Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-04


however dearto itspossessor, ana the organ
ization of parties, however compact, are
necessarily temporary and feeling whilst
our form of government should survive
from generation to generation.
Ny opposition to the policy of the Re
publieans in Congress was founded upon a
conscientious belief that their extreme legis-
lation would not produce true patriotism
and substantial justice. Under it they
forced upon the people schemes Of military
government at war with every principle Of
constitutional law, and now they advocate
measures for the confscation of the proper
ty of the citizens of the Southern States,
whether loyal or disloyal, in conflict with
every sentiment of Christian craftsmanship
or human philanthropy.
Thaddeus Stevens has tauntingly pro.
claimed to the Congress, and the doctrine
has been aequiesced in, "that within the
boundaries of the Rebel States all citizens,
whether loyal or disloyal, are public and
alien enemies, and by the sword they have
been conquered, and are dependent for
their lives and property on the will of the
conquerer alone"
Hence, he argues in favor of the con6s-
cation of five hundred millions of Southern
property, and graciously insists that the
people should be satisfied because he spares
their Improbable lives-being a commu-
nifty of @traitors, robbers and murderer
This key note is caught up by the Sena-
tor from Massachusetts, Mr.. Summer, and
defantly proclaimed in the House of Rep
reseDtatives by Gen. Butler in language
plain and unmistakable
i ffTL Flaor,l IF fbo C,,,fb ~ o,fr
made so by the result of the war. They
are dependent on the will of Congress. We
have the right to make them do exactly
what we say they shall do, and to omit 70
do exactly what We say they shall not do.
They are entirely in our hands, because
governments must deal with communities
and not with individuals. The individual
must Partake of the character, and suffer
the fate of the communities in which he
resides"
This doctrine of universal confiscation,
advocated by the prominent Republicans
that | have named, shocks the cultivated
intellect of the world, and would be con-
sidered disgrace to any civilized nation.
The whole theory upon which il rests is
born of the passions of the contest, and
should terminate when that contest ceased.
Its advocacy at this late day only demon
strates the madness that controls leading
men, and which yet rules the hour. =
My countrymen, true craftsmanship is
passionless Calm amid the tumults of
war, or the angry strife of political parties,
the true statesman looks steadily TO the
permanent interests of the country, and as
far as possible holds ia check any move
ment calculated to endanger itssafety. BE
has his eye on the unity of the republic;
upon the perpetuity Of its form of govern
ment; upon rescuing it on the one hand
from the disloyal sentiment which precipi-
tated the Southern people into the late dis
astrous and terrible war and, on the other,
saving it from the vindietive legislation of
Radical partisans, who would, By the pas
sage of a system of agrarian legislation, rob
aud despoii the industrious and economical
Of their hard -earned gains, and distribute
them amongst the indolent and thriftless.
Men, | say to you, that The government
is passing through most trying ordeal,
and that prudence on the part Of the peo
pie, and judgment, founded upon reason.
on the part of the lawmakers, is required,
to so direct our national affairs as to save
our country from ruin. Its strength and
endurance is now being tested, and the
grave question, so important for us all, has
now 20 be settled VIII it survive, with its
constitution marred by no violence, and its
glorious privileges and powers prostituted
by no oppression?
As your representative, l have never
hesitated to sustain all measures which
seemed to ME essential for the protection of
the republic in its unity, and its Just and
legitimate sovereignty, or which believed
calculated to promote the public welfare.
At all times | withheld my support from
what considered schemes calculated to
retard the workings Of the government,
and having fey their ayowed object the
maintenance of party supremacy.
Believing, as | have always that no
higher evidence of political insanity could
be furnished, though an attempt to con-
ciliate the people Of the country by the
passage of unjust laws, which illegally dis
eliminated against the political and civil
equality of the citizens, invariably voted
against all such propositions, and appeal
to you this day, whether, in your opinion,
legislation, which deprives the citizens of
their means of support which places them
under military control which closes their
courts; which deprives them of the right of
trial by jury, and by the laws of the land
is calculated to make the citizen Lore the
government. Power eompels obedience,
but does it ever create or maintain patriot
ism? Neither the loyal or disloyal will
prosper under such legislation, and
the sympathies, even of the most jealous Of
their opponents will be excited and
aroused for those who, although erring and
now repentant, are made the helpless vic
tins of military misrule."
] know that the Governor of this State
believes in the wisdom of such legislation,
but in this differ widely with him, as do
many prominent members Of the Republi-
can party. know that in the address
which he published to the people of Ten
nesse on the 18th day of August, 1866, he
uses language so cruel and yindictive as TO
make
Each particular hair stand on end.
and in which, in certain events, he proposes
the march of three armies through our de-
voted land who to use his own language,
will, as they ought to do, make the entire
Southern Confederacy as God formed the
earth when he commenced the work of
creation, without form and void They
will not, and ought not to leave a Rebel
fence-rail, clubhouse, or dwelling in the
eleven seeded States; and, as for the
Rebellpopulation, let them be exterminated.
And when the war is wound up, which
should be done rapidly and with swift de-
struction, let the lands be surveyed and
sold out to pay the expenses of the war,
and settled only by people that will
respect the stars and stripes"
And this man, preacher, Governor, who
calmly and deliberately uttered these SEN
timents, so unlike the teachings of the
meek and lowly one whose ordained min
lister he claims to be, is nominated for re-
election, and by his party friends warmly
endorsed.
And l heard on the floor of Congress the
eloquent and classic gentleman from Con-
necticut, Mr.. Brandegee, no doubt educated
in the academic shades Of venerable
Yale" describe with glowing language the
imminent dangers which threaten the gov
eminent from the "Sibilant tongues of
Southern women, and the prattling lisps Of
Southern babes"
He was frightened at woman's voice"
actually quaking at the lisp Of Southern
babes" and with quiyering lips he " de-
manded once more, in the name of the
God of Justice, tounsheath the great sword
of the republic, and place 1t in the hands
Of the greatest captain Of the age" TO war
upon helpless women aud young children.
Think Of il soberly il you can, seriously if
possible-GeneralG Grant to direct a cam
paign against "the Sibilant tongues Of
Southern women. and tie prattling lisps Of