Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-25

ture from doing justice to the great
body of the taxpayers, who are at
the same time the truest and best
citizens of the State. tits crafty
ing to find that out Of Esst Tennes-
see, these cases are rare. Most of |
the leading journals of the Repub-
lican party, and even of the radical
wing of that party, favor the re-
moval of the restrictions on suffrage
in the South, while large number
Of the foremost men of that party
are active advocates Of the proposed
extension. On the 10Th inst. Sena-
tor Ferry, of Connecticut, intro
duced a bill in the United States
Senate providing for the removal Of
all the disqualifcations imposed
upon the Southern people on ac-
count of participation in the rebel
lion by the third section of the
fourteenth article or amendment OF
the constitution of the United States,
and in a speech of great power,
made an argument which aroused
general attention, and evidently
has predisposed Senators Of all
opinions to discuss in favorable
temper the proposition he makes.
Gen. Ferry urges his bill upon the
ground that the class against which
the disqualifying section was in
tended to be, a protection, is no
longer to be deemed as dangerous.
The speedy Inauguration of Gen.
Grant insures peace teaches and
subdues whatever TebelliOus spirit
remains; incarnates in his person
the idea that the nation will pro
tect itselfat any cost, and thus.com.
pels all persons TO obey its potent
will. Toremove " Rebel disquali-
fication is at once to remove from
the disaffected their chief element
of strength. The Senator declared
that the same reasons led TO this
conclusion as led him TO desire the
passage of constitutional amend
mcnt, prohibiting States from dis
franchising men on account of race,
color or previous condition" The
american idea, he said, was to in
clude all in the exercise Of full citi-
zcnship. The leading Republican
journal in New England, the Spring
field lAIass) Ecpa5iican, thus re
spends to The liberal sentiments Of
Gen. Ferry:
That there is no longer an excuse
for perpetusting the political disabilities
| placed upon eX-rebelS, which had their
origin in mistaken principle and policy, IS
now. conceded by many leading Republic
| cans, in and out Of Congress. And,
without seeming to confess our error, il
| there is any false pride Of that sort left,
this Congress may well do what lies n
lis power for the completion Of recon
sIuction and the perfect restoration of
| the South, and not leave its
| own proper work to its successor.
| Besides, there Is likely TO be in some OF
The reconstructed States necessity for
| giving to the white citizens their full share
| Of political power, after these States have
| reclaimed their right to organize and arm
/ q militia which cannot well be kept from
them as equal States in the Union. The
| speech Of Senator Ferry, of Connecticut,
on Tuesday, 10 support Of his bill to re-
| move the political disabilities imposed 10y
the reconstruction laws, presents clearly
| the views that ought TO prevail, and we
-hink arc likely to, with the present Con-
| sTesS"
This is only a sample Of the spirit
in which leading Republican jour
nails Of the North and West have
met this question. There is no
doubt strong desire on the part Of
a large number of Republican Sena-
tors and Representatives in Con
gress to adopt such a.measurc as
that proposed by Gen. Ferry, and
many go even further and advocate
an amendment of the constitution
Of the United States establish
ing universal manhood suffrage
throughout the United States 1t
is simply a question whether the
party in power in Tennessee will
lag i'm this movement until enfran-
chiscment forces itself upon the
| people, for it will certainly come.
| VIII the members Of the LegisIa-
turc heed the liberal spirit that IS
manifesting itself all around US, or
will they give ear to the counsels of
the men who are wrapt up in the
idea OF pcrpetuating the leasehoId
of the Radical party upon the
Offices of the State, Of the counties
and Of the municipalities
| -----
GEN. GRANT favOrs a session Of
l
the forty first Congress, which, by
a law Of the thirty ninth Congress
begins on the 4th Of March. He
thinks the present Congress will
not have time to mature such tinan-
.cial measures as the necessities Of
the country and the government
require.
| --s--zss--z-s-----a----S--
Tue London Times says England
pays no more interest in the aggrc-
| gate than the United States, al
| though her debt is twice rs large.
| The Zines thinks it would be u