Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-08
duiOu and 9ispatth.
SATURDAY. AUGUST $. 1865.
Largest Circulation in City and State,
PEACE NOT DESIRED.

submitted in good faith, accepted the
situation, renowned secession, repudi-
ated the Rebel debt and acquiesced in
the abolition of slavery. Nothing was
wanting te complete restoration, but the
consentand corporation Of the Radical
majOrities in Congress But as soon as
this became evident, instead Of conform
ing their policy TO peace and harmony,
every effort was exerted to prevent re-,
Cancellation by the most peryerse and
diabolical ingenuity.
The leading Jacobins saw at once that
if the old fraternal relations were revived
their occupation would be gone, and that
the trade upon which they had fourished
so long and proftably would be stopped
forever Hence they addressed all their
energies to exclude the possibility Of res
union in the first instance, and to widen
the breach by the enactment Of the most
Odious and offensive laws. The various
forms Of reconstruction, negro suf-
fragc, military oppression, the Freed
mems Bureau, and other OUT
rageous devices, were all conceived
for the purpose Of crushing the South by
tyrannical impOsitions, of wOunding the
spirit of the people, and of exciting their
resentment, in order to fabricate pre-
tense for agitation There is no example
in history Of such wicked cruelty and de-
liberate intention to keep n people
estranged and hostile, whom every tie of
blood, of interest and Of affection, should
bind closely together The legislation of
Congress is without a parallel for vim
dictive malignity and heartless inhu-
manity. 1t is a disgrace to the ciyiliza-
ton of the age, and a burning stigma
upon the name Of free institutions.
Instead Of encouraging the leading
men Of the South--the men of substance,
of character, of honor and Of influence
in their upright endeavors to bury the
past and to revive true and lasting feel
ing of nationality, these revolutionary
demagogues repel every advance, mis-
represent every act, and strive to fomHnt
new causes Of strife by willful ISLANDERS
They subject the Southern people to the
domination and barbaris IN Of their recent
slaves and then if they refuse TO kiss
that rod in humbleness and degradation,
they are denounced as "Rebels andJop-
perheads,' while the crew of knavish ad'
yenturers who infest the land like the
plaques of Egypt are held up as the only
loyal patriots
Considering the treatment of Congress,
and the willful outrages enacted in the
abused name Of law, we venture to say
that no people could have borne them
solves better, or yielded more faithful
obedience to authority than the Southern
people have done. If they had no other
motive for that course, Interests alone
would have prompted it But they were
actuated by q higher principle, and
obeyed from sense Of duty. There
may have been individual exceptions, as
might we'll be expected after a long and
bloody war But the general sentiment
was we'll expressed by Mr.. Reagan, for
merly a Senator from Texas, and after
wards member of Jefferson Davis
Cabinet in q recent speech at Galveston,
where he said:
"The duty of the Southerners is to obey
the laws, accept the situation with regard
TO suffrage as il now stands, and, like true
and honest men, to labor for the restora-
ton Of peace and harmony between the
sections"
Such is the anxious and sincere wish
Of every leading Southern mind; while
every prominent Radical, on the contra'
ry, desires to keep up the feud. The reaN
son is plain Reconcile the North and
| South, and the career Of Radicalism
would be ended IL the whole South,
without a dissenting voice, would agree
to any conditions that Radicalism might
prescribe, it would not satisfy agitators
like Sumner, Stevens, Howard and But.
Ter, who only live by stirring up diseords.
When the constitutional amendment
abolishing slavery and including other
conditions were proposed, Mr.. Reverdy
johnson inquired, if the South ratified it
would that end the controversy. Mr..
Sumner and others Immediately answered
no; and so they would do again. All
their interests and inclinations are against
peace They went to the country two
years ago with the most profuse pledges
and promises of reform, retrenchmcntr
and reconciliation Congress was carried
on the faith Of those pledges. And now,
after eight months they have adjourned
not only without having redeemed q
single promise, but leaving the
public interest neglected, and the
country in. worse condition than
it was at the close of the war
Why is this The answer is plain and
direct The Radicals are either not ca,
pable Of bringing about peace, and oI
settling our disordered aFairs; or they
prefer a state of political disturbance as
a means Of concealing their frauds anc
oorruptions
The men who deceived the people tw,
years ago, who have done all this mis-
chief, who have brought us to the verg,
of another civil war, who have augmente,
the public burdens, and who have squan'
dered hundreds Of millions Of taxe
wrung from honest industry upon favore'
partisans and monopolies, are they wh'
now dare to ask the same people to trust
them again, and to accept anew their Va
iolated promises. If the country desire
tranquility and prosperity, 1t must seel
| a ch490s We have reached that pas