Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-26
LET Us HAVE PEACE

From the Baltimore Sun. Aug. 20.
We gave yesterday an account Of the
eminently pacific and forbearing spirit
manifested by the recent large Conserva-
tive convention in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In painful contrast to this spirit is that ex-
hibited by the North Carolina Legislature
in the passage Of a 'menacing and despotie
military system under the mild and decep-
tive name of "police bill, which author
ICES the raising of an unlimited militia at
any time that the Governor thinks proper
During the consideration of the bill yari-
GUS amendments were offered 20 ameliOra te
its Objectionable features, but were all voted
down. Ii was sought by one amendment
to authorize the Governor to call out the
force at the request Of the Sheriff and FIVE
Justices of the Peace in county, but this
was lost. An amendment to elect company
officers by the rank and file and field Off
GERS by the company officers, an amendment
fOrbidding any organized body of militia
TO approach within 4 quarter OF mile Of
the polls AFTER the election, unless in
case of actual riot and an amendment TO
limit the operation of the bill to six
months, we're all lost. The Governor has
thus the appointment of all the officers and
she absolute control Of the militia, who are
disposable 10 overawe electors at the ballot
box. The full significance Of this legisla-
ton can only be judged of by the time and
circumstances under which il is adopted,
the antagODistic attitude Of races which
Radicalism in the South is endeavoring TO
create, and the use which can be made OF
this militia 10 intimidate voters by the
presence OF an armed force at the places of
election. The chief peril of the measure
arises from these circumstances, and from
the animus Of the party which will have
in its hands this potent engiutry Of tyranny
aud bIoodsled That animus may be in
ferred from the following specimen para
graph published in the leading organ Of
the North Carolina Radicals, the Raleigh
Standard, of Iast Saturday
eve tell you decrepid, back-broken old
Rebels that your days are numbered. We
are willing that yOu should gasp little,
and therefore look on your feeble efforts to
rise from your backs with pity and compass
sion. But attempt 90 rise higher than your
knees, or 10 assume any other attitude than
that Of prayer, and you will be thrust back
10 the earth, never 10 rise again"
In Tennessee the same demoniac spirit
seems to continue in the ascendant On |
the l4Ih inst, Notwithstanding the pacific |
overiures OF The eI-Confederate Generals |
in Tennessee, bill was introduced in the |
lower house Of the Legislature giving the
Governor Of hat State power to declare
martial law, 10 send the militia TO any
county at his pleasure, and to levy on
where troops are stationed for |
their support Thus it seems that under
the watchword "Isel US have peace" ex-
IRENE war measures are resortel to at a
time when only moderation ia needed, the
object iu both cases seeming to be either to
control the Presidential election by direct
at the ball0t-boI, or to stir up
strife and tumult, 40 "A 10 make political
capital for their party friends in the
North.