Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-17
MEMPHIS MERCHANTS BECOME
POLITICIANS.
From the Memphis Argus. ]

4
From the Memphis Argus,l
There is a commercial necessity for tie
overthrow of Radicalism in Tennessee and
throughout the Union. The meeting to
morrow has a practical monetary signif.
canoe. Not only did Radicalism level a
death blow at the local prosperity Of Tennes-
see by revenue systems which it devised, but
its hostility to all measures of pacifcation,
its violence, reckless threats, assumption OF
unauthorized power, designation Of the
Constitution, all these measures of Radical
ism are fatal to commercial prosperity. The
very foundations of public confidence are
broken up. If there be those who would
appreciate the excellence of Radicalism, let
them enter marts Of trade, and inquire OF
merchants why changes so disastrous have
supervened since Congress met? Why was
that future so bright, which, becoming the
present, is overshadowed by gloom? Why
have prices declined in nearly all staple
commodities? Why do tradesmen contemp-
late the future with apprehensions of danger?
Why has Memphis ceased TO buy goods in
| New York?
Let Radicalism tell how it has made war
upon the wise, liberal and just administra-
tion Of President johnson. Let it confess
its enormities sought TO be practised in
Nashville; how its exponents represented
this people TO be faithless to the Union, re-
bellious in spirit, and actually coneocting
another Confederacy through another war.
| Even Gen. Thomas has been furnished with
| letters assuring him thet danger lurked be-
meath all this devotion to business, all assev-
erations of assent to the DEGREES Of the bay
onet He deems garrisons essential TO peace
and order and good government in Tennes-
see, while we know that these agencies pro-
woke, if anything could, the very evils he
would extirpate When this Congress con-
vened the country was full of hope and con-
fdence. Practical business men appreciated
! the purposes and commended the policy of
| the President. They saw how trade would
revive and industry be restored. Their con-
| fidence in the future was limitless. Never
before was there such demandupon North
ern merchants and manufacturers.
In this fact was demonstrated the extinc-
ton Of practical sectional animosities.
Southern people were half clad, hatless and
barefoot Cotton that was not stolen, by
armies Of thieves in and out of office, was
hurried to market. Trade was more vigor-
Gus and commerce more profitable than ever
before. Peace was deemed a fixed fact.
Liberty and law were at once to supplant
the will of military coxcombs many, as dis
honest as incapable. Relieved from the
pressure of their denomination, Memphis
resumed its wonted activity. Never were
the streets Of the city so crowded, never was
business as profitable.
Meanwhile, Radicalism at Nashville had
given a terrible blow 20 our prosperity by
driving trade to remoter cities. Its purpose
was 10 impoverish Nashville and Memphis.
Their enormities, as rebellious cities, de-
manded that they should be impoverished,
humiliated. Hence the two per cent tax
law which affects peculiarly mercantile
classes.
Despite of this indefensible legislation,
Memphis prospered and grew apace. Pop
ulation hurried hither from North and
South The odious law would surely be
repealed; no one doubted this. Confessedly
unjust, unequal and indefensible in courts
of justice, a measure of hostility and not of
beniicence to the people, none doubted its
speedy abrogation. Fletcherized Radical
ism, inspired by passions which stimulate
Stevens, so far from resembling the infamous
act of wrong and oppression, holds it over
us IN fcTTOrem. We are deliberately told
that If we refuse to surrender to Fletcher
and his coadjutors all rights save those of
living and dying, slaves instead of freemen,
the odious tax law shall be retained upon
the statute books.
Properly did the minority of the Assem-
bly, retire from its deliberations. 1t was the
necessity for this action, and not the resig-
nation of members, which in part begets
evils which all good citizens deplore; which
tradesmen feel; which, at this moment
prosperity in Tennessee.
In its narrow sphere of influence, Radi-
calism in Tennessee accomplished all possi-
bic evils. In very truth, there is much rea-
son to believethat its measures of legislation
were devised in Washington by the Direc.
tory and transmitted to Nashville for enact
ment. Stevens, like the wolf in the fable,
sought pretext to destroy the lamb THAI
drank at the waterbrook of Union, and ex-
rebels were accused of muddying the stream
which ran down from the Federal capital.
Letters are written to General Thomas, tel
ling him Of plots and conspiracies; Grier-
son is deluded and absolutely believes that
the extinct Confederacy, rotten in its grave,
is disturbed by agonies of parturition !;
Brownlow has hisimportant self telegraphed
that his life is threatened-that valuable
thread of life by which the existence of
Tennessee and of the Union is suspended
People see, read, and feel these facts and
simulations of facts, all Of which tend to
disorder, to the creation of despotism, to the
disturbance of peace and insecurity of per-
sonal and political rights.
Public confidence is shocked; commercial
revulsions ensue; New York, the center of
of Continental trade and of an American
financial nervous system is staggered by
blows which Radicalism levels at stability,
order and Constitutional law; Fenianism
threatens, not less than Mexican troubles an
universal war. II is not strange, therefore,
that tradesmen are alarmed; that the farmer
boards his little gains; that he is slow to
provide for a future blaclzened by the shadow
of remorseless hate and despotism. Amer
lean energy stands still, while American
madness raves in Washington and Nashville.
Passion has usurped the throne of statesman
ship; trade, industry, even patriotism feels
the shock, and progress turns its steps back
wards 10 gloomy retreats of madness or de-
spair. There would be little hope for the
country, if johnson lost the helm. The
South should support and sustain him.
Every tradesman should confess his own in
telligence and appreciation of the Presi-
dent by attending TO the meeting tomorrow
afternoon.