Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-13
i niOp aud 9ispateh.
l.argest Cirealation IN City 80 State
A RADICAL PEACE PROPOSE
TI0N.
The Legislature 60 Appoint Electors
for President. and the Congressional
Election TO be Deferred.

IONs
The Legislature 60 Appoint Electors
for President. and tIse Congressional
Election TO be Deferred.
To the Editors Of the Union and Dispatch.
Moved by the same ardent desire that
seems 10 be stirring the minds Of many, 10
preserve the peace and quiet Of the State,
and save the lives and property Of her
people from wanton and mad destruction,
/ have presumed TO suggest method
(which If adopted / am persuaded would
insure the blessing we SEEK for your con-
sideration, trusting that il you cannot show
"a more perfect way You will lend your
great influence to its acceptance.
Before stating "my policy" permit me
TO premise how the "situation" appears
TO me.
1t is conceded by all thinking men oi
both parties, that we are environcd with
dangers and threatened with troubles.
One party proposes to avert them,
through the peaceful influence and advice
Of representative men Of the party upon
the masses, coupled with recommendations
and suggestions to the other party to for
bear making any preparations or provisions
TO meet supposed or probable resistance TO
law and order" but rather conide in
their good intentions and purposes, and
relax the law Of suffrage, the alleged pri-
mary cause Of complaint.
The other party, while coniiding in the
honesty and influence Of the representative
men put forward to assure peace, do not
believe they are so great, under the cir
cumstances surrounding us and the temper
of the masses, as TO secure SO desirable q
result.
The idea, whether true or false, has taken
possession Of the Republican party Of the
State, that the Ku-Klux organization is a
secret and armed one, intending now, if
not originally conceived, TO interfere and
by threats aud violence operate upon the
pending elections. That the organization
can affect, under the wholesome advice Of
distinguished men, TO have abandoned its
designs and become quiet, yet ON the eve Of
lhe election will come forward with IN
creased confidence and boldness, and sadly
disappoint and mortify their friends and
Involve the country in trouble. And the
party in power believe they would most
Certainly, in the absence of a preparation
on its part, adopt Just such policy. The
spirit Of the Ku-Klux body is secrecy, and
for the present extra session Of the Legls-
lature 10 adopt the recommendation of
Judge Lea, and magnify the importance of
the pending elections by providing for
another at the same time, that involved
| the question whether the suffrage law
should be Immediately abrogated or not,
| would 20 interest and intensity the desire
! Of the disfranchised, 10 make sure work OF
4 the opportunity to be relieved, that extra
/ caution and secrecy would be uh.erved Il
] neuessary, aud at the end corresponding
! efforts put forth to drive the voters 10 vote
] Dot only for Convention but the Demo-
! cratic ticket for President and Congress.
! The possibility, at least, that such poll
! cy might be adopted and such results fol
low, make il evident that the present lie
4 sislature will not adopt the ordinance oi
| Judge Lea, nor fuThear providing for a mil
aary force 90 meet contingencies that may
arise.
Thus 10 ashort time, gentlemen, We shall
have troops arriving under authority Of the
State TO meet anticipated operations OF tht
Ku-Klux. II is hardly possible that We
shall go through the exciting canvass JUS
opening, with bArbacues, torch-lights, eet.
without conflicts, and conflicts that ma,
desolate and lay waste much Of our State
before any controlling power could stol
our muiually mad work. yssg
| To avert al this, "my polio" is 70 le
the necessary steps be taken by the Gov
ernor and Legislature to have no election
in November at all. Let the electors b
chosen by the Legislature and the election
for Congressmen deferred 10 neat yeal
This course will wrong neither party, for
il conceded by all that under the, presen
law. and voters not intimidated, the SLai'
would 20 Republican. 5.,i
I In November the Legislature woull
meet Ia a much better spirit and temper I
remove disabilities. desirable TO be rC
moved, without the hitter and perh9p
bloody contest now before rs. II thi
proposition could come from your party,
am persuaded the Republican party woul
accept il, and thus in my opinion both giy
the highest evidence now at band for ther
70 give, Of mutual desire 10 preserve "a
peace and promote the happiness and pros
perity Of all the people.
A LOVER OF PEAcE.