Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-23
eBUFFALO.

4
their resolutions, congratulate the countr,
\ upon the success of their scheme of recon
struction, and the last words uttered b
their speakers and their presses declar
that reconstruction is a failure that tn,
South is still in a condition Of rebellion
that its social disorders demand the pres
ence Of great armies, and that the first dut,
of Congress when It meets viii be to turn
reconstructed Georgia out OF the Union
Applause.
At the outset Of this canvass the Repub
lican party asked to be continued in power
upon the ground that it had governed thu
country for the past four years wisely anC
we'll, and they demand popular approval
of their policy. After full discussion o
three months touching the wisdom and th'
integrity Of the policy of the government
with regard 10 reconstrnction and finances
At is found that order has not been restored
at the South; that the burdens. of deb
have not been lighiened, or the evils o
oppressive taxation have not been lifted
off from the labor and industry of th'
country as they should have been. Driver
from their frst ground, and feeling tha
the people of this country we're unwilling
to approve their acts, they now try to hold
power by making tho people believe, moi
that they have done well, but that the
democratic party would do worse If they
succeed at this time.
To Prove this they aver that the success
of the Democratic ticket will involve the
country again in civil war. They feel
that nothing short of civil war would be
worse. TCheers. They have declared
that the Democrat nominees are ready to
overthrow their legislation by force. To
make the charge still more dramatic, am
to be sent to nv final account by the hands
of my political supporters, and that Gen.
Blair then is TO trample beneath bis feet
the reconstruction laws as ruthIessly as
Gen. Meade stamps them out by his mill
taay orders, with the concurrence Of this
same Republican party.
IL i am TO go to my last account, trust
/ shall be judged by kinder or more
charitable tribunal than my Republican
friends have proved to be. (lsughter). II
the Democratic ticket is elected, and Gen
eral Blair should reach the Presidential
chair, how would the case stand He
would be confronted by Republican SEN
ale, by House Of Republicans, full Of
Generals of the army of the United States,
fanked by the loyal leagues and by the
grand army of the republic, ounder the
command of their own candidates for the
Presidency, whom they declare to be first
Captain OF the age, and yet we are graVely
told that standing alone sEackled by Con-
gressional restraints, he can crush out all
this power and plunge the country into
civil war. If this be true then General
Blair is either the most vigorous man who
has lived in the history Of the world,
or the Republican Senators, members of
Congress and commanders Of armies are
the most imbecile men who ever dis
graced public positions, (cheers.) .
Now, admit there is fear in the minds
of the Republican leaders, but it is MOI this
absurd fear. II is the dread thai the
public mind, having been trained 70 its e.
nancial and political policy, is reaching
conclusions which will sweep them from
political power; therefore they seek to
change their issues therefore they have
changed their front. In this contest we
are admonished it is a dangerous thing to
change front on the eve of battle. pros
pose in the course of this canvass, on occa-
sions like this, to discuss the policy and
conduct Of the men in power. Tonight [
must confne myself to few points; else
where l shall speak Of other wrongs and
errors. - .
When the war ended nearly four years
ago, it left the Southern States disorgan-
lied and impoverishedS The duty Of re-
storing peace and prosperity to that section
81 rs-..;-o ;-s~ ---I;s;r, rphsro it s,o,.Il
add to the national prosperity and aid to bear
its burdens, fell upon the Republican party.
Thedificulties of the task was increased by
the fact that its population was made up
of two distinct races, one CT Which had
been held in slavery and was now suddenly
called on, untutored as they were, TO
act a new part in our social. and political
system. ed. .
/ do not wish to underrate the Difficult
ties with which they had to contend, but
the magnitude of the difficulties demanded
that they should enter upon the task in
wise and thoughtful way. Armies alone
cannot bring back the value of order to
a community; they can only restrain vio-
fence. The healing measures of the states
man must work the cure. The two great
objects to be kept in view were to give all
classes that prosperity Whic h tends TO make
man desire peace-Which gives them hope,
and in the end state in the good order
of society. Dispair ever makes disorder.
great object and end was TO lift
up the African as far and as fast as could
be wisely done. Humanity dictated this
the interest of the white population of the
South demanded il; as the two races were
to live upon the same soil, their common
interest called for harmony Of purpose and
of feeling.
Under this state of affairs wise men
would seek the aid of the most intelligent
and influential men of that section of the
country, taking care TO guard against any
influences springing from their prejudices.
Have these obvious truths been regarded
by the men in power? Has not recon-
struction failed because they disregarded
them? The first step towards restoring
order and producing harmony between
the two races was always to administer
to the prosperity of that section which
would be shoared elike by the
white man and the negro. The industry
of the South should be made mutually
profitable. Unless the employer made a
profit on his cotton he could not pay the
laborer. Failing to do this, disaster
b4OABhh hot Ohiy tNfCitJI .Dut bOhiHSAOA
and discomfort.
True craftsmanship would have stretched
out helping hand, but what was the first
act of the men in power? 1t was to put
monstrous export tax of six cents per
pound on the cotton raised by the labor of
the negro upon the plantation of the white,
struggling with the evils Of poverty, with
the difficulties of their new positions and
relationships. The first public efforts of
their people to gain the means of liyeli-
hood were blasted by an unwise, selfish and
vindictive act ! say unwise, because it
it has had much to do with the failure of
the Republicans to restore order at the
South. r.r..
The negro, exssperatea by the failure of
his ruined employer, became hostile to the
employer, losing the little credit that he
had before in the North, resumed his ef-
forts under till greater difficulties than
before. l say q was a selfish act, because
il was done in the interest of the Eastern
already wealthy from the
fruits of the war, protected by enormous
tariffs of six cents pound upon all cotton
exported, which was simply imposed SO
that he might buy it for price ak cents
less than it was worth in the markets of
the world.
THE ISTHMUS.