Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-30
INnIFFERENCE a CRIME.

Indifferent to the course Of political
events, and to sink into apathy, and give
himself over to dependency; or, who
would make his personal comfort of mind
or his private pursuits, an excuse for re-
fusing to participate, to that extent that
is the duty Of every citizen, in directing
and controlling public affairs, we have a
word for him. We use the term citizen
in its broadest sense, and give it general
application, We mean men Of every
shade of political opinion, except that
styled by those who hold it-Radical Re-
publicanism and of every color-those
enfranchised and those disfranchised.
important changes have been wrought
in our institutions by the war Some
Of them are complete, and beyond the
power Of reversal, even if it were desira-
bic to alter them. There were conflict
ing opinions as to their justice and pro-
priety; and large majority of the PEG.
pie of the State feel that they were the
work of arbitrary force, selfshly and
.waptonly welded and feeling this
grievance deeply they have not yet come
to dispassionate Judgment of the in
herent good and i'll there may be in
them. This was natural, and to be ex
pected. We cannot ask any man to g let
his eye look like a friend" upon
the ruthless innovations around
him, and at once to cancel all his former
views, and concede that what he formerly
condemned, is Just and right and proper.
But we do ask that, as sensible, practical
men, they shall, 50 far as they have the
power, lay hold of matters, and endeavor
50 to shape the condition as 10 evolve
from it all the good it contains, and ia
prevent all the evil that it threatens. This
is clearly the policy and the duty of every
Conservative, whether he was Union
man during the war; Federal soldier, a
Rebel in arms, or a Southern sympa.
thizeR Ii the management Of affairs is
left in the hands Of those who now control
them, with the machinery which they
have erected in full operation, they will
soon make Tennessee a hell All that is
now bad VIII be made infinitely worse
Evils existing will be made more intoler.
able, and they will multiply. tbs, there
fore, the religious duty Of every CoHser-
ence and to throw of dependency, and,
by every legitimate means through which
political influence can be exercised, to
endeavor to eject from power the men
who are driving the State on the rock OF
destruction PrecOnceiyed views and lin
gering prejudices alike, should be aban-
doned There is before them a stern and
actual state of facts They cannot be
changed and we must meet and manage
them as best we may. A united effort of
all who recognize that the longer continu-
ance of Radical sway viii increase the
mischieis we are subjected to, will put an
end to il; and when conservatism assumes
direction Of the organic alterations which
have been made, they may, and we have
no doubt will, be wisely adapted and be-
come as thoroughly harmonized with the
sentiments and interests of the people, as
they are firmly fixed in the body of our
laws. So long as they are allowed to be
used for base political purposes, they will
continue to disturb the public peace and
mar prosperity, and so long our rights
and liberties viii be at the mercy Of the
mailed hand of force, and viii ultimately
perish.
The colored voter in Tennessee may
rest assured that the Conservative whites
will maintain for him all the rights he
has under the laws, and will assist and
encourage him in learning to employ
them wisely and to bis advantage The
first lesson they will try to teach him is
Conservatism. His political power is
newly acquired A breath made him a
member Of the body politic-the hot
breath of revolution. A breath may un-
make him The aseendancy Of a
party that claims as its cardinal
doctrine the necessity of Radical changes
under the name Of progress, is a standing
invitation to revolutions and counter
revolutions. What might be his fate in
another upheayal cannot be foretold
His security for the permanency of his
right to assist in framing the laws under
which he is to live, is in stable and well
ordered, economic government under a
fixed constitution. Cooperation with
his Conservative friends will ensure him
and them against the dangers of Radi-
calism; and we therefore urge that it is
his duty 30 vote, and use every means
Of gaining the information chat will
enable him to vote intelligently. If the
men black sud white in this State, who
are deeply interested in the overthrow
Of the reckless oligarohy whose machina-
tons threpten ruin to every vital concern
viii bestir themselves, the State can he