The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-14

Civil Rights bill, through both Houses
OF Congress, the radicals are now de-
hberaiing as to the next forward move
ment The Chicago Tribune, one of
the most popular as it is the ablest
newspaper exponent Of radical views,
insists that Congress shall proceed, by
the same tWo-thirds vote by which the
Civil Rights bill passed, TO adopt some
measure to reorgsnize the State Govern
ments, South, and 10 extend the right
Of suffrage in some form to some class
of freedmen" $50 long" it says, "as
those governments are permitted 10
continue in existence with their present
voting basis, those States will be at war
with Congress, and viii, in q great mea-
sure, nullify its laws. The power in
those States can never pass wholly or
in part into the hands Of loyal anti
slavery men, friends of freedom, Of
education, Of free speech, free press,
and Of Northern ideas, until the change
is effected by the colored vote. If any
State be not prepared for this, let it
wait But the mere knowledge that
this is required would be all the pre-
psratiOn any Southern State would
need. There is no earthly reason why
they should regard the extension of
the suffrage any more Objectionable
than abolition, TO which they have as
sented Emancipation is not complete,
or even secure, without it. The ballot
is essential to liberty"
The Tribune is only 8 little faster
and more candid than the mass of the
radicals. All Of them regard negro
suffrage as necessary to the SUCCESS Of
their plans to make the Southern States
mere puppets, responsive to their ma
nipulatiOns. 1t viii not be long ere
they attempt to coerce the Southern
States into their views. 1t is not pro-
bable that they can secure the ratifica-
ton Of any amendment to the Consti-
tuition they may propose, on this sub
ject They viii, therefore, attempt the
game Of bluff hoping thereby to arouse
the aPpFehensions of the Southern
people, and through their fears, win q
victory. President johnson has, by
his Peace Proclamation, taken from
them the claim of war power to effect
their object; but they are already de-
clRring that he had no authority to issue
the said proclamation, and that it is
null and of no efiect-that the power
20 say when the rebellion is at an end,
rests exclusively with Congress If
they can retain the two-thirds majority
which passed the Civil Rights Bill, they
will adopt a reconstruction policy in
opposition to that of the President,
and make negro suffrage one Of the
conditions Of restoration TO their rights
in the Union.
But all this rests upon the contin-
gency Of retaining twothirds MAORI
~, which is scarcely possible. They
may be able 10 hinder or retard the
success of the Presidents plan Of reor-
ganization, and keep the Southern
States out OF the present Congress; but
we do not believe they can accomplish
their purpose Of forcing the South to
choose between negro suffrage and re-
naming out Of their practical relations
with the General Government So we
would advise our readers, and all South
ern men 10 keep cool; and not to be-
come vexed and irritated. We must
bide our time Having been "out in
the cold" so long, there is no danger
now Of freezing. We have learned to
suffer, and, we hope, to bear. The
present Congress expires on the 4th OF
March next Its successor will be 8
very different sort of body; COM
posed Of representatives fresh from
the people and ready to carry out
their wishes which are for an i'm
mediate restoration of all the late
rebel States to their old position IN
the Union. We cannot hasten the hap
by event Of complete restoration by |
anything we may do. Our system of
government has forms which must be |
observed, aud We must await in pa
thence the day of our deliverance. Ne
gro suffrage may not, as the Tribune
says, be more Questionable than abo-
lition. but we cannot assent TO it, at the
demand Of radicaliBm, although we as
scented 10 the other. We must stand
by our constitutional rights and have
faith in the power of the masses of the |
North to secure us in the enjoyment OF
of them. When we have secured them,
if We see cause TO extend the right OF
suffrage to any or all of the colored
men in our midst, we can do So