The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-12


Letter from sIr. PendietOn.
CNuSSATI, Dec. 2S, 1865.
Safbauisi B. hIsads. Esq.. winehesser. Va.
NJ DKAR SR-Your letter has JUS
come to hand. l have been absent
from the city q good deal lately, anC
this may account for the delay in pssi
the mails must answer for the rest
i regret that l have not q compila
ton OF the laws Of Indiana and Illinois
to send you. ] am not familiar with
their provisions in relation 70 negroes
resident in those States, but l have an
impression they are more stringent
than those of OHIO.
Indeed in this State the negro enjoys
practically all civil rights. He may
scquire and hold property, make con
tracts, sue and be sued, and give testi-
mony IN all courts, and in sill cases. In
some parts Of the State public schools
for the edaeation Of colorsd children
are established suadsF che authority OF
law; and are supported by the taxes
levied on the property Of all the people
of the State, and appOrtioned pro rata
according to the enumeration of white
and colored children. The laws which
created disabilities on the part of ne
groes in respect Of these civil rights,
were repealed in lS4S, after 4 contest
quite memorable in the history of the
State. Their repeal was looked upon
with great disfavor by a large portion
of the people, IS dangerous innova-
ton upon 8 Just and well settled poll
ey, and q vote in that direction con-
signed many members Ofthe Legislature
to the reposes private life But l am
notaWRre that any evil results justified
these apprehensions, or that any effort
Was ever made TO reimpose the disa~
bilities. On the contrary, the new poll
cy, if | may call it so, has been found
50 consistent with justice to the ne
groes, and with the interests Of the
whites, that No One-certainly no party
lin Ohio, would be willing to sban-
don it
Ny observation Of the effect Of such
q policy has been limited to Ohio [
am well aware that q policy well suited
number and generally Of good charac-
ter, might be disastrous in State where
the negroes are very numerous and
generally very ignorant and degraded.
am also fully aware that 3 condition
of society, which has existed for cen
tt1ries, leaves deep impressions on the
habits, modes of thought, and charac~
ter of q people, and that it is always
unpleasant and frequently unsafe to
disregard them. History teaches, in
every psg-, that sudden and radical
changes, which at once shock deeply
rooted prejudices and go too far, even
in right direction, are followed by
reaction, which leaves the latter state
worse than the first The wisdom and
benefcence Of any change depend upon
its entire fitness in time, and manner,
and degree, to the condition of the
people upon whom it operates.
The questions relating to the status
of lis inhabitants belong solely to each
State. They lie within the domain OF
reserved rights upon which neither the
Federal Government nor the other
States can lawfully enter.
These considerations constrain me to
sneak with difidence of the proper
course to be pursued az this time by
the Southern Ststes in relation to their
freedmen. That it ought to be humane,
apd in conformity with their changed
condition, and calculated to give free
scope to whatever capacity for improve
meat they may possess, do not doubt.
Whatever may have been expedient or
necessary in q society where the condi-
ton of slavery exists, it does seem to
me that Justice and good policy alike
require that ample protection should
be assured to the person and property
of the negro wherever he is recognized
as a freeman. | mean that protec-
ton. and that sense of protection, which
lust laws, impsrtislly administered,
give TO the person and property OF the
white man. The condition of freedom
6eprives the negro Of that care and
nrotection which the affection and IN
terest of his master assured to him. and
imposes upon him the duty to support
binlself and his family. The full en-
;ovrnent of the fruits of his labor-the
right TO acquire and hold property, TO
make and enforce cOntrscts-ls essen
tisl 10 the performance of this duty.
The society which imposes the duty
should guarantee the protection. This
is simple justice to the negro. be-
lieve that il will at the same time pro
mote the peace and good order of soci-
ety. and the pleasant and profitable
connection Of the two races in their
new relation TO each other
/ notice what you say in reference
10 the proposition to permit negroes to
testify. Many judiciOus persons agree
with the opinion you express, but my
observation and experience have con
yinced me that the true rule is 10 per
nit all persons to testify, leaving TO the
Judge or the Jury the question of their
such, with very incOnside
rsble exceptions, has been the lsw Of
Ohio for ten years, and 1t has been at
tended with good results.
/ agree with you that the Democratic
party should be st once organized in
the Southern States, and there can be
no better basis than the one yeu pro |
pose of demanding from every party, !
section and person, in Office and out of |
Office. 3 strict and faithful observance |
of the Constitution. The teachings of |
the fsthsrs as TO the true construction |
of that instrument constitute the car
dinal principles Of the party. They |
are 60 applicable in the changed oondi- |
ton of society in the seeded States As
thew ever were. They viii be applica- 4
bic as long as the government Is Re, I
publican, and the Union Is composed I
Of States. as long as questions of finance /
and the relation Of government TO la
Dor, and the true office of legislation /
agitats the public mind Indeed, in /
these days, when the driftings toward I
consolidation are SO manifest, and the 4
tendency 10 hold sacred the will Of I
mere majorities is 30 great, they are /
more Important than ever. They should I
be asserted constantly and boldly, but !
moderntely and prudently, lest they |
be borne down in The rush Of opinion /
which follows so strongly in the line Of 1
the successes Of the military oower
/ wish you every success in your effort !
70 this end, and thanking yoV for the |
friendly sentiments towards myself !
psrsonElly, which you have expressed I
in your letter,
| am, very respectfully,
Yeur obedient servant,
6EoRsE H. PKSDLEroS. /
-s~~--
A f,ossoffdated Repuhlie.