Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-05

seen ht to rermit our people TO grow antagonistcal
in feeling toward each other upon one, and only
one, matter Of difference. Seeing the growing
power of the Free States the irresistible growth Of
political antNgonistn among their people, the pre-
ponderance Of power upon their part 10 the coun-
ellis Of the nation-seeing the shadow of their nd
vancing greatness---spreading itself on all sides
with certain prospect of the ultimate absorption
Of all the territory of the Government the Slave
States feeling that the fundamental principles of
their social apd political organism were in danger
as matter of self-protec,ion, and social safety,
saw but one of two courses, to pursue---either to
submit to total revolution Of their domestic in
sttutiops through the gradual encroachments of the
spirit of free labor, 10 strike for a severance of
their political ties with the other States--make
themselves separate and independent nation, hav-
ing right to regulate and control their own affairs
lin their own way. -, i,. f4s. -fgs. s.,...I
They chose the latter. The other States could
not as a matter Of selEpreservation submit to a
be certain ruin to them and to the stability of any
/ governments which might be left. Here reason
ceased her warnings, and the war begun. r
4 Four years have passed. Yesl Throw amantle
over them. We find ourselves just where we were
Vt the beginning of the contest save and except
what the war has done, And what has been de-
cided? What the yea or nay when American soil
has drunk in the blood Of half million of her
Ilroudest soma, and the smoke just cleared away
.om nearly three hundred hard fought battle fields
|, Two principles. The unity Of the Republic and
the freedom of all her people, These two princi-
Piles have been settled, and we are willing, nay,
, anxious to act, In good faith, upon the result
4 Now begins the war Of ideas. The sword is
r seathed; the physical combat ended; the power Of
the contending parties decided hut greater work
s is left
2 As to the unity Of the Government, what securi-
; ties shall be required; what guarantees for future
= projections what safe guards thrown around the
e a.ional power; what measures necessary to pre-
r vent recurrence of a war of dissolution; what
s have We learned by this contest which should be
incorporated into the supreme law to guide us in
future; what the best method of winning back the
people to cheerful allegiance; what the best sys-
. ten of protection what are the demands of the
, peo,e, the untrammeled and unprejudiced wants Of
: the masses? What are the best methods Of ad
justnent to avoid the evils Of sudden and forced
ema ncipation; what the wisest system of enlight
o ment and protection of the colored people; wha
is best for oil classes and conditions of our people
C as we now find tbem2
tt ese are few of the questions now coming u,
e for Adjustment. Is it not a ponderous work2 Oar
- l~nl l.. Il.
y be pt tsible taking human experience as stand
. ard, hat in the short space of four or Ave month
after the surrender of the armies all the change
N whicl, have been produced by four years war
'e where four millions Of men have been armed coul
be satisfactorily arranged; the new order Of thing
IS fairly pat to work all shattered relations har
monzed, re-organzed, re-adjusted and govern
OF ment If thirty millions of people fully restored
lg Is it reasonable to expect such magical result
y Has history shown us any precedent upon which
lr predic, te such calculations ss.r
" Right here is where differ from the CHRONICLE
:, While il sees nothing but darkness and troutl
y ahead nethinks see brigh. rays of peace and ur
:" exampled prosperity gliding the horizon in from
But, says the Chronicle, our members are nc
= admitted in Congress. Wait friend, wait me
= ment. Give tho nation time 10 breathe. Let til
- storm hurst; sunbeams arc playing behind tn
w mountain. Let the people recover from the shoe
of the struggle past. Let the common sense of tl
country have time 70 consider. Let us be patien
i There is nothing to be lost but much to be game
- by prudence. We have no right to dictate tern
, nor den and conditions. Would It not he vastl
better, for US, that representatives should tax
no part In the debates which must take place pr,
viors to full and final restoration Of all OF
rightsl Would not all the old spirit of antagor
ISM with its bitter fruits, enter into the tenor
y" debate7 Would 1t be possible for The most pr,
dent speaker to avoid reference to names and me,
sures that would rekindle t,e still smoking embe
Oh of hate Which we are all 30 anxious shou
ne shoulder into death? What possible adyantal
''- would we derive, to-day, from the immediate a
're mission o our members2 Look at the polite
ar complexion of Congress. What weight won
ny they have when the working majority u about Il
MS whole body. We suffer none by waiting fe
ice months, and until we know just what Is requir,
zen Of us. Tbere is bot one tribunal to arrange
IN these thing'; thar "a the Congress Of the Unit
States, and for the present we have no voice hei
'ur We ought rot TO iatrude ourselves. by shown
me ourselves Worthy CT the confidence we ask; bybciI
modest and patient our claims will have mu'
rec more weigh. The less we nave to DO In Congrv
ng until tho dn rush Of the storm Is passed. in u
he humble opin on the better and besldes ihsrs a
= other matters equally important, pressing the n
he tons time. Congress has Just tleti IL is ne
ed, tody just fr oh from the pcople. Give them tin
ARE to consult an reflect. We said out four years
10 our osn rec uesf; We can certainly remain on,
iod few months niger at the request Of those who
var able to eniors the request. Would !, be wise
the the par, Of ne Government would Il be rcliti
cl would II be il aceorlanoe with hIinan espeTieu
To to admit to ats Ia the national councils the ',
ow rescn,aliSss people who have hat very rctni
tho surrendered d cir armies, plhogl hxt taking !
the prccauton to NOV who they are aud whom "