The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-27

overthrow it, lest haply ye be found even t
fight against God.' The most Vexed ques-
ti0ns Of the age are social problems. These
we have heretofore had but little to do with
we were relieved from them by our peculiar
institution. Emancipation Of the blacks
with its consequences, was ever consider
ed by me with much more interest as So
eisl question, one relating TO the proper
status Of the different elements OF society,
and their relations towards each other, look
ing to the best interest Of all, than IN any
other light. The eoeaniary aspect of it,
the considerations Of labor and capital, in a
politico economic view, sunk into insignih-
cance, in comparison with this. This pro-
blern. as one Of the results of the war, is
now upon US, presenting one of the most
perplexing questions Of the sort that any
people ever had to deal with. Let US re-
solve to do the best we can with it, from all
the lights we have or can get from any
quarter. With this view, and in this con-
nection, | take the liberty Of quoting for
your consideration some remarks even from
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. / met with
them some months ago while pondering on
this subject, and was as much struck as sur
prised with the drift of their philosophy,
coming from the source they did. I give
them as find them in the New York Times,
where they were reported. You may be as
much surprised at hearing such ideas from
Mr.. Beecher as | was. But, however much
we may differ from him on many questions,
and on many questions connected with this
subject, yet all must admit him TO rank
among st the master spirits Of the age. And
no one, perhaps, has contributed more by
the power Of his pen and voice in bringing
about the present state of things than he
has. Yet, nevertheless, commend to your
/
present object, what be was reported to
| have said as follows:
In our land and time facts and questions
are pressed upon US which demand Chris
tian settlemeUt-settlement on this ground
and doctrine. We cannot escape the resp0n-
sibility. Being strong and powerful, we
must nurse and help, and educate, and tOs-
ter the weak, and poor, and ignorant. For
my own part, cannot see how we shall
escape the most terrible conflict of classes,
by-and-by, unless we are educated into
this doctrine Of duty, on the part Of the su-
perior 10 the iaferior. We are told by zeal
Gus and fanatisal individuals that men
are equal. WS know better. They are not
equal A common brotherhood teaches no
such absurdity. A theory of universal
phyical likeness is no more absurd than
this. Now, az in all times, the strong 60 to
the top, the weak 20 to the bottom. It's ma
tural, right, and can't be helped. All
branches are not at the top Of the tree, but
the top does not despise the lower; nor do
thew ali despise the limb or the parent
trunk. And 20 with the body polite, there
must be classes; some must be at the top,
and some must be at the bottom. 1t Is
difficult to foresee and estimate the devel-
opment of the power Of classes IN America.
They -are symply inevitable. They are
here now, aud viii be more. If they are
friendly, living at peace, loving, and re-
specting, and helping one another, all Will
be we'll; but if they are selfish, unehrlstlani
if the old heathen feeling is TO reign, each
exacting all he can from his neighbor, and
caring nothing for him, society will be lined
by classes as by seams-like batteries, each
firing broadside after breadside, the one
upon the other. If, on the other hand, the
law of love prevails, there viii be no i'll
will no envy, no disturbance. Does &
child hate his father because he is q chief
becsuse he i strong and wise? On theeon'
trary, he grows with his fathers growth
and strengthens with his strength. And l
in society there should be fifty grades ol
classes, all helping each other, there will
be no trouble, but perfect satisfaction ano
content. This Christian doctrine carried
into practice, will easily settle the mos
. troublesome Of all home present questions
What he here said of the state of things
where he spoke n the State Of New York,
and the fearful antagonism Of classes there
is mnch more applicable to US. Here, 1t i:
true, only two great classes exist, or are
likely to exist, but these are deeply marked
by distinctions bearing the impress OF ma
ture. The one is now beyond all question
: greatly superior to the other. These class
es are as distinct as races OF men can be
The one is of the highest style of humanity
the other of the lowest. All that he says o
the duty of the superior, to protect, to aid
to encourage, and to help the inferior, lul'
ly and cordially endorse and recommend Z
you as quite as applicable TO US and our SIT
uation, as il was to his auditors Nhethel
the doctrine, if carried out and practice d
: will settle ali these most troublesome home
questions with us as easily as he seemed {
{ think it would like home questions witt
those whom he was addressing, Will not un'
dertake to saw l have no hesitancy, how
ever, in saving that the general principles
: announced by him are good. Let them b'
adopted by us asifar as practicable. No harm
can come from it, much good may. Wneth
T er the great barrier of races which the Gre
T atOr has placed between this, our inierlol
7 class and ourselves, shall prevent success
of the experiment now on trial, OF peace
full, happy and prosperous community
: composed of such elements and sustaining
? present relations towards each other, O
: even further elevation on the part of tn
1 inferior. if they prove themselves fit for it
= let the future, under the dispensaton o
I, Providence, decide. We have 10 deal will
the present Let us do our duty now, leay
; ing results and ultimate consequences
To that "Diyinity which Shapes our ends
= Rough heW them as he Will
In all things on this subject as IN al otners
= let our gnide be the admirable motto OF ou
: State. Let our counsels be governed b.
