Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-05-03


IT is charged against us, VIC learn,
that the Conservative cause is preju-
diced by our not pursuing a more
conciliatory course towards the Ten
nessee Radicals, and the accusation
is based upon general idea Of the
impolicy of prescribing men for their
political opinions. As a general rule
we admit, not only the impolicy,
but the positive wrong of intolerance
towards those who honestly differ
with us in opinion. Parties, before
the war, were arrayed against each
other, and much intolerance was
wrongfully manifested. We say
wrongfully, because there was no
valid reason why men might not diff
fer about the tariff and other meas
ures of mere policy, and still be
friends--feeling mutual respect and
attachment, and practicing all the
amenities Of social life towards each
other.
But there is no parallel between
those times and these, and no SINH
larity in points of political differ
ence. On the one side, the contest
is for the restoration of the plainest
constitutional rights on the other,
to degrade the majority by trampling
under foot both the Constitution and
the rights it confers upon that ma
jority. The Radicals assert that the
Conservatives are unworthy to exer-
else any political right, and have
taken from them every political priv.
ilege. But not content with these
acts of unmitigated tyranny, they
insult them by the practical dcclara.
ton, that they are inferior to their
former slaves, and the negroes are
elevated above them, and made the
arbiters Of the future of both races
the guardians of the honor and pros.
perity of the State. When a man,
who is exerting all his energies to
degrade you and your children, Of
fers his hand, can you grasp it as
that Of friend? Can you invite to
the Inequalities of your home, men
who are prowling in your midst, do
ing the work Of political incendia-
RIGS? Some may plead that they are
honest, and, therefore, should not be
ostracised; we can not admit the
plea, because we believe it to be false,
and will not tear the mantle of char.
ity by trying to stretchait over in.
EQUITIES that can not be hidden.
When the Federal hordcs bore
down upon the South, marking their
course with blood and fire and rob-
berry, did those charitably disposed
individuals justify their barbarity
upon the plea, that the invaders hon,
estly believed the war to be just, and
therefore, should not be resisted 3?
If so they are consistent, and may
we'll urge social afliliation with those
who are now seeking to destroy all
that was left us by their predecessors
the protection of the Constitution.
These enemies, in time of peace, are
more despicable than the meanest in
time Of war, because then they were
harmless. and reserved their valor
until the hour of danger had passed,
and display it now against unarmed
men, and in the organization of
Grand Armies that drill only I'M.
der cover Of darkness, armed with
falsehood, malignity and avarice.-
Personally, we would wrong none of
these invctcrate enemies, but must be
excused from recognizing them as
worthy members of society, or Civ
ing them the slightest reason to be-
lieve that we do not estimate them at
their true value Northern Radicals
may have been so educated as to be.
lievc they are right, and their honest
convictions entitle their conduct TO a
charitable construction but no man
raised in the South can honestly en-.
dOrse the Radical tyranny that OPP
presses his native land, unless he is
base enough to strike his mother
Those who entertain views and feel,
ings differing from these, are at lib
orty to reduce them to practice, but
we have no welcome to extend to au
enemy, native or imported. Had
they any Of the attributes Of true
manhood, they vsaLi rot 30 here.