Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-31
THE CRISIS.

OF Hon. Edwin H. Ewing, which hasju
made its appearance in the columns of
the Banner Of this city. We certainly
have found much in, the general spirit of
Mr. Ewing's letter which all true patriots
and enlightened supporters Of cOnstitu~
tional liberty may well approve. All
that he so Indignantly asserts in regard
to the past and present safferings OF this
generous and high-minded people, we
cannot bat confess to be most painfully
true; and we should be much inclined
to Join him in his words Of strong crimi-
nation and censure, were we not at this
moment in some degree cheered with the
hope that measures will be soon in pro-
gress, of a character seriously to tighten
the present burden Of public sorrow,
and restore among US once more the
reign Of friendly feeling and general
amity 1t is with unalloyed feelings Of
devotion to the welfare Of our country,
and our whole country, that we give
expression to the gratifying conviction
which we are beginning to feel, that true
craftsmanship and magnanimity in the
councils Of our own beloved common.
wealth will soon restore that concord, and
reciprocal trust and kindness among ali
slasses of our people which are 50 indis~
pensable to prosperity and happiness,
and that all danger of future discOrd and
violence will be ayerted by measures Of
Justice and relief so long earnestly de-
sired and prayed for by all the generous
and the good throughout this broad land
But, whilst we are able to speak thus
favorably of the general tone and bears
ing of Mr.. Ewings letter, and whilst
we entertain high esteem for his intel
lect and character. we are constrained by
grave and weighty public reasons tOsFTo-
test, in the most solemn and earnest mans
ner for ourselves and our peace-lOving
countrymen, against all that portion of
his letter aforesaid, which follows:
81 approve the doctrines and teachings
| of your article, and that of Americas. |
/ can not agree to the doctrine of Judge
: Gaut and others, il underestimate rightly,
I that the peace, happiness and good order
of the State demand that we all submit
with becoming respect and obedience to
thelaws of the land until they are repealed
or declared void By the courts 1t is true
that a meaning may be put upon the SEN
tence just quoted which would in some de-
gree free it from objection E; for, strictly
speaking, an unconstitutional law or enact
ment is not the law of the land / sup
pose, however, the meaning Of the above
sentence, as intended by the gentleman, is
this: that the people of Tennessee are to
submit to all ensCtments by the exist
ing Legislature, however oppressive,
constitutional or tyrannical, until re-
repealed or declared void by the
Courts. With this position I am not
satisfied. take issue with the gen
tleman. Ii is expedient sometimes Ito sub
smitso unconstitutional andfoppressive en-
| actments for a time, rather than appeal i'm
mediately TO the ultimate arbiter but
where the Legislature has become, by acct
dent, assumption aud force, possessed Of
| power which it uses as the mere instrument
of faction, where the courts have become
its creatures and the mere registers of its
ediCt, where all the executive offices are
filled by the ministers Of this faction
where, in one word, the whole State has
got into a groove ia which, whatever the
consequences, it must run forever without
some irregular and extatic exertiou, then
time has come in which the people must
relieve themselve by direct and immediate
action under the first clause of the Consti-
tuition Of the State. If such action should
be resisted by force, that force should be
repulsed."
We are not without hope that a man
of Mr.. Ewing's extraordinary vigor of in
tellect and capability of foreseeing
future consequences, will himself
speedily discover that he has in a mo-
ment Of peculiar excitement and irritaN
ton, fallen into the useof language which
in his moments of calmness and deliber-
alton he will not be at all able to approve;
in which event, we cannot doubt that his
native manliness of character and regard
for the peace of the land will prompt
him to a formal retraxit Of the dangerous
dogmas which he has 50 unfortunately
illuminated.
Withholding ourselves from the use of
all words of reproach or unkindness, we
will now proceed to declare tho strong
surprise which We cannot but feel that
Mr. Ewing, an elder in the land, a man
Of years, of much and bavied experience
and heretofore recognized as an indi-
vidual decently regardful of the quiet and
good order of society, of the established
Institution of the country of the
laws of the land, rs well as of those en-
trusted with their practical administra-
ton, should be indined to. call in ques-
ton the opinion heretofore expressed by
a portion Of us, that the peace, happi-
ness and good order Of the State demand
that we all submit with becoming respect
and obedience to the laws of the land until
they are repealed, or declared void by the
courts, We really had supposed that
there was no reasonable man to be found
on the face of the earth, no good citizen,
no man friendly 20 the repose and quiet
Of civilized communities, no man not dis
p ,sel to shake of all the wholesome re-
straints of organized commonwealth
and to introduce anarchy, confusion, and
bloodshed into the body polite, would be
disposed to find fatlt with that declara-
ton of principle which has 80 deplorably |
become the subject of Mr. Ewing's pun
gent and classic criticism. Let us say to |
Mr. Ewing that he will fad on inquiry, |
that within the last ten days, many l
decorous and patriotic memorials have
been drawn up and transmitted to the
Governor of the State and the two
Houses Of tho General Assembly, asking
the relief OF our DISTINGUISHED fellow.