The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-29

]
of Connecticut.
FEILOw-oIT1zEss We, as friends Of
the National Administration and of its
so-cslled LineOln-J ohnson policy,
assembled from various parts of the
/ State, desire to address you upon to-
pics of momentous national con Germ.
We are members of the great Union
party of the Republics party which
by the help of God, carried the flag Of
the Union through the storm of battle,
and sustained it with equal fidelity in
neighborhoOds. towns and cities where
the spirit Of treason lurked il secret
places and manifested itself in party
Organizations.
This Union party now, with its noble
history Of brilliant deeds and self-sa-
crifeing devotion, and even the Union
itself, seem to US in danger of irrepara-
bic damage if not of an absolute dis
ruption and we are prompted by the
love we bear to both to mingle cur
voices with others who are discussing
the great topics of the times, in the
hope that we may contribute something
towards the promotion of the general
welfare" In what we shall say we pro
pose to speak our thoughts freely and
frankly, as the occasion demands, with
malice towards none and becom.
ing charity for all
The struggle for the life of the nation
having been removed from the clash oil
physical forces to the forum of legislaN
ton, it behooVeB every citizen to exam
inc with earnest attention the various
measures proposed for the restoration
of the Union to its full constitutional
vigor, and for the healing of the
wounds which bloody battles and pre-
Vious years of sectional luminosity have
| engendeTed. In the consideration OF
these measures we should never fail to
remember that SLAVERY, the CHIEF
source and cause of this animosity, has
been efectually and forever abolished
If that institution has left behind it in
the regions of its growth and culture
a spirit of cruelty and dislOyslty, it il
only confirmation of the fact which
you have always maintained, that il
was an evil of gigantic dimensions and
far-reaching influence. You are moi
then disappointed if all its effects have
not become Immediately obliterateC
with its overthrow. But the system
itself is destroyed, and it has therefore
no power to combine those elements o.
discord which SO imminently threat
ened the destruction of the Govern
ment
You can therefore afford, in the
present hour, and in all the future, tC
be more hopeful, trustful and .forbear
ing than IN all the past-and to g
further in your efforts TO bind up the
yet bleeding wounds of the South thar
when it stood in armed array. against
you. Then the administration of Pre-
sident Lincoln offered the representa-
tives of the States in revolt theil
places in Congress, with the only condi
ton that their constituents should lay
down their arms, acknowledge theil
obligations to the Government and sup
port the national Constitution. W.
declared through Congress and by Exc
cutive proclamation that the war was
not undertaken for the abolition o
slavery, but only in defence of The
Union. In good faith we are now
bound so stand by these declarations
amt we can do it the moro heartily in
asmuch as slavery in the progress o
the conflict has been effectually de
stroyed The war has also annihilateC
! the sbsurd doctrine of secession, anC
convinced even its most tenacious ad
herents in the South that q State can
: not 90 out of the Union except by sue
cesssul revolution; and no party can liv
at the North that in any form or unde
any guise shall attempt to revive tina
Z exploded fallacy.
The States, then, being in the Union
the queition suggests itself as to tn
manner of their restoration TO thei
practical relations with the Genera
b. Government Before the meeting o
; Congress, the President and his cab
. net had exerted all their executive in
huence in extending existing laws owe
the revolted territory. They had, wit
wonderful success and little violence
established post offices, collected ms
rine and internal revenues, and don,
all they could of right do to complet
governmental operations.
The next great step, which realize
in the highest degree a restored Unior
4 is representation in Congress. Thi
has been denied and is still denied b
a majority in that body. 1t is q sourC
of grief to US, and of irritation to th
] constituents of those who present then
: selves as claimants to seats in elthe
House. The promise made to theI
, during the war has not been kept
the day of peace and cOmparatiy
safety Why is this We are toll
that conditions are necessary. The syn
pathizers with the rebellion at tn
North maintain that no condition, b.
yond that of ceasing to make war an
taking the usual oath to support tn
Constitution, is either constitutional @
, lust But the Executive has demande
more, and in that they disagree wit
him whatever their professions for part
objects may be. He has, under tn
war power, demanded acquiesoence
the abolition of slavery, the repudiatio
of the rebel debt, and other pledge
which he deemed important to th
safety of the Union and the futuI
peace of the country, leaving all que
items of purely domestic nature to 3
settled, as heretofore, by the States
whose custody the Constitution h'
committed them. In short he has don
all he could do to end contention an
- restore harmony.
But the Congress of the United State
demand much more, insisting that the
y proposed laws and constitution
amendments are essential to our fstul
peace and security. And thence b;
, followed a clash of opinions that hi
4 len to harsh expressions and produce
arrangements that do rot promise hs
mony, either North or South. III
honest, rejecting people of the nRtio
are dissatisfied with such a condition
its affairs, having done all that they ca
" do 10 save the Union and restore con
q dence among themselves and tho
over whose territory they have bourr
3. our flag to final victory.
80 We believe that the people are reai
ily disposed to tolerate differences
opinion between the President sr
9 Congress so far as they are courteous
and kindly expressed. The Constit
ton has made the Executive branC
of the law making power, and he b
y the same right under the obligations
his oath, to the use Of the veto powe
whether he be in error or not in Its e
ercise, as any member Of Congress h
I. TO his own vote. We do not, therefor
propose TO discuss, in this limite
space, the merits of the bill TO whiC
he has refused his signature. The
sponsibility Of their sanction or disa
proval rests with him. The Constit
"A ton has placed il there.
ne The restoration of the Union, IN ia
70 and in Law, is the main question, an
rs the most important step in that dire
ton is the admission OF loyal and trui
worthy Senators and Representativ
to their seats n Congress. In the
> sue here Joined, We are free 10 ave
our settled conviction that the opinjO
of a majority of the people of 4
North will be found 10 be in harmon
, with those OF the Executive The
N opinions are in support Of the views
' President Lincoln, though the Co
eress was against him, and he was {
nouneed as 3 tyrsnt by certain mel
he's If that body. Yet the converts