Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-11
THE RADICAL. SENTIMENT IN TEN
NFgEED


We published few days since a state
ment by the Knoxville correspondent of
the Cincinnati Commercial, to the effect
that Gov Brownlow had given out in con
versation since the election, that il his
first message to the Legislature in Octo-
her. be would recommend and urge the
conferment Of the franchise privilege on
every male twenty-one years OF age,
Upon this the New York Tribune and
other papers commented. The Press and
Times, the Radical organ in this city, thus
responds
We will preface our comments on the
above by stating that Governor Brownlow
made no such proposition, as that attributed
to him by the Tribune, on the authority, we
believe. Of the Associated Press dispatches.
He entertains no such views as TO che right
mode of dealing with the rebellious por-
ton of the people, and said nothing like II
at Knoxville, since the election, OF at any
other time. No one entertains greater ad
miration for the 1EIbUnes ability and ser
vice In the national cause than We do, aid
no one would rejoice more sincerely than
ourselves. 10 see all men in Tennessee adj
mitted 10 the ballot-box, if consistent with
public safety and the good of the State
And if we were fully convinced that men
had become so pure, just and peaeeAble,
that muskets, cannon, sabres, and other
tools of the soldiers bloody trade would be
useless in the future, we would rejoice still
more. But public policy must be shaped
by those who have regard TO the enemies
as well as the friends Of the State. 1t will
not do TO legislate for a State as though all
It's people were loyal aud patriotic, when
We know, by their own words and actions,
that nany are disloyal and would exult in
the ruin of the government The Iftbunes
broad platform established at this time
in Tennessee. would be- in fact, the broad
road which leads 20 destruction. 1t would
be a macadamized road to rebellion.
As a further exposition of the animus
Of that portion of the Tennessee Radicals
represented by the Press and Times,
(and we have no reason 10 suppose that
ii does not express the sentiments of the
whole party,) we give the following
from its issue of Wednesday last
Ii has been suggested, and the suggest
ion appears a good one 10 us at first sight
that several regiments be enlisted for State
service, Of colored men who have been
driven of 10 starve by their Rebel employ
ers because they voted the Republican
ticket Troops are greatly needed in some
Of the counties Of West Tennessee, and sew
eral regiments Of discharged negroes, com
posed Of soldiers selected for their good
habits and physical strength could be
raised in short time in those localities,
and placed on duty Immediately. The
Rebels would be punished and many Of the
discharged negroes would be personally
provided for, beside being enrolled to pro-
iect their friends from Rebel persecution
few DAYS Of martial law rigidly enforced
would cause a great change in the tactics Of
the proscriptionists Let the expense o
feeding and providing for these troops be
levied upon the persons who have turneC
off thousands of men 70 starve. Ii th'
nroscriptionists DO not like IT, they MAJ
comfort Themselves with the reflection tina
land Is cheap in Brazil, and that their EN-
ipration from this Stale will make room
for citizens who are in all respects more oe
sirabie.
These full citations are given for th'
information Of our readers who do no
read the Radical press. There are som
optimistic walters on Providence in thu
state who hold out to themselves the hop
that Brownlow and the next Legisla
ture are going to transform themselve
into angels of wisdom and mercy. "
would not dash their expectation b.
ANYTHING we can say, nor defeat it, bu
candor compels us TO say that in orr juds
mept Radicalism is not yet rotten-ripe.