The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-12
A Military View of The Peace PTOs
ciamatiOn.
A.. ,,4 AJovy


The Presidential proclamation that peace
exists within our borders, has made less
stir than so significant political document
dsseryes. The result is due partly 10 its
issue on the very day of the Connecticut
election, SO that it was eclipsed, next morn
ing. bv the figures which told the story Of
the ali-absorbing ballot. The news from
Hartford last tuesday, was far more i'm
portant than any news from Washington.
The result is partly due, also, to the intense
partisan feeling which has unfortunately
sprung up about the Executive, and which
prevents either its friends or its enemies
from Judging it without feeling. The one
,,ortv gives every Presidential utterance It's
confGSuce and sympathy, the other views
all with anxiety, apprehension, and dis
trust. A painful reflection must have
struck many q citizen upon the contrast be-
tween the public reception OF this message
of peace, and that one OF war Whlch hVe
wears ago the late President issued. That
one rallied every loyal State in enthusiastic
support, and struck dismsy 70 every disloy-
Al one. This divides the loyal States into
two very nearly equal parties. One OF them
qives the message hearty approval, the
other finds it "premsture' OF ''embarrass-
inc 10 the legislation of Congress" Yet,
MI. Lincoln's proclamation contained the
announcement Of civil and exhaustlng war,
while this one brings assurance Of ever
grateful peace.
The truth is, that this official paper is
commonly, and, perhaps, wisely, regarded
ON all hands as legal tormallty, and as
really being the final and necessary step IN
Mr. Johps0n's method Of reconstruction.
THE historical fact that the country is tran
1niI Is. of course, twelyemonth old-Old-
~ even than the disbanding Of Kirby
smith's army. But some official declsra-
tio, Is obviously necessary. With regard
a the propTioty Of Withdrawing the
tr,ons ron, the South and the re-
moysl of martial !eg, there is, as we all
tnoy. a wide difference q oPiElop' NO
man saws the President with perfect
truth, "can at once "support my policy ana
that of Congress" This fact has gwen the
proclamation Of peace somewhat o. az ar
eumentative tone, and the idea IS carel3lIy
worked out that the work Of the troops at
the South is accomplished.
The great political question OF the hour
IA as 10 whether Nation has or has not pur-
tbe great constitutional measure of restor
;ns fo its rebellous subjects those local pri-
,iieges which are commonly called "State
rirbfs " and which il is conceded, as his
to7icsl fact. that they resigned five years
ogo But whatever view may be taken on
t6s subiect. we think It must be admitted
on .U hands. that the work OF reconstrue-
s;on ;tssIf so far as the President il con
,,o-re3 ia scoomplished. He formally alb
5;cetes ssthe var power" by which he has
governed the South during the past year
He p-onounces the condition Of that section
40 renovated, its rights and privileges go re-
susoitsted, that henceforth there IS 10 place
f,- military governance. In the minds o.
some persons there viii be dlihculty in
seeing when ana how this restoration ol
state authority took place. But, legally OF
illegally, loosely or methodioally, on con
stit9tional principle or on guess work, the
- Il reqarded as done. There has been
much empiricism by many p9olie men y
~ treatment of this question Of reconstruc-
-, There has been greedy scramble TO
-, a., b,r,r and the selfish advancement
~ il Inv mep on the one hand who were Toe
concsitsd 10 see their ignorance OF the sub
;eet and bv men, on the ether, VINO know-
ipg perfecily well they were Incompetent
ouecks. were vet too jealous and gTeeuy .
allow snybody but themselves 70 oPeiA'S'
The GREAT central fact, then, Wnlcn i
brought out bv this official proclamation o.
peGse--for to us il is something more 'nSu
a formality-is the light il sheds on th'
conduct Of National affairs N the l-'l,e
Heuceiorth, the President Will treaL tGy p;
southern States ss restored 70 ther iqu
privileges ia law, and, so far as be car es
tsblish il, 10 ali their privileges in tact
ne will withdraw eli the troops, exeepl
the Customary garrisons, from Southern
states. he Will restore the hsbess corpus
He will abolish marital law. lie viii eess'
n hermit military tribunals, sRj will gy'
full scope % the ordinary tribunals. "
one word, he abaud0ns whatever power b
nav have once had for the direct eontroi o
he southern Btstes. This is not all. D
nav be confidently predicted that, not only
vii he Army be Withdrawn st 0nee, enc
no troops mustered out q service, but IL
s,othefu departments viii underl
,,arked consolidation. There will no longe
be needed a department and distinct head
ounrters and Official branches in each State
! On the peace theory. This reduction nal
/ be looked fos al any day
With his present We've, alec, me rresi-
Seut. having accomplished his oSn positiY'
| ~s-t in the work Of roconstruction, VIII o
: soarse, aoE SET himself 10 negstiyely eu