Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-04-12
THE SITUATION.

that tho ten excluded States are to
be reconstructed under the military
bill, and it being equally certain that
a large proportion of the people of
those States are resolved TO take part
in the work, the question is raised,
whether it is better to act unani-
mously in that direction, or give the
Radicals all the advantages of d.
vision. 1t is argued thaea strong
effort will be made to stock the Con-
ventions with loyal adventures, who
will SO shape the constitutions as to
permanently disfranchise the great
body Of the whites, as in this State.
1T is to avert this great evil, they say,
that leading men are advising active
cooperation in the work of recon
struction. And that, since it is clear
that thousands will act upon this ad-
vice, all ought to do it, because the
contrary course will be but aiding
the Radicals to split the Conservative
party and, by its division, to subdue
the whole. Those who advocate this
policy, insist that no time should be
lost. That the work of registration
will soon begin, and every Conserva-
tive who declines, or neglects to be
registered, practically gives a vote to
the Radicals.
The situation is an exceedingly
embarrassing one. Those who OPP
pose the foregoing policy argue, with
no little show of reason, that coop
Grafton is acceptance, and that accep
lance is degradation. This is an,
swered by the assumption that the
terms Of the proposition leave nc
option, and that it is, to all intents
and purposes, coercive. But wheth.
or coercive or not, the question is
one of self-preservation, and the in.
tcrests hanging upon the issue, are
of too vital character to be endan.
gered by pausing to discuss verbal
construction and nice points ofhonor
1t is not for us to say which view Of
the subject is correct; but it is very
clear that split on either, will bt
followed by defeat and the entailmen
Of permanent evil upon all, and it il
to be hoped that such policy will
be pursued as will defeat whatever
calculations their enemies may hav,
based upon division in the Conser
vativc party.
AS before said, the situation i
truly embarrassing, and the way on
of it is through complications of be
wildering character. If the do-no
thing policy be adopted, the loyalist
have everything in their own hands
if the Conservatives split--a porto
operating with Congress, and tn
balance standing aloof, the co-ope
rating portion will be swallowed b
the Radicals, and the scheme of d
vision will have been accomplished
if all unite in favor of reconstruction
the Conservatives may triumph an
stave off the evils Of such govern
ment us now curses Tennessee.
The argument, of which the FORE
going is mere outline, is ably elal
Grated and will not fail to inhuenC
public opinion. But whatever ma
be the course of the South on tn
subject, it should not be forgotto
that nothing is to be gained, cxcel
the temporary defeat of the domest
traitors who hope to rule the Sout
Cor their own emolument. The id,
Of securing representation, as IL
price Of whatever sacrafce may
made, is perfectly absurd, unless
will content the South to be repr,
sented by such men as Congress wi
gladly receive, Bad faith is Radio
characteristic, and they are not wiz
who build upon any promises III
party may make, and if the Southel
people conclude to take part in the
own reconstruction, they ought
forget the promised representation
aud hope only to make their territ
rial existence little more tolerab
by warding off, for awhile, the d
nestle tyranny with which they a
threatened. And it will be for
time only; for unless the constit
tons to be framed are Radical, Co
gress will reject them and remaI
the States to their present conditio
and for an indefinite period. But
the constitutions are accepted, L
Representatives must be Radical.
il will DO seen that no aspect of &
question promises the South anythil