The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-23
91ashrille sAnioll.
NASHVILLE UAION PRINTING CO.,
PUBLISHERS.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY "a, 1861



document distinguished By ability,
dignity and candor. 1t is the produc-
ton Of q man who is ia earnest, who Is
well persuaded that he, is right who
feels snd scoePtsShe responsibility, and
who believes the people sre with him.
Such s paper constrains respect, for it
Is emphasized by power, and it should
receive the cslmest and closest consid-
eration,frOm sll.good and thoughtful cit
izens; for the subject is important and
the times are critical
Certainly We have the highest testi-
mony that the President has acted from
a profound sense of public duty, for the
| bill which ne has vetoed would confer
upon him unexampled powers. Neith-
er the Russian Car nor the Austrian
Emperor rules over the conquered
provinces Of Poland and Of Italy as the
President might rule over the States Of
the South under the provisions Of the
Freedmen's pnresn bill He could fill
those States with his creatures, plant
ing them as thickly as post-ohices, and
support each one with 8 military force.
He declares, however, that the power
which would thus be placed in his
hands is such as ought never to be in
trusted TO any one in time Of peace
and this sturdy rejection, upon princi-
pie, of the sllurements of enchsnced
and almost unbounded authority af.
fords spectacle of sustere republican
virtue, that even the enemies of the
President must admit is exemplary and
admirable
1t is telegraphed from Washington
that much indignation" is felt at the
conduct of the President, and there
are absurd suggestions that he must
be held to have committed an su-
dacity. This comes from the circle
that has assumed to be exclusive in
loyalty, and that some time ago made
proclamation that if the President pre-
sumed to differ with them, he must be
q traitor. The occasion is one of
too much gravity for the discussion
of the issues presented to be permitted
to proceed in the spirit of this vindic-
tive tFihing. At the outset, at least,
let the cries of passionate partisans be
disregsrded by the people. Here and
now, if ever and any where, is ques-
ton to be snalyzed with care and de-
termined upon its merits. The Presi-
dent does not inaugurAte new policy
or advocate one He simply pursues
the even tenor of his way. The last
days Of President Lincoln were, as ia
well known, largely given by him to
reflection, in maturing magnsnimous
policy for the restoration of the Union;
and President johnson has walked
right on the line his predecessor had
traced. His policy was well known on
the first day of this Congress, having
been clearly defined in his proclama-
tions of amnesty, and establishing pro-
visional governments; and the warfare
against him by the Radicals has been
bitter and without intermission, while
he has avoided an outright conflict
with them, as far as possible, consist
ent with decent sense of respect for
himself and his own convictions.
Democrats rejoice over the veto. Of
course they hail with satisfaction every
evidence of the disoOmposure of the
Union party, hoping in its disintegFs>
ton to find the way for themselves to
resume the places OF power. They are
probably acting upon impressions that
are wholly unwsTranted. 1t does not
follow because the President avoids
one extreme that he will rush to the
other. 1t is not needful to be Cop
perhesd if one is not Radical. The
Democratic party has no principles,
and the country will never revolve
around it any more. We are not
aware that any of the old partisan or
carnations are essential to the welfare
of the nation. The people will be di-
vided, as they ought always to be, be-
tween the supporters of the Admins
tration and its opponents. The Presi
dent is not going to the Democrats
They can go to him at their pleasure
National obligations to protect the
Union men Of the South, Of whatever
color, are confessed by all but the
careless or inhumsn. The poorer and
more helpless our friends are in that
particular part of the country, the
more urgent is our duty to befriend
them according to the best of our abih-
". But shall We do it by such meas
ure as that described in the message ?
Is there not q better way
The Freedmen's Bureau is in exis-
tence now, in full force throughout the
South. A mighty and almost irrespon-
sible power is vested in its agents.
In very many places it is sustained by
garrisons of colored troops. And yet
we hear of outrsges upon the persons
and property of the freedmen. The
incapacity of the Bureau system to
watch over four millions of people is
already demonstrated. Gen. Howard
has well said that his is the bureau of
impossibilities. We may multiply
agents, augment their authority, and
increase the military force at their dis
possl, and yet we cannot guarantee to
millions scattered over the South ex
emption from, insult, or immunity from
malicious enmity. There is the terri
BILE antagonism, the ancient prejudice
of race, and the bitterness that rankles
after defeat, that all the beyonets of
all the armies of the Union cannot
overcome. Jackson, the capital of
Mississippi has military garrison and
q supply of agents of the Freedmen's
Bureau, and yet our correspondent at
that point does not assure US of the
happiness of the negroes of the town,
but complains sharply of their Ill
treatment; and so it is in many other
places.
When Beecher indorsed the policy of
President johnson as "spt, fitting and
most wise" he said, in substance, that
all the appliances of power would be
comparatively unavailing for the pro
lection Of the Freedmen, if the good
will of the whites of the South were
wanting. Obtain this good will, snd
the welfare Of both races is secured and
the restoration Of the Union sn accom-
| plished fsct Without it, there is con-
slant trouble, and no adequate remedy
for the grievances of the wesker race.
That We can not reach the desired end
through the merely restrictive and CO.
ercive process, is plain enough to all
who have profted by the lessons of his
/ tory, or who are studiously observant
of the daily experience of the country.
/ The President believes that trustful
and generous policy would be responds
| ed TO gratefully, and have results wins
dicsting its wisdom as q measure of
philanthrophy as we'll a. a proposition
| of craftsmanship. 1t is a misfortune
that the disagreement in sentiment be-
tween the Executive snd Legislative
departments Of the Government, hiss
prevented satisfactory test of the vir-
tue Of msgnanimity in performing the
most difficult task Of restoring the Re-
public, after great civil war, and pro
tecting newly ensncipated race from
those who have Cor generations been
their oppressoTs.
The negroes must learn 10 take care
Of themselves, and the President
is entirely right when he says that they
can attain & condition Of Fespectability
and prosperity only through their own
exsrtions, and the query that be puts
Is most pertinent one, whether the
system proposed by the bin 'will not,
when put into complete operation,
practically transfer the entire care, sup
port and control Of four millions Of
emsncipated slaves to agents, overseers
or task masters, who, appointed at