Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-10-19
THE AMENDMENTS.

3. t-5 al .l-a d. 49, ~ sFst agE
We regret TO learn that the New
Orleans picayuhe advocates the rati.
fcation Of the pending constitutional
amendments, and that there are, in
other quarters, indications of weak
ness on this point, which betray, too
clearly, the want of that high south
crn tone once the boast of our pco-
pie and the safeguard Of their honor.
The argument relied upon for the
support of SO disgraceful surrender
of Invaluable rights is, that it will
secure southern representation in
Congress and enable us to fight the
Radicals upon that theatre. Even If
this should be the result, we will
have gained nominal representation
at the cost of honor and of rights that
can never be regained. But will it
secure representation p We think
not More than a year ago, we were
told that the ratification by the South,
Of the amendment, then proposed,
would restore us to the Union, with
all the rights pertaining TO- the States
under the provisions of the constitu-
ton. With reckless haste, we seized
the bait, and have gained nothing but
the torture Of the hook, aggravated
by the malicious mapipulations Of
the cruel angler.
What are the guarantees that one
more step down the ladder Of degra
dation will secure the promised boon?
The leading Radicals have repeated,
ly proclaimed, within the few past
weeks, that sothern delegates will not
be admitted to seats in Congress, in
consequence of the ratification of the
amendments, and that nothing short
of negro suffrage and social equal
ity will secure this result. Nor will
this do it if it depends upon the will
of the Radicals who will be content
with nothing less than the political
superiority Of the negroes over the
southern whites andsa system Of con-
6scation and taxation that will reduce
the South TO condition Of impover-
ished and degraded scrfdom worse,
even, than that Of Russia in the worst
days Of its despotic rule. Such a
party can neither be trusted nor con-
ciliatcd and so well were VIC satisfi-
ed Of this, twelve months ago, that
We then urged the South, whilst hon
estly acquiescing in the results Of the
war, to adhere to the policy Of "mas.
terly Inactivity" and to sanction no
proposition that endangered its con :
stitutional rights. Experience has
shown that nothing would have been
lost by such course, and VIC should
have gained, at least, the proud con-
seriousness that we did not forge sin
gle link Of the chain that binds us to
the triumphal car of vindictive,
INSCRIPTIONS and unmanly foe.
But suppose that the ratification
of the amendments should be follow
ed by the admission of southern dele
gates, what will we have gained but
an empty show Of right9 Nothing.
The object Of the Radicals is not to
benefit the negro, but to use him as
an instrument wherewi.h to insult
and oppress the whites and to per,
petuate Radical rule. Power, then,
being their sole object, they will re.
tain it at all hazards, and with an
overwhelming majority in both Hous.
cs, and a test oath to bar the ingress
Of true southern men, who are to be
our Representatives? None butloy,
alists of the Brownlow stripe, will
be admitted to seats, because men Of
u different mould would endanger
the supremacy for which the Radicals
would sacrifice right and justice, hon
or and country: This view of the
subject, strengthened, as il is, by ex.
perience and thorough knowledge
of Radical character, ought to fright
en- every southerner from urging a
dangerous concession Of right that
can bring with it no couterbalancing
good. .
But suppose that the Radicals re-
move these objections by repeating
the test oath and proclaiming the
unrestricted right Of representation,
who will represent us? Not the
chivalrous, heightened and talented
sons of the South who bravely breast
ed the storm of yankee invasion and
pcriled all, save honor, in defense Of
home and liberty. Not the revcred
.nninrs az the Land whn with hold h