States, viii lay down their muskets
and 60 upon oar plantations, and labor for
life under the master or overseer without
If the rebellion has sought
to protect, extend, and Perpetuate the in
stiiution Of slavery, it has been a failure.
II anything was lacking to complete the
destruction Of the institution, it seems that
the rebel House Of Representatives, which
has recently passed q bill to raise and arm
200, 900 negro troops, has determined 10 give
the peculiar Institution the finishing stroke.
Fellow-citizens, we cannot, we must not
close our eyes 10 passing events, and COM
Plicsted facts. We have had enough Of war.
Surely enough blood has been shed in the
rebel cause, a sufficient number of our
young men have been slain on the battle
field and died in hospitals and prisons.
Enough Of ruin and devastation and suffer-
ing has been entailed upon our people by
designing and unprineipled eonspirators.
Fellow-citizens: Let us rise to the height
Of this great question. Let us aid in stop
ping the costly sacrifice, this feast Of blood,
to which leading traitors have invited the
people. Let us assist zeaiously in restoring
the State 20 It's former relations to the Ma
tional Government, 10 the end that we may
be represented in the National councils; have
trade restrictions upon our people removed;
the passport system abolished; robbery and
guerrilaism suPpressedj our State institu-
tions, financial, benevolent, and education
81, foslerej; and the State Of Tennessee
started again in that career Of prosperity
and development which is destined to make
her the wealthieft Of all the central South
orn States. Ia doing this we call the Ten
nesseans who still remain in the rebel
army, and those who are new in Northern
prisons, to their homes, under the protecting
folds OF the old Gag.
Much VIII depend on large vote being
given on the 18Th Of March and I close by
earnestly eHtreating you TO 90 TO the polls
and place Rutherford county where she Of
right ought to stand-the foremost in tho
list Of counties IN the State.
W. Y. ELLIOTT.