Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-04
SOUTHERN MAICONTENFs--HOME
TRUTHS AND GOOD SUGGESTIONS.

SOUTHERN MAICONTENTS--.-TI
TRUTHS AND GOOD SUGGESTIONS.
Hos. JONI FoRsYTH, writing from New
York q his paper, the Mobile 4Adpertiser and
Register, has the following, which we reprint
as both timely and wholesome:
1 regret TO learn that some of our South
ern brethren of the press are throwing cold
water on the work done at Philadelphia, are
sharply criticising the declarations put forth
and ridiculing some of its scenes. No man
can measure the evil effects of such course
on the struggle here, who has not been
among this people TO see il for himself.
Surely, 1t cannot be patriotic, even in a
Southern point of view, TO do or to say any
thing that Is in the least calculated to add
feathers weight to Conservative efforts or to
help in so much the Radicals. Yet all these
editorials are so many shotted guns turned
upon the men who are making a noble
struggle to get us back TO our places Of infu-
ence and self-proteetion in the Government,
and to sustain the programme of the Presi-
dent, which all Of us at the South have en-
dorsed. viii our Southern brethren Of the
quill never learn that prudence and policy
are essential weapons Of power in all great
enterprises, and they are those we should
especially cherish, prize and practice, be-
cause we have no Others to rely upon? We
have failed 10 yindicate our political princi-
pies and constitutional interpretations, first,
in thirty odd years Of argument and debate,
and last, in an appeal to arms. In this
helpless condition, we see two great parties
msrshalling for the struggle on the soil of
our victors. One Of them is radically OPP
posed to everything we have ever believed,
and is burning with enmity towards Us.
The other aims to secure the leading objects
that are most desirable 10 us-tO Danish mil
itary rule and restore US to representation
and voice in the general councils of the ma
ton. Between these two we are forced TO
choose-one or the other And having
made our choice, the duty that follows is
perfectly transparent. 1t is to do all we
can to help the better side and no.
thing to aid the worse. Now, can anything
be more unwise and illogical than to carp
at the friendly SIDE and because its platform
does not come up to the standard of
strict State Rights orthodoxy as expound-
ed by CALHOUN or YANCEY, to abuse
and ridicule it, and rail at those, who think
ing just as they do, are yet practically wise
enough to take a half a loaf as better than
no bread? 1t strikes me that this is the
petulance ofchildishness, and not the calm
Judgment and actions of maturity. 1t NAV
be intensely Southern, but the sure that it is
doing the South and all her interests, politi-
cal, social and properly, great deal of
harm. Indeed, it is upon the temper and
conduct of the South that the momentous
contest going on here will hinge The con-
slant effort of the Radicals is to make the
people believe that the South is sincere in
its professions ofacquiescence, that its mode
ration is all simulated and unreal, that it is
still fractions, intoerant and rebeilious, and
as such is not in a condition to be entrusted
with voice in the Government. To do
this, the indomitable party seizes upon
every line or word spoken or written at the
South to prove their propositions, and they
have agents and spies busy in gathering up
this their only ammunition.
A Southern editor INDUCES in paragraph
of wit or spleen, and little knows that he
has forged bolt for the Radical committees.
orators and presses to hurl at those who are
doing their best to serve them. To show
you how sensitive chord this is, / may tell
you that | have been taken to task here for
saying damaging things in your columns,
and yet L have been striEing to act out the
policy Of prudence | am now intoxicating.
II II Llldb sOtllG VI our DIGLEIS0 WISH
to help the Radicals. If they cannot take
an active part to aid our friends, is it asking
too much of them to say nothing and to LET
the great battle in which we are so deeply
interested go on in silence on their part? A
contrary course may serve some temporary
Southern ecLdt, but it is at the expense of the
real welfare of the South.
have no doubt myself that the over
whelming and preponderating feeling of the
Southern people is like mine, and in favor
of the earliest reconstruction of the Govern
ment which we attempted, in vain, to dis
rupt; and | know that is the path to their
best and highest interests with the lights
before us. 1t is therefore unfair to the
people and misrepresents them TO their pre-
judice, when these public persons pursue
course to strengthen the Radical and weak
en- the Conservative parties. The people
are right, and take the statesmanlike view
of the exigency of the situation. Let the
press and all the politicians be as wise, and
let us be done with hasty and rash counsels
until we have piloted cur country out Of
the difficulties and dangers which now sur
round her because passion and rashness had
tal=on tho place of COOL policy and deib
70 f,Fs IL.