Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-29

ne .e'a'IHOe'g - I'll 81
''The year n0E rapidly drawing to a
close, may lssaid to be, il the main, year
Of peace and plenty. For, while few evil
disposed and turbulent politicians have
sought 10 disturb the repose of the people
and few riots and crimes have disgraced
certain localities, the great body OF the
people have quietly pursued their peaeeiHi
avocations."
Here is full and conclusive proof that
these tRebels" had conducted themselves
sAs. became their circamssahces'1 The dis
turbances which had occurred were NOT
charged to them by the Governor, bus to "a
few evil-disposed and turbulent politicians
For year and half Of, the exislenee Of
the present State government the. sRebels''
had 20 conducted themselves that even
Governor BroWnlow could find no fault
with them. 1t was toward people who had
so conducted themselves az to extort praise
from GSv. BfownloR, that system OF dis
fraBchisement and exclusion, more rigor-
Gus than can be found in the history Of any
government, was inaugursted. Not only
this, but the negro was elevated 10 all the
political as well as the civil rights which
the white man had previously enjoyed.
The white men of tennessee thus degraded
we're taxed more heavily than they ever
had been. From, them was drawn the
means with which the government was
carried ON. Degraded and oppressed as no
people in this enlightened and progressive
age have been, it is no wonder that they
have become restless and discounted. But
there is no evidence, SO far as we have been
able TO discover, connecting them with the
disturbances to which the Governor directs
The attention of the Legislature They
have borne with degree Of patience which
perhaps no other people would have ex-
hibited, the disabilities and exclusions
| and the burdens of taxation that have been
meted out to them with so lavish hand,
and now it is proposed to add another
TO the catalogue Of infamies heaped
upon them--to quarter upon them brutal
and blood-thirsty militia, licensed 10 pun
ish with death wherever found men they
or their partisans may charge with belong
ing to The Ku-Klnx Khan. This move
ment which The Governor and his counsel
Tors now seek to inaugurate is the gauge OF
battle thrown TO an exasperated people, and
they viii rejoice if il shall be taken up.
The people of Tennessee cannot but regard
the quartering upon them of horde Of
such militia as would be put into The service
BY Gov. Brownlow in any other light than
AZ a declaration of war. II means war,
bloody, cruel war, with: more than its at
tendans horrors. But it is serious .qnes-
ton whether it should be SO accepted by
those for whom it is intended. 1t is clearly
and unguestiOnably a movement in The
interest of the Radical candidate for Presi-
dent. The laws can be enforced and the
peace Of every neighborhood and county in
the State preserved if the Radical civil
authorities will only discharge their duties
as the law and their oaths require that
they shall. 1t needs no militia to en-
force the laws. War is what the Radi-
cal leaders want in Tennessee, in the
confident belief that such an outbreak
might be made 10 inure to the bsneft of
the Radical candidate for President, not
here in this Stste, for they feel secure upon
that point with the registration machinery
under their control, but in the Northern
and Western States, where they see that
Grants fortunes are waning rapidly. They
would glory in such collision here as they
could turn to the benefit of their candidate,
and, thus secure his election. What vi nld
then be the condition Of the people? Would
it not be worse than living death? They
would he subjected to every species of in
dignity and torture which the most vindie-
tive malice could invent, and as President
Grant would not only wink at but encout-
age such outrages. This is what Governor
Brownlow's message means. II Il full Of
that fell spirit which would drench the
State with fraternaI blood. The members
Of the Legislature, or at least a large por-
tion of them, may not be Cognizant of this
fact, bat il is nevertheless 3 fact, and we
appeal TO them TO spare the State this adj
ditionaI cause Of irritation. Are they
ready and willing TO see their State in
volyed in a bloody civil war, war more
terrible and cruel than that through which
We have already passed, simply that the
interests of a political party may be adj
vanced thereby? If Grants election can.
not be secured without inauguraling
cruel, bloody war in Tennessee, what will
il be worth to those who contribute their
influence to bring on the conflict We re-
peat our conviction, that Brownlow's mes
sage means war-bloody, ruthless WARRIOR
che benefit of Grant and the Radical party,
and We beg of Democrats aud Conserva-
dves 20 SO conduct themselves under the
terrible ordeal through which We are pass
ing that come what may right and justice
shall be ON their side. There is not con
eliatory line in the document from begin
Mug to end. He has nothingto OfIerthose
who honestly differ with him but exclusion
from all political rights, or death. He has
no word of kindness with which to win
from their purpose the men who he fancies
are plotting the overthrow of the State
government. He treats with scarcely com
mdn coHrtesy the appeal Of @prominent |
men of both political parties, y that he |
should urge the removal of political disa- |
biiities imposed upon a large majority Of |
the white men Of the State This is the /
spirit in which this man meets the moa |
crisis that has ever occurred in
the history of Tennessee
-
rHE RADICALS PLAYING BLBFF. |
The Radicals regard themselves as the
government This Is especially the case
with the Radicals in Congress. Whatever
is done by that body ia studiedly done in