Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-03

Let the people of the South then, asser
and maintain their manhood, even in tn,
present dark and humiliating hour. The,
have vindicated it upon every battlefield
from Gettysburg to Mansfield. Millions o
noble hearts at the North sympathize in theil
sufferings, and mock the delusion which
would treat them as conquered and en-
shaved people. They have won the admira-
ton of mankind by their proves and theil
heroic fortitude. They yielded. in the Ian
guage of their great leader, ito superior
numbers and TO superior resources" In IL,
rery act Of gracefully yieldirg the contest, ate,
so grand and magnificent a struggle, they kay,
made Themselves o0rthyof the fellowship Of princes
| They have become acquainted with grief and
suffering in all its forms, and have been tried
and chastened in the crucible of afIiiction.
Perhaps in the end it may be apparent to all
that God has scourged US for our own good
Who can foreshadow the destiny Of the
American people, if little men could cease
to rule in their Senates and their councils.
Human progress springs often from the
womb of revolution. To change darkness
to light, it must be burned with fire. The
volcano, despite its terrors, and commissions,
nevertheless elects from its burning bosom
the brightest of lights and the rarest OF
| jewels.
The people of the South have every thing
to gain, then, by patience, by good conduct,
and by perfect obedience to the laws of the
land. But they can exercise all these vir-
tues without the slightest discount upon
their dignity or manhood. Now that
Returning justice. rears aloit her scales.
the way is open through the medium Of the
Courts for the redress of every grievance, and
for the vindication of life liberty and pro-
perty. -s.s
In submitting my views, gentlemen, upon
the policy of Andrew johnson, | do not wish
to be understood as approving all his public
acts. His position as President at such
time as this is one of the greatest trial and
difficulty. HIS programme Of DEMONSTRATION Is
immense IN is scope and comprehension. Con-
hicts of which we know nothing are con-
stantly confronting him-and imperiously
demanding a line of conduct on his part,
which may seem to us inexplicable, and ir-
reconcilable with the lofty bearing he has
maintained in the general task of concilia-
ton. But let us not judge him harshly I'M
til his grand enterprise is perfected. In the
main, he has thus far stood upon the bull
wark of the Constitution of our fathers. As
long as he makes that mdgno ehdrta the lamp
of his counsels, neither the North nor the
South have anything to fear, but everything
to hope.
Pardon the great length to which have
almost uneonsciously extended this letter.
In the success of Andrew Johnson's policy |
feel most intense interest. | want to see
the Union restored de fdctO as well as de jare,
in deed and in feeling, as well as in law. l
was opposed in the beginning to its disrup-
tion-but when war came | took the side of
my own household gods-and for four
years have prayed through glory and through
gloom for the success of the Southern arms.
In this | felt that was right | believe so
yet. 1t was matter of paramount feeling
and family affection" about which wecould
not reason, and the abstract question of the
rights and soyereignties of States did not en-
ter into my brief deliberations as to which
side would spouse in that fight. Now,
that we are overcome, am quite as earnest
in my aspirations for the ancient order of
things. And to that cause, of such infinite
moment to mankind, and especially to the
American people, l am willing, with equal
zeal and sincerity, to dedicate my head, my
heart and my breast.
/ have the honor to be, with great respect,
Truly yours, JOHN l.. I. SNEED.