Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-23
SECURITY FOR THE FUTURE. =

SECURITY FOR THE FUTURE
The Radical speech-makers in Congress
| and their followers in the States, JUSTLY
their bitter and revengeful course toward
the South, simply on the ground that it i
necessary to secure the country against future
rebellions. The current political literature
Of the times will be searched in vain fol
any other reason, with the possible exception
that it is desirable and polite to punish
those most conspicuously engaged in the late
conflict on the part Of the South. Twenty
years from now this will be held as the veri
est nonsense, even in this country.
Under the theory which finally prevailed,
on the 4th Of March 1861, there were but
two questions presented for decision
First, was secession, or separation, or revo-
luton justified by our history, CONSTITUTE on
and the laws then existing? If not, the
next question was whether, under all the
circumstances, it was expedient and proper
that the Government should undertake to
assert and establish its authority over the
revolutionary or seeding part of the popu-
lation by force Of arms The first was de-
cided in the negative and the second in the
affirmative Hence the war.
Avowedly the war was waged on the part
Of the United States TO preserve the Govern
ment as it was at its inception. On the part
Of the DISCONTINUED, seeding orrevolutionary
portion Of the population, it was wagcd for
separate independence. The former pre-
vailed, and the latter submitted to the de-
cision, as a matter of course-and there the
questions were definitely settled
This result presented two other questions
and only two, for the decision Of the
authorities of the United States: LIST. What
punishment shall be inflicted upon those
who haveresisted our authority? 2nd. What
security shall be exacted from the late NAL
contents to avoid future civil commotion,
violence and war, from similar or dissimi-
lar causes?
In the decision Of the first of this series of
problems, the immediate cause of the war
was bliterated-domestic slavery-and can
never arise again as a subject of strife. In
the latter, the answer, under any other gov
crnment but our own, would have presented
no difficulty. 1t would have been expressed
somewhat in this wise:
lst. Try the supposed guilty parties under
the laws existing at the time the oflense was
committed, or extend the usual amnesty, ac-
cording as public justice ana policy de-
manded ID. Supply all deficiencies in the
law, as developed by this proceeding, to Sc
cure the coveted security for the future. If
neither of these should be considered suf-
ficient or proper, then other and most i'm
portant questions would arise which will be
stated by the future philosophic historian
somewhat thus:
If the Constitution and laws of the United
States after a trial Of more than eighty
years, were found to be wholly unsuited to
their object-if they led to chickering's and
strife, first in words and legislative enact
ments, and then TO the bloodiest Of civil wars
known to the history Of the human race, in
which both parties suffered, if not equally,
common safety required thea
either TO correct their system, or adopt new
form of government entire If the defect
was organic then the whole people should
be called together, As freemen, in some ap-
form, to decide upon the future
form and powers of govern
nent. If the experiment of a system where
in the people should be free and equal in
political power and governed by the same
laws applicable alike 10 all, this step would
be absolutely necessary. II, on the contrary,
il was determined that the Government
should undergo a radical change without re-
gard to the wishes of the people, then there
would ensue, er HoceSitdte rel, a mere scram-
BILE for the position of chief ruler or despot.
The workers for this distinction would, Of
course, sickle at nothing to accomplish it
and the people would be thrown on the de-
lensivc, charged only with protecting their
own rights"
What may be the facts in these premises,
TO be recorded by such historian, remains
10 be seen. But il IS reasonably certain,
that every departure from the principles
here laid down will bring further disagree.
ment and troublc-not more from one local.
ty than another-and that the true prob
lem for the people Of the United States to
solve now, is, whether a Government based
upon the principle Of representative De
nocracy is practicable under existing con.
iitions; OF whether a change is necessary
The President clings to the idea of a free
and equal constitutional Democracy
opponents do not but what other form they
really desire, or whether they know precise.
y what they want beyond present power, is
left wholly in doubt.