Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-11-27
Is THERE HOPE FOs THE SOUTH

Post, which was far different in tone and
substance from the homilies of the extreme
Radicals put forward by such as Phillips
and Brute Butler, and correspond editorially
to the spirit that appeared to actuate the
writer of that article, because it offered to
the South a voice in the matters that
estranged from each other the American
people. We this morning lay before our
readers an article from the National Intel
ligencer, stating the position Of Chief JUS
tice Chase, as declared by himself at a
meeting of the Pennsylvania branch of the
"Freedmen's Union Commission" held in
Philadelphia, on Thursday night last, ed
inst
On that occasion the Chief Justice ex-
pressed his conviction that the proposed
constitutional amendments constitute the
most magnanimous offer ever made to q
people so recently engaged in rebellion
But heidi notsay, ifthey were not accepted
and adopted by the Southern people, that
we might expect still more severe terms.
He did not proceed to threaten war and
bloodshed, with the accompaniments Of the
torch and the surveyors chain. He did
not even intimate an impeachment and ar
bitrary removal of the President. On the
contrary, he said, five of the South ''think
there is better mode, more generous
mode, better calculated to secure the peace
and harmony and prosperity of this great
land-let them come forward and propose
It, and the people will listen and judge
He further said 81 know what nation Of
passion and prejudice is; it is violent and
unreasonable, but it is trans;ent--it speedily
passes away" 20 ~ ..ss - Il s@. t-i
This is clear and emphatic indication
that the Chief Justice and those who think
and act with him, are willing to give to the
South voice in this pending settlement.
1t is something that we never had. De-
MED representation in Congress, deprived
of the means of self defence, and misrepre-
scented by the thousand tongues of SANDER
and abuse in every conceivable form, we.
have submitted, as best we might, to the
pittiIess peltings Of the unnatural storm,
powerless to speak or move, if not with in
difference. The submission Of amendments
to the Constitution, coupled with degrad-
ing conditions, has placed us in condition
to speak only in the negative mOnosyllable,
or not to speak at all-threatened at the
same time with the direst Of penalties if we
obeyed the instincts Of our natures, the
teachings of our fathers, and upheld the
primary basis Of the Republican fabric, by
saying, MOI
The utterance of the Chief Justice is rem
dered the more significant, from the fact
that, on the self-same day, there was col
lected at: Philadelphia, eoterie of men and
women, headed by Wendell Phillips who
were promulgating doctrines precisely the
reverse, and endeayoring to inspire spirit
of vengeance towards US that would not
only silence, but utterly consume the South
and the liberties Of the Republic together.
But how, we would ask, is the South to
come forward and propose" the better
mode of settlement If we had our just
representation in Congress we could do so.
1t is true that by gross, palpable and I'M
disguised fraud upon the people of the
State Of Tennessee we have been placed in
the false attitude of indorsing and adopting
the proposed amendments but, for our
present purpose and no further we admit
that we are represented in Congress. But
how is the South to speak? IL Judge
Chase is sincere, why did he not propose
method? Waving this omission, there
is no doubt the South would gladly make
its proposal, if permitted 10 DO SO. 1t will
do so outside of Congress, if " listened to"
not as disloyal rebels" but as friends Of
liberty and constitutional government. a
To test the question thus presented by
Judge Chase, we suggest that the several
States of the South, through their Legisla-
ures, or otherwise appoint delegates to a
conference, or convention to be held in
Washington at an early day after the meet
ing of Congress, 70 make the proposal soli
cited. The delegates should be Representa-
tive men of prudence, wisdom and discre-
tion-whose voice would carry With it the
weight and opinionof the Southern people.
Let the Legislatures now in session move in
the matter, and in other States there may
be such an expression from the press as to
warrant the Governors in making the pro-
posed appointments. This is, in our esti-
nation, the shortest mode of expressing
ourselves, and the most authoritative, out
side of a direct Congressional representa-
ton.
II is the duty of the South to accept any
proposition that may promise speedy and
just solution of the grave questions now
pending. Whatever our future or that of
Of the country may be, we will rOtbe guilt
less if we fail to lend all our strength, and
soceo1 ar-ay,, effort tl,at NAV g,a mazda "a