Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-11-23
ClarksylIle. Tenn. /:
TRUTH BLUNTLY TOLD.

The National 1ntelligcncer, of a
bate date, has very sensible and
strictly truthful article upon the evil
effects of the Presidents policy Of
appointments upon thereccnt North
crn elections. In our opinion, his
first mistake, in this direction, was
the attempt to build up a new party
out of the wishy washy material fur
nished by the Radicafand Democrat
ic parties. When the President
found that he could not endorse the
views Of Congrers, and that a split
was inevitable, his true policy would
have been to weaken his enemies as
effectually and as rapidly as possible
by the removal Of the last one of
them from office, and the appoint
ment of men who had never had anv
connection with the Radicals. He
was, doubtless, prevented from adopt
ing this course by his crude notions
Of loyalty, the practical application
Of which has seriously endangered,
if not defeated, his entire scheme Of
restoration. The Democrats he would
cot trust because some of them had
sympathizcd with the South, and the
Radicals he does trust because they
hate the South, and in striving to
compromise upon the Weakened,
has aided in sundering the Union
which he processes so much anxiety
to restore, And so powerful is the
influence over him of his idle theory
of loyalty, that the South is, to a
great extent, deprived of mail facili-
ties because men toe honest to swear
to lie, are too dishonest to be trust
cd with the paltry revenues of petty
post Office. The people, upon whom
he can most confidently rely for I'M
wavering support are dealt with as
traitors, whilst the people who would
gladly see him hung fill the Offices
of the country, and trample, with
IMMUNITY, upon the Constitution
which he has sworn to "prcserve,
protect and Defend" and defeat the
Union in defense of which he aban
doned friends and section.
This is a gloomy view to take of
this subject, but that it is correct
one, we believe, is proven by results,
and unless there be change of pol
icy, on the part Of the President, We
can see nothing ahead but ruin of
the whole country. Professions of
devotion to the Constitution and the
Union is empty defamation to Rad
ical ears, and when it is remembered |
that their conduct is subversiye off
the government aud inimical to all
the interests of the country, the FIX.
ccutive is surely required to stand
between the traitors and the Consti.
tuition and repel their assaults by all
the means legitimately placed at his
disposal. In the absence of such
action, it is clear that he will be over
thrown and, with him, the free gov
eminent guaranteed by that Consti-
tuition which he has sworn to "pre-
serve, protect and defend" What
action should be taken, we will not
undertake to indicate, but believing
that the future of the country is in
the hands of the President, we can
not withhold the expression of our
hopes and fears pending the struggle
between despotism and freedom.
Tue action Of the Legislature, on
the bill to establish universal suf.
frage and grant universal amnesty,
leaves the question somewhat mixed.
The majority az inst it are either OPP
posed to amnesty or suffrage, but it
does not appear which. The pre-.
sumption, however, is, that the negro
suffrage members are opposed to am
nesty, prcierring to raise the negro
above the cx-rcbcl and to reap, for
themselves, the fancicd advantages of
tho hlnck ynin M dnnht thn onoa