Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-12

IaNaA EANN4E IT'LL A-AaASsnAeNhN9 VIZ
UsURPATTON.
The Cincinnati Gazette Of the Sd inst
discusses the subject of reconstruction
mistakes" at considerable length, from
which we extract as follows
"Alr Swinton, the special correspondent
Of the New York Times, now travelling in
the South, deyotes long letter to Tonnes
see, in which he represents its condition as
the worst Of any Of the Rebel States. He
says: Tennessee is in a most lamentable
condition. condition compared with
which that of Virginia or Of Georgia Is one
Of Ethiopian happiness And he gives his
idea of the first cause of this unhappy
state L believe the root Of the evil is
found 10 the fact that Tennessee had the
misfortune to be reconstructed too early
To this extent we can agree with the writer.
The condition of Tennessee is deplorable
1t is not so peaceful as it would be under
even the military government of the
United States, and the original cause is
that the State was reconstructed too early
"Mr. SWinton's pen is apt to sweep over
physical, moral and logical obstacle as if
unsconscious Of their existence. The con-
| ditions which made reconstruction prema-
ture in Tennessee were not changed by the
act Of reconstruction. These conditions
were the existence of a great class, that
unless restrained by superior power,
would be the ruling class, who were
hostile to the nation and bore deadly
hatred to the loyal people of Tennes
see. Instead Of being changed by the act
Of reconstruction, it was then that these
became dangerous. 1t was a matter not
only Of the loyalty of the State to the ma
ton, but of life and death to the loyal in
habitants, that the government should be
kept out Of the hands Of these hostile ele-
ments. Mr.. Swinton takes nc thought Of
these. He recognizes that reconstruction
is impracticable under such conditions, but
as soon as it is undertaken he seems to
think that the difficulties have disap-
peared, and he puts the whole blame on
those who have TO meet them.
F" Acknowledgement does not settle the
matter. 1t is one thing TO pass an act dis
| franchising the ruling class, and another
thing to execute it. In the most favorable
| conditions it would be likely TO create
| something like a state of war. Coming on
top of war, il would be likely to prolong it.
| We have to say here, as we said when the
| precipitate reconstruction of Tennessee was
being hurried through by Mr.. Johnson,
and when Mr.. Lincoln put forth his ten
percent swearing loyal plan Of reconstruc-
ton, that a state OF things in which the
former ruling class, or any large portion Of
the people, have to be disfranchised in
| order TO make the elections safe, il not fit
for an elective government. 1t is an abuse
of language to call such thing govern
ment of the people.
"And here we lay down an
other truism that we have adhered to
through all the agitation Of reconstruction
that a government formed by military
coercion is not a civil government, and
cannot become so without a fundamental
reconstruction after military interference
has been Withdrawn"
The history of what is called recon
struction in Tennessee is a thorough re-
futationof the theory of the Gazette We
do not owe the troubles which now beset
this State to early reconstruction, but to
the gross Encouragement Of the State
authorities, or rather to their efforts to
control the elections for their own bene-
fit When the Legislature assembled in
the spring of 1865, law was enacted
which disfranchised large number of
the citizens of the State This law was
regarded as very stringent, inasmuch as
it excluded from the ballot box so great
number ofthe best and most substantial
citizens The first election held under
this law occurred on the first Thursday
in August, 1865, and the satisfactory
manner in which the law worked may be
gathered from the message Of the Gov
error to the Legislature, dated October
3, 1865 lie said
Under the workings of most excel
lent and necessary law, passed at your
spring session, known as the franchise act
We have held congressional elections in the
eight districts of the State and have elected
eight representatives TO the next Congress
of the United States. As general thing,
the election passed off quietly, with here
and there exceptions, and was characterized |
by much better behavior than was antici- |
pated. Most of the districts were thoroughly |
canvassed, and large vote, considering all |
the circumstances, was polled. As many |
as $4,000 votes have been reported TO the |
Secretary Of States Office as cast, which, in |
view of the registration required, and the |
restrictions so properly thrown around the |
ballot-box, as well as the short time al |
lowed 10 prepare for the election, was ali that |
could reasonably have been expected. The |
clerks in some counties are reported to have |
neglected their duty, and to have granted |
certificates Of registration to many who |
we're disfranchised by law l think that |
law can be improved by amendments and |
additions, but / must be allowed 10 say that |
| am by no means an advocate Of its re-
peal. Nor do the loyal people Of the State
desire its repeal, if / understand their SEN
iiments The authority of the /
aud laws of the United States
and Of the State Of Tennessee has now ex-
tended over almost every county in the
State; the machinery of civil government
s working well, except in a few instances,
and it affords me great pleasure 10 say that
'AA HNoiAN aAN AdbAAAy ANNOfNAAAiE lANtAA AlAN
Effects Of insurrection, whilst prosperity is
in every section"
Here is the evidence that the Governor
vas satisfied with the working Of this
most excellent law, and although he
vas opposed to il repeal, he was by no
means certain that the loyal people"
we're Of the same way of thinking. But
here were leaders Of the Radical party
Who were dissatisfied with the result of
he election, and they set to work to ere-
tie a sentiment hostile to this law which
he Governor had pronounced most ex-
,ellent" What Influences were brought
o bear upon the Governor to this end
nay be inferred when the fact is stated
hat within two months from the time be
had expressed satisfaction with the work
ng of this law, he coolly informed the
legislature that he had refused to count
Is legal more than one-third Of the votes
asst in the congressional election. There
we're 81, 726 votes cast, and he assumed