Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-25
HOW TENNESSEE RADICALS Pro
POSE TO SILENCE OPPOSITION. &
The Philadelphia Press Of the ?

inst contains the following @
The latest form Of Rebel tyranny, the
prescription Of colored voters for opinions
sake, is receiving the attentive considera
ton Of the Republicans of Tennessee. The
Knoxville WMg states that Gov. Brown
/ low advocates an act by Congress conhs-
eating the property Of such men as have
dismissed colored lsborers for voting the
Republican ticket" And at a meeting of
the Republican State Committee, held at
/ Nashville on the 18th inst, the following
resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the special attention of
our members Of the Legislature elect, and
of oar members Of Congress elect, is hereby
invited to the prescription now threatened
and attempted by Conservatives or Rebels
against colored men, for opinions sake, in
/ preventing them from acting freely as they
choose, or dismissing them from service for
voting the Republican ticket, with view
to secure any State or national Legislation
which may be necessary to guarantee every
voter In the free, untrammeled exercise OF
this cardinal right.
Every thing like independent actiOn1n
this State Is suppressed as far as possible.
That portion of the people who oppose the
present ruling dynasty are regarded as TT
for nothing but to be hewers of wood
and drawers of water, and they are 50
treated by the Governor and his plant
tools. These free white men are not al
lowed the privilege they used to enjoy Of
being free agents. They are required to
pay taxes. 10 contribute their share to-
ward keeping up the public roads, to serve
on juries, and to perform military service
| if their Radical masters demand it, but
are debarred the exercise of the highest
right Of citizenship, voting, and if they
discharge from their employment men,
especially black men, who assist in per-
petuating these burdens, which are griev-
GUS to be borne, the Governor flies into
print and advocates an act by Congress-
confscating the property of such men,
and the Radicals of Nashville give this
monstrous proposition their moral sup
port in the resolution which gives so
much satisfaction to the Philadelphia
Press. Had such measure as this been
advocated by Governor of State before
the war, it matters not to which party he
might have belonged, it would have COW
cred him all over with infamy, and his
name would have been handed down TO
posterity as a byoword and a reIroach
Even his own party, high as political ex-
element often ran then, would have de-
serted him But nothing seems to be too
monstrous now for the Radicals, if leveled
at the Southern people who refuse to
sustain that party in its mad, destructive
career. Occasionally a Republican is
found who has not been thoroughly radi
Called, who revolts at the policy which
would make the South worse than Po-
land ever was. But they are in so great
a minority as to have lost all control of
their party. Here is the Governor Of
Tennessee advocating measure which
can find no paliation in justice, No sanc>
ton in law, and which outrages every
sentiment of honest independence and
the Radicals of this State sustain him.
What kind of reception does this mon
strous proposition receive at the hands of
Northern Radicals ? Not one word Of
rebuke does it evoke, but on the contrary,
it is clear that they are gratifed at the
Autocrats plan for striking down every
vestige of freedom of opinion, and inau-
guratings a despotism more intolerant
than that which eharacterizes Austria OF
Russia to-day What does such spirit
portend Cor the future of our country?
Certainly nothing that any patriot can
honestly desire Il l
The St Louis Republican takes very
Just view in the following article of this
iniquitious proposition
Perhaps enough has been said touching
the qualities of this miserable creature,
who afilicts humanity in Tennessee But
il must be remembered that Brownlow
occupies, as Governor, place which should
be filled BY statesman; and that as such,
and especially as a representative of The
spirit and tone of Radicalism, his acts
assume an importance which they would
not otherwise possess. We have Just had
a specimen of his qualities as a statesman.
which therefore deserve attention. He
has announced, through his special organ,
the Knoxville WIG, which is his own
paper, that he not only favors the continu-
ance Of the present election law, which
disfranchises thousands of the best white
men in Tennessee, while il enfranchises
the negroes but he also advocates the pas
sage of law by Congress, confscating the
property of those who dismissed colored
iaborers from their employ since the late
elections. That is to say, he would make
il compulsory for a white man to retain in
HE employ q negro who voted for him, even
n the employer should discover in his
amploye certain qualities or characteristics
which he did not like; or, be would make
dismissal of such employee a criminal
ofiense Of so high grade as 70 justify con-
fseating the employers property and re-
ducing him and his family to want Is
not this specimen Of enlightened states
manshfp? The fact that the constitution
stands in the way ofary such action by Con-
gress, he would not regard. Is so trifing
| a thing as the constitution of the
United States to stand in the way of his
vehement will and amiable temper? II is
charitable to suppose that Brownlow is in
sane; he is certainly not rational man.
But il cannot be denied that he is faithful
exponent Of the spirit, will and motives of
the Radical party; 30 that, if we pronounce
him insane, what shall we say Of the Radi-
cal leaders generally? One OF the most
profound thinkers that ever lived, Bishop
Butler, the author Of the Analogy, once
gave il as his opinion that communities,
rs we'll as individuals, sometimes became
insane; and much Of that which is trans
piring in these days would seem 10 justify
the opinion. Certainly il is difficult TO be-
lieve that large part of the legislation of
Congress can be the result Of the action OF
rational minds; it certainly is not the OH
spring Of humane hearts and benevolent
natures. Be this as it may, however,
the conduct Ct Brownlow, of Congress,
and of some Of the Eailiiary COM
msnders, proves this; That almost any
hrainless human brute may be tyTant,