Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-18
PRESCRIPTION"


dealing, the Press and Times, Of yester-
terday, utters a wall over the assumed
fact that several influential Conserva~
tives are privately using great industry
in persuading all their followers to pro-
scribe all colored BARRIERS, mechanics and
laborers who support the Republican
ticket" We have nothing to say of the
truth Of this allegation, except that we
have seen nc evidence Of its truth in the
ordinary transactions of the city and
country. But we have a word to say up
on the subject to which it refers, and the
source whence it proceeds
In 1861 there were mere than six thou
sand white voters in this city and coun-
ty, and there is now considerably
greater number OF these white voters
the Radicals have never been able to
summon to the ballot-box, on strict
party vote, more than about SIX hundred
Not one tenth Of the white people in Da-
wilson county are friendly to Radicalism.
There are now registered less than
four hundred white Conservative vo-
tiers 10 the city and county while
there are FIVE thousand who are disfran-
chised and prescribed at this very mo-
ment This wholesale prescription was
conceived, urged and carried through by
the Radicals. The bulk of the wealth,
and the intelligence, and the patriotism
| of Nashville and Davidson county is
subjected to a causeless and heartless
prescription, that has no example in the
history of republican institutions, and
which the Radical Congress refused
with indignation to impose upon the peo-
pie even of South Carolina. 1t was re-
served for Fletcher in Missouri, and a
Fletcher in Tennessee, intensified by that
disgusting sum of all political meanness
and tyranny, Brownlowism, to carry
prescription to its most oppressive and
degrading extent 1t is now the fugle-
man of this party that deprecates pros
cription," and seeks to embitter the blacks
against the whites who are thus pro-
scribed
But the Tennessee Radicals would
crown their infamy by striving to in
huence the negro now invested with the
ballot, to put his foot upon the necks of
the very men who give him employment
and assistance, and crush them to the
very dust These Radicals unite with
their tyrannical knavery the last degree
Of idocy, if they suppose that ordinary
human nature would not feel a resistless
impulse to free themselves from the
fierce prosecutions to which they are
thus subjected If the base counsels Of
the white Radical leaders shall make the
negro the enemy of the white mans
freedom, then the white man can, if he
choose. select his BARRIERS, mechanics
and day-laborers, or he may do without
altogether. Is it contemplated that a
Radical commissioner shall super
wise the private and domestic bust
ness affairs of this people, and
compel every Conservative to em-
ploy such colored laborers as shall
support the Radical ticket Ii so, we
have reached a point Of oppression to
which no people in the history of the
human race was ever subjected There
are some rights which are imprescript'
ible, and cannot be invaded, and this is
one of them 1t is well for our colored
people to understand this.
1t is not prescription but it is simply
saying to the colored man that the Cons
sentative will not employ an avowed
enemy to his liberty and prosperity in
his private affairs It is his right, and
no man has cause to complain. We have
not advised the Conservatives to this
course but if any of them choose to do
so, it is their right and we shall defend it