E wisdom, our measures by moderation, an
}. our principles by justice.
!, So much for what l have to say on tn
7 occasion, touching our present duties thi
: absorbing subject, and some Of our dutie
in reference TO a restoration of peace, lay
< and order, without which all must sooner 0
& later, end in utter confusion, anarchy an
: despotism. l have, as l said I should, onl
: glanced at some general ideas.
Now as TO the future, and the prospeC
e before ual On this branch of the subject
d can add but little. You can form som
: ideas of my views of that from what ha
Is already been said. Would that could sa
is something cheerful; but that candor whlc
: has marked all that have said, compels N
II to say that 10 me the future is far from oeln
If bright. Nay, it is dark and impenetrabl'
y Thick gloom curtains and closes IN the hol
IF izon around Us. Thus much can say: N
e only hope is in the peaceful re-establish
10 ment of good government, and its Peaeei'
f, maintenance afterwards. And further th
b most hopeful prospect to this end, now,
-e the restoration of the old Union, and wit
5, II the speedy return Of fraternal teeuu
ID throughout its length and breadth. The
lie results depend upon the people themselY'
q upon the people Of the North quite 9
y much as the people of the SOuth-Upo
IS their virtue, intelligence and patriotism.
q repeat, have fhith in the American peop
7, in their virtue, intelligence and patrlo
y ism. But for this, should long since hay
B despsired. Dark and gloomy as the presel
st hour is, I do not despair OF free institution
ID Let but the virtue, intelligence and patrio
r ism of the people throughout the who
in country be properly appealed to, arouse
q and brought into action, and all may yet
N well. The masses everywhere are all
t, equally interested in the great object. Il
N old issues, old questions, old differences al
at old fe1ds be regarded as fossils OF anoth
st epoch. Tney belong to what may hereait
s. be considered the Silurian period of our hl
Du tory. Great, new, living questions are b
5; fore US. Let il not be said Of US IN this da
nd not yet passed, Of our eountry's create
y trlal and agony, that ''tnere was a party
y, Cesar, party for Pompey and party
n Brutus, but no party for Rome"
ks But let all patriots, by whatever di
'eT tinctive name heretofore styled, rally, in
ts- elections everywhere, TO the support OF hii
up who bears the standard with Constitution
of Union" emblazoned on its folds. Pseside
be johnson is now, in my judgment, the ch
ic- great standard bearer Of these principle
er, and in his efforts at restoration should 7
3t- eelge the cordial support Of every W
sr- wisher of his country.
vii In this consists, on this rests my on
y, hope. Should he be sustained, and {
for Government restored 10 its former function
bis all the States brought back to their prac
gst cal relations under the Constitution, our E
ie- uation will be greatly changed from whai
ate was before. A radical and fundamen
ow change, as has been stated, has been ma
W. in that organic law We shall have ,
fu- what was known as our " peculiar instil
he tion,g which was so inteEtwined with !
nd whole framework Of oar State body polil
my We shall have lost nearly half the accun
let lstsa espitAl Of esnsury. Bat re sh