Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-18

Tue negro. us meaning IS thus briefly de-
fined by THADDEUs STEVENS in his recent
speech at Bedford, Pennsylvania:
AS ] said before, the great issue to bemet
at this election Is the question Of negro
rights. shall not deny, but admit, that
fundamental principle Of the Republican
creed is that every being possessing an inn
mortal soul Is equal before ne Tao. They are
not, and cannot be, equal in strength, hight,
beauty, intellectual and moral culture or
social requirements; these are accidents
which govern their condition according to
circumstances. But, in this republic, the
same laws must and shall apply to every
mortal, American, Irishman, African, Ger
man or Turk.
In other words, according 10 this modern
theory Of wild and impracticable fanatics
not to say corrupt and reckless jacobihs
every being possessing an immortal soul"
must be invested with the same political
privileges. Tire application Of the princi-
pie now, is intended simply for the negro;
but as asserted, it is without qualification
or restriction, for the reason that to admit of
any limit would be fatal to the whole theory.
''The same laws" says this recognized head
Of the Radical element, "must and shall
apply to every mortal, American, Irishman,
African, German or Turk" As he makes
no distinction as to color, Of course he IN
tends none asto sex. Women arc Amortalsp
as wei as men, and must, therefore, stand
equal before the law"-equal at the ballot
box, equal upon the musings, equal in the
jury box, equal upon the bench, equal at
the bar, equal in the pulpit, equal to seats
in Congress and the Legislature-egual in
all things, and in all respects, "before the
law"
Every sound and practical mind, even of
ordinary capacity, must see the fallacy Of
such theory upon the bare statement of
the proposition, aud yet there are thousands
Of this day-as in the days of the Red Re
publicans Of Franee-who are foolish enough
to regard all political rights as natural, and
ali Determinations in the exercise Of them
as a species of injustice and opposition.
According to this theory of progression
lists, society has always been at fault in its
understanding Of the rights Of man, and
hence no authority can be respected or pre-
cedent observed in the present discussion
of the great questions involving the future
of American institutions. Neither WASH
INGToN, FRANKLIN, HAMILTON, MADISON
nor JEFFERSON of the earliest school, nor
JACKSON, CLAY, WEBSTER, CALHOUN, CAss
nor DOUGLAS, OF the later school, ever dis
covered that every mortal, whether Ameri-
can, African, Indian or Turk, should stand
"equal before the law" in the exercise of the
political privileges affecting this form of gov
eminent. Each and all of these great Amer
lean statesmen died in ignorance Of the pre-
tended truth, asserted by the leaders of the
party now in ascendancy in the American
Congress, that the African and the Turk
were equally entitled with Americans to po-
litieal privileges in a country, which but a
few years ago, the same parties contended
should be governed exclusively" by Amer
leans.
The earlier statesmen-even the drafts
man of the Constitution, Mr.. MADISON
esteemed it no injustice, but urged it as
sound policy, not simply to restrictive right
Of suffrage to the free white people of
America, but limited number Of that class,
as the greatest security for the rights and
liberties Of the whole.
The assertion Of so foolish an abstraction
in the American Congress, or by one essay
ing TO play the part Of an American states
man, few years ago, would have been
laughed at as absurd. 1t would not have
received countenance by the boys in the de-
batting club Of the most unpretending rural
school, But times and circumstances have
greatly changed. The man who now boldly
asserts il is the recognized leader Of the
American Congress,-the dominant party
of the North,-and he puts it forward as
the issue to be met and determined in the en-
suing elections. r-.-r.. .-.
Few viii believe that majority, even in
the States in which Mr.. STEVENS party has
the ascendency, entertain the absurd views
he has declared to be the great principles
at issue but they will not be less culpable
nor their party less dangerous, if from
motive more intelligent but less honest they
acquiesce in such principles or are willing
to use such instrumentalities to perpetuate
their power ard govern the country.
The contemplation. of the extremes 10
which the recognized leaders of the domi-
nant party have run, and the danger which
threatens the future of republican institu-
tions in America, leads to the simple con-
clusion that il is question as tothe amount
of public virtue still existing, and whether
or not our people have so far deteriorated in
this respect as to render longer continu-
anee Of our form of government impracti-
cable. Corruption in all ages and all coun-
tries has prevailed, but certain amount of
integrity and good morals was necessary to
secure stability in seciety-when ever
point below that standard has been reached,
disorder, revolution and change have been
the result. As il has been with others, so it
must be with us. The true patriot can only
discharge his duty. and hope for the best.