Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-10
A CONFLICT THAT May BE IRRE.
PRESSIRLE.

The National Intelliqencer learns from
various portions of the Southern States that
many intelligent, influential and substan-
tial old citizens decline all participation in
the work of organization and reconstruc-
ton as projected by Congress. Fos ms
most part they remain passive, having
spontaneously adopted the policy recon-
mended by A. H. Stephens They will
either vote against a convention, or not
vote at all, even should they consent to the
registration of their names
They do not consider that they have
anything to do with the future government
Of their respective States, as that has passed
from the hands of the people of those
States to Congress. They have the privi-
lege Of remaining on the soil, subject to
the future division of the same between
them and the freedmen. But their State
governments have been destroyed by Con-
gress, and no modification of this form eau
be tolerated by Radicals, no matter how
absurd and unjust it may be.
When the State governments pass from
the hands of the military they ,OiH deUolUe
upon The freedmen and their faO phite Radical
allies, S0hO i0U, Of course, eRgrOsS for them.
selUes all Federal and State authority, and
consult only their Olgn interests as class and as
a party. Even circumstances from respect
able citizens against theoppressions of this
sort Of government would be unheed-
ed by Congress, and perhaps provoke punt
tive legislation. 1t is not at all strange
that very large portion of the most USE
full and intelligent citizens of the South
should act on Mr.. A. H Stephens theory,
that they cannot improve their situation
and prospects either by resisting or
by promoting the Congress plan of recon-
structiOn.
That the government of the ten States
now being msngled in the "reconstruc-
ton mill, viii emerge in the hands of the
blacks and "a few white Radical allies"
there is little doubt, and in the light of
the recent experience in Tennessee, a
State now in the third year of that spe-
cies of tribulation, the white people win
act wisely if they pursue the policy OF
non-participatiOn They may and should
indicate acquiescence, for any other
course would be as futile, as it certainly
would be hurtful But with the prospect
Of being condemned to indefinite disfran>
chisement and political vassalage to their
former slaves and the white adventures
who manipulate their votes, there is nei-
Their sense nor need Of their becoming
parties to their own degradation, aud
giving sanction and legitimacy to the
unhallowed work. Let them pass through
the valley of the shadow Of "reconstruc-
ton, passive and NONRESIDENT
In Tennessee, on the LIST Of August, the
few white men left enfranchised, with the
concurrence Of the vast majority of the
DISTINGUISHED gave the Radical system of
demonstrating States, a full and fair test
They proposed to rati(y and guarantee to
the colored race the full measure Of civil
freedom conferred on them in the Federal
statutes, and all the politicalrights granted
by the Legislature of Tennessee. They
asked in return that the blacks should
vote the enfranchisement Of the
whites. This proposition was refused 1t
was done after all the elaboration that
the race is capable of giving so simple,
fair, and just a proposition The issue
was patiently, laboriouslY, and sincerely
argued to them. Remonstrance and So
lieitation were resorted to. An were in
vain. The negroes knowing that they
held the decision in their hands, declared
against the equal rights Of the white
man In extenuation, it cannot be pleaded
that they acted in unadvised ignorance.
IL the recent canvass made by the Com
sentative party had not occurred, there
might be justification for exeusing the
negro for the responsibility for this mon
strous outrage. But as the case stands,
he must assume it, and all the eonse
quences Of the issue that he has permit
ted the white Radicals to lead him to-
The negro in Tennessee has rejected the
frank, manly and magnanimous proiFer Of
universal suffrage, and narrowed the
question Of the political mastery of this
State and the whole of the former slave
section Of the country, to one of brains
and muscle, moral power and physical
endurance between himself and the white
man The dominant party viii control
the current Of events which wiz lead to a
decision Of this struggle, and may so do
it, that there win be no attending COM