Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-04
" Always he most forgiveth
In his brother, is most lust. "


You will cheerfully remember, my fell
low-citiEens, that such have always been
my sentiments. / have more than once ut
tered them in your hearing, ard that ever
since the close Of the rebellion | have
urged upon the Union party the broadcast
liberality toward those bone of our bone.
and flesh of our hesh," who have erred
and strayed away" from what we believed
was the true faith"
well know how easy it was to appeal
to the passions and prejudices Of those who
were engaged on the opposite side of this
great struggle. felt the temptation, and
yet resisted, whilst others identified with
the Union party of Tennessee yielded, and
and by appeals sought to raise into "fever
heat" the passions and prejudices already
excited by the conflict Of arms in the
bosoms of our countrymen, who have
risked their lives and fortunes in defense
of the Union of the States. 1t seemed to
me that the friends Of the Union, whose
cause had tridmphed in the contest, should
so direct the legislation toward the van
quished as to prove, beyond doubt, that
it was not passed under passion, prejudice
and hatred, bat only under the impulse of
a generous patriotism, regulated by the
affections and the conscience, and con-
trolled by our reason.
How fearfulIy different has been the
course Of our legislation from the benif-
cent principles thus advocated, let the deep
seated and intense murmurings of over four
fiths of the population Of the State testify,
writhing under a system of civil thraldom.
To my mind, no greater political error
could have been committed, and the har-
mony which is 80 essential to the perpetui-
ty of the republic, can only be restored by
the adoption Of such measures in our future
legislation as will remove all cause Of hos
tility on the part of any portion or class Of
citizens.
Let our cardinal political principle be,
"equal and exact Justice to ALL"
One word more, and am done. The
President Of the United States is charged
with having committed "great crimes and
misdeHeanors," and / avail myself of this
opportunity once more to vindicate his
character, and bear my humble testimony
to the frmness with which he has, undis-
MAYED, resisted all unconstitutional legis-
lation, and as a bulwark, protecting the
rights Of the people.
Ny friends, think Of him in his earlier
fCdI5f NAASAA AAG AAA DgIA put " Adlu
struggles fore mere existence, and vet he
found time for close and laborious study.
This very study made him earnest and
intense. Simple in his tastes, masculine
and untiring in his efforts, he is Of that
mould in which, in earlier times, the sue
cessful men of action we're cast lie &C
knowledges in life no such thing as fail,
and whatever may be his future, he has
never despaired.
1t was by those rare and romantic incl
dents, which fiction cannot invent, and
which call with diffiGenee from the fields
Of bis real life, that he assembled the social
and political ladder, until he has won pal
rable and distinct reputation ard rank.
His cry success provokes all the sar-
casm of wit; all the walls of partyt all
the SANDERS Of envy, and he is nov mark
shot at by arrows stepped in the poison that
il distilled in the crucible Of bafled am
bition, and inordinate hate.
You cannot know bis early struggles.
Only those who know him best can fully
appreciate them. How many years be Ia
bored for Independence before Il was won.
Ny friends and countTynsn, Is there moth