The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-02
The Crisis.

The Union party has reached a crisis
in its history. To pass through this
crisis without detriment to its integ
rity, will require the exercise of the
highest wisdom, firmness and forbear'
ance. The developed antsgonism be-
tween Congress and the President, if
persisted in, can only result in perma.
nent enlargement and disaster.
Without the cooperation of all the
departments Of Government, none OF
the evils apprehended can be averted,
and none Of the good desired car be
achieved. This needfal cooperation
cannot be secured without the exercise
of that forbearance which grows out OF
patriotic magnanimity. Irritating re-
ordinations, while they will widen the
breach between friends, and render
iubilant the common enemy, can re-
suit in no good either to the individual
combstants, to the Uuion party, OF to
the country, whose position to day, be-
cause of this unfortunate antagonlsm,
is more critical than at any moment
in its eYentful history.
Is reconciliation practicable? Not II
individuals entrusted with official power
place themselves above their country,
and forget the i~njunctions OF patriotism
in their zeal to vindicate themselves.
When great principles are at stake,
and when humanity exscts her tribute,
that individual is r%ecreant to both God
and man and who seeks to prevent the
accomplishment of what is thus imper-
~atiyely demanded. On the other hand,
he who, to serve his country forgets
himself, needs no other V~indication
than is furnished by the record of his
self-5acrifce and by the result of his
patriotic labors. The people may some
times be too exactiDg but they are sel~
dom unjust.
Reconciliation should Be practicable;
for those now at variance have, for
five years, been fighting a common
enemy 10 achieve a common end. The
recollection of mutual struggles, tolls
and offerings mutual purposes and
desires-of battles fought and of victo-
ries won, in the field and at the ballot
box-should induce mutual and cheer
ful cooperation in perfecting what has
been SO happily and so successfully
The people will, on a careful
survey Of the ground of difference, fail
to discover any such autsgOnism on prln
as illjustify permanent estrange-
ment, conhictand distrust Ifthere could
but be introduced into this civil strife,
the same consummate sagacity and
wisdom and the same lofty patriotism
and disinterestedness which marked
the closing twelve-month of the war,
who doubts an equally satisfactory ter
mination of the conflict But, UnfOr-
tunstely, instead of simplifying, the
movements of every day, and Of every
hour of every day, only seem to COM
the issue, and to render recon
Citation more difficult aud remote, if
not entirely hopeless and impractica-
bic. What was easy, under wise coun
sells, the day the veto received the sig
nature of the President, was surround
ed with serious difficulties the moment
the House of Representatives, in SEEM
retaliation, passed the resolution
prohibiting the admission Of Represen-
of any State without the joint
of the two Houses. Aud what
seemed possible to all who heard the
conciliatory and statesmanlike
speech of Secretary Seward in
Institute, appeared OF doubt
'ul attainment after the perusal
Of the Presidents emphatic and IN
compromising speech from the White
What other complications ere
follow we know not We fear the
worst But Notwithstanding all this,
'econciliation is still possible; because,
IS yet, Irrespective of their common
owe of country those in antagonism
till profess allegiance to the Union
and still declare themselves anx
Gus TO preserve it in 81 its integrity
md in all its grand proportions. When
other purpose shall be developed
md some other purpose must soon be
developed if reconciliation Is not
effected-there will be no
And then, wo unto Ehomsoever
hall be proven at fault in the partici-
of this great calamity upon the
arty and the country Better for
hem that they had never been eleva-
ed to positions which gave them the
over to work this great mischief
IBany EIsniHg Journal 24h