Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-26


For Press aad Times Co.
Nashville. Tenn. Jan. 2. 1867.
THE RADICAL REVOLUTIONARY
PROGRAMME.
From the National Intelligencer
The responses Of the Radical organs TO
Mr.. Stanberry's opinion have done much 10
simplify the issues before the country, and
we thank them accordingly. Heretofore
the question has been, whether the Presl-
dent should be impeached in a partial,
seeming compliance with the forms Of the
consultation, because he would not give his
assent TO laws passed in disregard Of the
constitution. In all this project Messrs.
Boutwell, and Butler have approved them
selves the more manly, albeit the more
reckless, leaders of their party. They
went straight 10 their work and proposed
naked, square issue for the country. Their
party, as all know, recoiled from the step;
the leaders thought they could gain the
desired end more cheaply and at less risk
Of arousing public indignation.
The plan now is by game Of bluff and
intimidation from the same heated parti-
sans to virtually abrogate the Presidential
Office to subject the President, not merely
10 n AdDiutAt UuA W llOlu il1 DiutC nuDOl-
dinate 10 some SIX military commanders,
each one Of whom has been designated by
the President for the performance Of his
respective trust The President, made by
the constitution the Commander-in-ChiefO Of
the army and navy, assigns these officers to
their duties be may assign them by the
same warrant TO other duties tomorrow, as
the public interests may require. II is now
claimed that these officers 50 assigned are
utterly independent of HE orders, iuris-
diction, and supervision they may commit
what ontrages they please, but are not re-
sponsible 10 the President. This is the last
siep Of Rsdiealism. We think it is not
over-stated.
Says the New York Times, after pro-
pounding its policy This statement Of the
case has harsh and homogeneous look, we
admit. IL places the General, apparently,
above the functionary whom the constitu-
ton makes Commander-inChief and il
renders the General absolute in the district
under sis command. To this extent it
conflicts with our notion of republican
sysiem, and with the proper status of the
soldier under the American system. We
are not now called upon, however, to deal
with abstract principles, or theoretical, or
even American forms Of action. The facts
are all that concern us and these hardly
admit Of doubt. The purpose Of Congress
undeniably was 10 render the district COM
mander practically supreme in his sphere"
The Tribune says the bill gave the Gen
erals commanding absolute power" and
usethe President questions this assump-
tien on their part il arraigns him and calls
for July session Of Congress TO address
itself again 10 the question of reconstruc-
ton. In like manner the Herald contends
there is but one restriction upon the
power Of the military commander: his
penalties and punishments must stop short
only Of DEATH" IL asserts that he is a
supreme power in his district, without any
reference 20 higher authority"
We repeat our cordial Acknowledgements
20 these presses for this frank statement of
the case. The country now will no longer
misunderstood what this party is driving at.
The Executive Office is 70 be destoyed we
are 10 have some six absolute, supreme
military tyrants, whose powers stop short
only of life and death. They may make
codes at pleasure, govern at discretion or
without discretion, con6scate property at
will, with or without reason, remove Off
Gals appoint others in their stead, concen-
trate in their own hands all the powers Of
government, whether executive, legislative,
or judicial, pack the registration lists at
pleasure, disfranchdse anybody they happen
20 dislike in short do any and all the acts
which have made tyranny odious all over
the world
We are told that the American people
are 80 debalched that the are ready for all
this; that we have no longer anything TO
do with abstract principles, or theoretical,
or even American forms of action" This
is the issue now made up. This is the allie
cation. We repel it as a base Islander,
utterly unwarranted by facts-a SANDER
which finds its source and inspiration only
in prohigate minds unconscious of virtue
"a themselves and not admitting Its exis-
tonce in others. What steps the Executive
may take to vindicate his rights and to dis
charge his solemn duties to the constitution
we are not fully advised, but this much we
will undertake to say. The Con
seryatiye party Of the land is strong
enough, and, If united, it possesses
not only the power, but the will and deter
mination to crush cut this conspiracy
against liberty and constitution-thIs
avowed outrage upon American forms of
action" Let these conspirators, If they
please, call together the rump Congress
which already stinks in the public nosirils;
let them, IL they please, try TO perfect and
consummate all crime against liberty which
they now claim 10 hava been their purpose
in the bills passed let them endeavor 10
install a set Of military commanders armed
with absolute powers, over the constitu-
tional Executive; let them 60 in to more
and more daring acts Of revolution. Those
who invoke revolution must be ready 20
neeti its consequence. IL they trample on the
supreme Law, and appeal 20 the rude
hand Of power, let them see 10 IL that that
hand is strong enough 10 crush ont entirely
any expression of the will Of an indignant
people. As to the popular voice We have
no doubt what il will be when the crime
thus meditated, thus boldly proclaimed,
shall be revealed in all It's length and
breadth 20 the public gaze Surprise, IN
dignation, and punishment will follow each
other in turn SO swiftly that in our day We
shall not need % teach these bad men
another lesson. But we do not fear that
they will ventue 70 carry out in acts all the
promptings Of their hearts. For year
and more impeachment has been in their
hearts and on their lips. They looked at
il, dallied with il. wanted TO do IL, but
could not muster the courage to venture on
the step. They marched nearly up 20
their object, but all the while their eyes
were looking over their shoulders; and,
finally, when il came TO the point, the lea
deu recoiled. And thus will they do
again. Bad men are only dangerous when
the public mind is inatientiye, and those
timid whose special duty it is to resist and
put them down.