The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1868-10-10

To the Editors Of tho Unon md Americana
1t will afford me great pleasure if you will
grant me the favor of presenting, through
your paper, the following short letter to nv
political friends-the friends with whom /
acted through the recent rebellion, and
with whose general policy have always
been satisfied, even in tie darkest DAYS of
our nations struggle. ] desire to premise
that l am not now, never have been and
never expect to be a politician nor do
desire any Office in the gift Of the people. /
have been living in the State Of Tennessee
for twenty.fOur years, having immigrated
here from the State of Pennsylvania in the
year 1874 Being Union man, was com
PEELED during the rebellion TO leave nv
home IN Coffee county, and take refuge be-
hind the Federal lines at Murfresboro. ]
was too old and decrepid to take active part
in the Federal army, but remained behind
the lines until Lees surrender in 1865. /
left large number of friends and relatives
IN and around Philadelphia, and 1 have no
doubt that they would like to see the pub
lished opinions of friend and relative Ia
whom they can place implicit reliance in
gard to the political times and the crisis in
Tennessee.
1t is with feelings Of the deepest anxiety
that l view the present condition of affairs
In our State. l have known the people of
Tennessee long and Intimately, and | feel
confident that large numbers Of them were
led into the rebellion unawares. Motives
were brought to bear upon them when ex-
citel by the din Of arms and the confusion
around them, that induced them to enlist;
and once enlisted, the pride Of manhood
and the fear of disgrace and iguomy, deter
red them from deserving their cause But
granting that all and every one that fought
for the Southern C0nfederacy enlisted volun-
4 Il L i
honest IN their convictions, as to what con-
stituted their duty to themselves, their fam
lilies, and their country-it was certainly an
error of the head and not an error of the
heart, and let him, who has not some time
been mistaken to his duty, cast the first
stone If they were honest in enlisting, and
fighting bravelY to the bitter end, they were
also honest and sincere IN laying down their
arms and acceding to che terms of capitula-
ton. They tried unsuccessfully, for four
long years, the last argument to which
Kings resort the highest arbitrament
known to men--they appealed to the tribu-
nal from which there is no appeal, and
found they were mistaken upon all the po-
htical questions they had cherished so
long and dearly, and consequently laid
down their arms, and in good faith accepted
the stipulated terms Of peace. And now
for more than three years, have sacredly
kept the terms of their parOle-have cOnsti-
tuted Il good portion of sOciety-are peacea-
bic, and disposed to abide by the laws Of
the land. The President of the Uuited
States has extended his proclamation Of am
nesty to most of them, and it does seem
to me, the Legislative enactments of Ten
nessee are unnecessarily severe. Ought it
not to be the duty of States, as it is the duty
of individuals to, at least, forgive if not
forget How long must the late Southern
soldiery suffer the pains and penalties Of an
outraged nation before they expate their
crimes If they rebelled and committed
treason, it was against the general govern
ment and not against the State of Tennessee.
The general government has pardoued and
restored them to their full rights and
privileges. And why should Tennessee
still continue to infict punishment upon
those who violated, not its laws, but the
laws of the United States government, when
the United States have pardoned them for
that violation.
l know the condition of this people and
am acquainted with their sentiments l am
cognizant of the fact that they have suffered
long and deeply, and patiently-if they have
sinned, they have repented-that they are
fully ready now, as they have heretofore
been since they laid down their arms, to
maintain the supremacy OF the laws of the
United States; that the Withholding from
them the elective franchise Is a grievous
punishment that should not longer be infiet.
ed upon them Do they not help maintain
and support the government by paying their
proportional part of general taxation And
was it not this very principle that our revO
lutionary fathers fought Reconsideration
without representation Is it not right to
grant them the privilege of saying who shall
administer the laws Of our government sir ce
they help maintain and support the govern
ment, considering the fact they are no longer
enemies but naturalized citizens, pardoned
by the government against which they sin
ned, and restored to their full immunities
It is a grievous fault that the elective fran
chise is longer withheld. 1t ought to be our
policy to conciliate and not harrow up all the
bad feelings and impulses of this afflicted
people. By trusting we disdain them; by
granting them their rights, we make them
our friends; by restoring their privileges,
they become sincere and Jealous supporters
of the Federal governments
There is another question to which ]
would ike to advert, and what I desire in
this connection in what one, not even the
most jealous supporter of our party can
sincerely deny. l speak of the enfranchise.
ment of the African race From the very
fact that the elective franchise is denied the
African race by every Legislature North, is
sufficient evidence to show that they are
considered incaPacitated to enjoy the priv.
lege. And If they are not qualified to vote
from incapaCity or from any other cause
where their advantages and opportunities
for improvement are far superior to what
they are here, how in the name of reason
are they competent here in the State OF
Tennessee, where their mental develop
ments are so meager, their interest in the
vital principles of government so small, and
their appreciation Of the elective franchise
so limited, that their votes can be purchased
for a mere bauble by every passing dema
gOgue2 l would like for my friends and