Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-31

rit Ia tic EAAt~lAS5r AE0l AhE ItlaQ~
venture, smell a largesized mouse), nomi-
nate our candidate, say some pretty things
about him, sprinkle the old rat with
some grateful perfume, and the work is
done Cufee will be 50 delighted, so
elated with the bauble, ballot, Of which as
yet he knows nothing, that be will, Of
course, come to rs to know how il is
70 be manipulated"
Thus spake some of the elder chiefs, and
/ others soon chimed in. Twas a brilliant
| project, seemingig Even the eyes of Gov.
1 Brownlow, who kSss in days gone won for
/ himself, par eDcelieRct. the soubriquet Of the
great apostle Of slaYery--the terror Of
abolifionists, the negro hater-were tiazzled
| by The bright Illusion, and with a ghastly
smile Withdrew his previously expressed
/ determination 10 retire TO the shades Of
private life, where he might enjoy, 0tium
cum digajtdfe, the pleasing consolation that
no one had ever been the less happy for his
existence, and again consented 70 let the
State have the benefit of his Invaluable
services as a peace maker.
Thus stands the whole matter, so far as
relates to the self-styled friend of the negro
NOT as matter Of argument or proof
(which, however, as / have said, il so
abundant that we shall have TO ransack no
dusty shelves and musty records TO estab-
lish it, bat only as a simple matter of un-
deniable facts.
And now what part have ace played? Let
there be no eoncealment, no hypocrisy,
"no pattering in double sense" but right
out with the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing bnt the truth, as to What we have
iona 4 "a - i
and right frankly and honestly Whist our
notices are
We we're opposed, then, to emancipation,
and above all, opposed to universal and
unconditional emancipation without max
ing any provision for the maintenance of
the old, the infirm and the young. We
had intended, if we had been successful in
winning our independence to perpetuate
slavery until Providence had pointed out
the means of abolishing il without any
great shock to society. 1t was intended
20 modify the system in all IFS harsher
features, so that the relation of master and
slave should have been rather that of
guardian and ward, thus securing the COM
bined advantages of negro labor and the
white mans intelligence Emancipation
came then against our tciH, as Il did against
that Of the Radicals Of Tennessee. We were
opposed to conferring the right of suffrage,
because Of itself it is but mockery, and
would make the negro a tool in the hands
of designing dernagogues, without doing
him any good. We did not think him
qualified TO discharge such duty inteli-
gently. To confer upon him the right of
voting, and at the same time exclude two
thirds Of the white population, is only to
make enemies of those whose high
est interest it is 10 be good
friends But the work has been donel
and whether it be for good or evil, we
must make the most of it. What shall we
do? Shall we fulfill the ardent wishes of
the Radical, by driving the negro into his
arms, and making him our enemy for all
time 20 come? Shall we endorse the hol-
low hypocrisy of those who, for their own
wicked and selfish ends, have conferred
upon the negro only the power of lifting
Others to places Of honor, of profit and trust,
while he fills but an humble, degraded
part in the mere pageant-still sitting at
the feet of power; or, shall we adopt the
eminently wise suggestion of Judge Whit
worth-abandon the dead issues of the
past, and from the new standpoint on which
we find ourselves placed, wisely scan the
present and future.
The present admonishes MS that the
negro is free, that he is an enfranchised
citizen; that he is now a power in the
State; that in his hands rests the fate not
only of twO-thirds of our white citizens,
but the power of extinguishing forever the
fires of Radicalism, which threaten TO con-
sumo us with devouring flames; that in his
hands rests the power of restoring our
State to liberty, and of establishing harmo.
nious and amicable relations between all
the members of society. Never before had
such people so great a power Of good;
never before, nor ever again such power of
establishing themselves, in all time TO
come, in the hearts of their countrymen
never before, nor ever again such
an opportunity of comforting such great
good upon themselves, only by doing good
to others.
II is of vital interest to all, that society
should be restored to peaceful and harmo-
nious relations. We want peace, not a
hollow and deceiiful, but a real peace
not only cessation from arms but repose
and cessation from the angry passions of
war. We want TO see hunger and squalid
poverty, misery and rags, hanished from
the land. We want to see activity, life and
energy, an era of prosperity and of peace
iul, cheerful happiness, once more restored
10 our distracted State. The negro has the
power of conferring it, the poor, degraded,
despised negro of Yesterday the slave of
two centuries, is to day, if guided by intell-
igent councils, the greatest power in the
State-the controlling power ofthe State. He
is willing, ready, anxious, to strike hands
with us, TO be eur friend if we will be his.
lie wants our friendship and our counsel
All he asks, is that we shall deal fairly
with him. We ask of him great, price
less boon. We ask him TO restore liberty
and happiness once more TO our beloved.
but sorely stricken State. He is ready and
able to grant il if we only consent that he
shall share equally with us the benefits
which he confers.
Shall we hesitate We must decide
quickly. Nay, more. What we do, must
be done not grudgingly, but with a hearty
good will. Let MS at once fling our whole
souls into it. Take the negro into your
convention, give him place by your side,
aye, make him Vice President,
let him sit side by side with your first
officer in token of eternal reconciliation and
fraternity. Let the wires fash the glad
tidings to the ends of the earth, if you
please, that the war of races has ended, that
the era Of liberty, equality and fraternity
has once more dawned upon us, and that
-henceiorth we are one people, without re-
gard TO race, or color, or any other distinc-
ton than that of merit Give us but the
keynote, Messrs Editors, and let Tennes
see be the frst State, and the so-calIed
Rebels, they who were the fastest adherents
Of slavery, be the first TO hold ont to the
former slave the hand Of genuine friendship
"a friendship that is practical and en-
during.
Let me beseeoh you, sirs-let me beseech
our friends everywhere turn your backs
upon the past and look only upon the fu-
ture BE wise while il is vet to-day. Tarry
not lest the golden opportunity of lifting
yourselves and our poor State out Of the
mire and ruin of Rsdioalism, and Of plac-
ing it once more upon the solid
rock Of enduring peece and proc
perity be forever lost Let Browulow
and his militia canter over the State in the
fruitless search Of a law-breaking Rebel