Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-05
TEE DUTY OF CONSERVATIVES IN
THE SOUTHERN STATES.

The restriction upon the suffrage right
ia the States Of which the last recon-
struction act Of Congress applies,
comprehends only those who, having,
at some time in the administration
Of public trust, taken the oath
to support the constitution and GO
vernment of the United States, subse-
quently participated in the late rebel
lion. The mass of male citizens, regard
less Of color, compose the voting popula-
ton This is fair and rational cons
struction of the law, and is the only
Interpretation that has, or can be justly
put upon it. The terms are not clear and
accurate, but they cannot be made to
mean greater extent Of disfranchise-
ment, unless by the ipse dira of the
military officer, who has virtually abso-
lutte power.
Assuming this as the construction,
the people of those States if we are
to take the views of their leading news
papers, and the utterances of many of
their public men, have concluded to pro-
coed to the work of electing delegates to
conventions for the purpose Of adopting
State constitutions conformable TO the
requirements Uf the act While they
dispute the constitutional authority Of
Congress to remand them out Of existence
as States, and are preparing to take steps
to test that question in the Supreme
Court, it seems most probable that
the acts Of the military authority
in holding elections for delegates to
State conventions viii be acquiesced
in and supported by majority
Of the people. They deem civil au
thOrity preferable to military despotism,
though they deny the mode in which
civil rule is to be established, and ques-
ton the wisdom of the organic principle
on which it is founded They feel forced
to choose between the alternatives Of law
less and tyrannic military rule, and civil
organization imposed on them without
authority; and take the latter, fully con.
scious that once accepted and ratified by
them as a people, it becomes irreyocable
except by revolution, which they do not
contemplate. The recognition of negro
suffrage is involved in thiscourse, together
with the exclusion from that privilege of
a majority Of the men who have hereto
fore guided public opinion in those States
In Virginia, Gen Lee advocates the as
sembling Of convention under the law
Gems Beauregard, Longstreet and Hamp-
ton have given expression to similar
views and in every State leading men,
themselves DISTINGUISHED have advised to
the same course. In giving this counsel,
these men are actuated by high, unset
fish, patriotic convictions of duty They
are truly and grandly conservative, as
that word has now meaning in our
politics
Conservatism is not an obstinate adhe-
renee to ideas aud opinions, nor even to
legal rights, in the face of forces that
cannot be resisted Ii is that comprehen-
sive common sense, that in perilous cir.
cumstances, seeks to do the best that can
be done. 1t measures the whole situation
with careful scrutiny, and adapts its eff
forts to secure the strongest position that
can be held to check the progress of de-
structive innovation. In such a struggle,
it does not waste time and weaken its
energies inlamenting what has happened;
nor in dogmatic discourse upon what are
called principles Principles, if founded
in truth, are eternal They may be
abandoned for time, but they will re-
assert themselves. Conservatism ad-
dresses itself TO the duty Of so controlling
circumstances, that true principles may
govern. In periods of madness and
revolution, like that through which this
nation is now passing, this task Is most
difficult and the only feasible way Of &C
complishing it, is to deal practically with
facts. The prominent men Of the South
ern States perceive that The power Of the
Radical Congress is irresistible, and that
the Executive and Judiciary are power
less to help them, and the policy they adj
wise is in accordance with these facts.
IL is 10 accept the conditions demanded
for the reconstruction Of those States, /
cmaacipate them from military satrapy,
and so enlighten and guide public senti-
mcnt as 70 restore TO supremacy sound
principles OF government and thus put a
step 20 the career Of Radical destructive
ness.
That under the circumstances, this Is
the true duty Of Conservatives in the
Southern States we have no doubt; and
if it be true there, it is equally so in Ten
messed. We are under a petty State
despotism, that has imposed more sweep !
ing DISTINGUISHING laws than those in
operation there Ii has conferred suf- I
frage on the solored population for the /
purpose Of maintaining its power Il
does not become Us TO pause and parley !
with facts-tO idly discuss whether it was |
right in itself or rightfully done II