Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-10-30
OF MISSOURI.


Observation-Disclosures
whose communication may be seen
on our first page propounds questions
to answer which would require ar
elaborate treatise upon government in
general, and, in particular, the prin-
ciples upon which are based the once
free institutions of this country. BY
the political truths thus developed, 1t
would be necessary to test the consti-
tutionality of the existing govern
ment Of this State, and the legality
of all its acts. But this labor, even
were we competent to perform it, is
not necessary, since every intelligent
man knows that this government was
conceived.in the brain Of traitors to
constitutional nborty, brought forth
amid the strife'of contending armies
and reared under the protection of
federal bayonets.
Since no honest man will deny this
statement, it is needless to go behind
the incontrovertible fact for proof TINT
our State government is mconstitu-
tional in its origin, and that its acts
must partake of the same lawless
character. An invalid government
can no more enact vail laws than an
impure fountain can emit q pure
stream. But, conceding, as all honest
and intelligent men do, that Brown
lows government is the ricketty Off
spring of accident and usurpation,
propped and sustained by external
force, still it isrecognized as dc .fdcto
government, the validity of which
rests moreupon the quiet acquiescencc
of the people than upon any claims
to legality which its supporters can
set up.
But in considering the justice or
rropriety of refusing to pay the taxes
levied by this government of more
than doubtful validity, the decision
should bo determined rather by the
actual condition. Of things than by
reference to those political axioms
which condemn taxati9n Y vi tlhyafHn inv.
II the distranchised people, in every
county in the State, We're to meet in
county convention and resolve to pay
no tax until their political rights are
fully restored, and at the same time
make II manifest that IL will be UNI
healthy for any man to bid for prop
crty to be 'sold for taxes, the move
mont might, by stopping the wheels
Of government, result In the restora-
ton to the people of the rights now
UNANIMOUSLY withheld from them
The militia force necessary to enforce
the collection of taxes against such a
popular demonstration would, of It.
self, destroy the credit of the State and
reduce it to bankruptcy. In view of
such results, our tyrants might prefer
concession to force, since 1t would be
evident that the latter would involve
their own ruin along with that of the
rebels.
Were Brownlow and his clique the
only obstacles to the re- establishment
of popular liberty in Tennessee, the
task of removing them would he so
ght ms to give us no concern as to
the particular mode of doing it; but
under the present aspect of national
politics, we can take no step towards
the assertion of our rights without
coming in collision with federal
power. IL Is not with Brownlow, but
the Radical Congress we have to cope
In any effort at emancipation from
carpct-bag tyranny. And knowing
from experience that the federal army
is Mt the service of Brownlow, so long
as the present dynasty rules ut WASH
ington, We see no prospect of redress
of grievances through the instrument
tality of combined or individual effort
to evadc or resist the collection of
taxes. Individual resistance would
probably prove to he Improbable
martyrdom, whilst combined effort,
at this time, could hardly fail to in
auguratc an. unequal contest with the
United States, OF the North, or the
hasty abandonment of n righteous at
tempt at self-prcscrvation.
Our only hope of political rcgenc-
ration is In the success of the Demo
cratic party, If It succeeds, the force
of circumstances will, almost at once,
strike the manacleS from our limbs
ii they fail, liberty Is dead ana we can
hope forno relief except from bloody
revolution IN the North, between the
Friends and the enemies OF constitu-
tlonal freedom. II this be true, mag
unanimous patience and forbesrance Is
our truepolicy, The ruin of the Sonth
involves the ruin of the North, and
since the two sections must rise or fall
together, sporadic oases OF resistance
are likely 10 increase local suffering
without tending to the general good.
This is the only answer wo are pre-
pared to give our correspondent, with
the lights now befofo MS.
TINS IL the last issne Of the Chroni.