Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-07

One of the principal sources Of erroneous
views and Of bitter prejudices against the
Southern States, which have been recently
manifested at Washington, are the reports
and complaints of disappointed politicians
and aspirants. Every man who has failed
to obtain the popular suffrage in any election,
revenges himself by pouring his grieNnces
and disappointments into the wiling ear Of
some Radical at the Federal capital, who
eagerly seizes upon the fact and adds it to
other like proofs, to show that the Southern
people are still disloyal, disposed to discrim-
mate against and persecute good Union men.
Nothing can be more unmanly and unjust
than this system OF opposition. Honorable
and just Union men scorn such resorts, such
displays Of disappointed vanity and egotism
But there are not few "so-calied Union
men," who, during the Confederate supre-
macy, were either outspoken rebels and
secessionists, or took refuge in non-com-
initial, equivocating position, and these
would not hesitate 10 seek 10 increase the
public discomfort, and prolong the present
unsettled state of affairs, in order to excite
sympathy and consideration for themselves,
and perhaps gain some favor with infuen-
tial partisans, which they could never 9TH
erwise attract.
1t would be well for just and honorable
Union men in Washington and elsewhere
to sift well these complaints and represen-
tations, and satisfy themselves whether they
spring from mere personal or from public
and patriotic feelings; whether the rejected
candidates and compliments were not OBJ
jectionable on other grounds besides their
political sentiments; whether the professed
unionism Of the present is full Offset to
past renegadeism TO that cause, or gives
full title to Offices Of honor to those who
may lack all the other-the personal, moral
and intellectual qualifications therefor.
Men who in time Of peace and order would
never have been dreamed of for high Offices,
are frequently cast by the events of revo-
luton, or by trucking time-serving, into
places for which they are but little qualified
by nature, education, capacity, or moral
standing 1t couid hardly be expected Of
an honest and intelligent people to recog-
nize the pretensions of such persons in a
time of peace. Whilst, since our recent pa
cifcation, a mans previous political course
should constitute no objection TO his claims
to office-and we do not believe that faith
full adherence to Union sentiments has any
where been made ground of objection by
the recent confederates-we cannot acqui-
esce in the conclusion that every objection
to a man protesting to be o Union man is
cause of offence or Of suspicion of disloyalty.
We are bound to inquire. further whether
the rejected candidate was proper man for
the Office; whether he was not deficient in
some of the qualifications; whether he was
not greatly inferior to his opponent. Ger
tainly il would be a poor proof of our re-
spect for and devotion to the Union to
elect such an incompetent man to support
and defend it. Surely the defenders, par
excellence, of that great cause have not sunk
so deeply into the mire of mere partisanship
as to desire to have as their associates men
whose personal qualities viii giveno strength
to the cause, but rather dishonor and weaken
it. Surely all manly natures would prefer a
recent honorable adversary, but now a true
and reliable friend, to one of far inferior re-
pute and capacity, whose chief merit rests
upon cheap professions.
We can assure our Union friends abroad
that all their fears and suspicious as to the
sincere Uniouism of our people, have no
higher authority than these complaints of
defeated and disappointed aspirants for of
fees; that this people are as true to the
Union as any other in the country; and
though Directing and protesting against
many humiliations and burdens to which
they are subjected, have as little, aye, we
may say less, idea of resisting or conspiring
against, or in any way assailing or impugn-
ing the authority Of the General Govern
ment, as the people of any of the States of
the North or West.