Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-08
THECRNTRAGT-


The New York World draws striking
contrast between the State governments
in the South formed by the people of the
several States, and the monstrous negro
despotisms substituted for them by Con-
gressional bayonets. Its description ap-
plies to Tennessee also. In 1865, al
though a stringent franchise law excluded
the mass of the white population from
political rights, a much better state of
feeling prevailed in this State. There
was hope that it would exist but for a
brief time, and that when the authorities
again assembled, the disabilities would
be removed An effort was made under
the lead of that venerable patriot-the
late Major VIM. B. Lewis-in Deeem.
Der 1865, to conform the work of re-
stOration in this State to the plan instir
tuted in other States involved in the
rebellion But the Radical leaders at
Washington had already determined
that this should not stand, and their
henchmen in Tennessee, instead Of re-
Taxing the figOr of their rule, imposed
additional burdens They were instruct
ted to keep pace with their masters at
the Federal capital, and they have done
their work well and faithfully. The
II
Tennessee of 1865, war-blasted as she
was, was hopefully looking forward to
peace and prosperity. All was quiet
within her borders. What is she to-day ?
Since the inauguration of the Congress
sional system of reconstruction-the
black ballot and the bayonet with white
disfranchisement-her condition has
been pitiabIe indeed, and is daily grow,
ing worse
No cry of Rebel" can obscure this
fact that when, in 1865, the State govern
ments Of the South were, in the hands of
these same Rebels, adapted to the Cons
stitution, peace reigned and prosperity
revived. No clamor can deny that many
thousands of Northern men moved there,
and other thousands there invested
money, and that all did well until this
degrading party trick tore them up by
the roots. No roar, no shrek, no "loil'
sputter can make it otherwise than that
these "Rebel governments" gave an abb
Solute equality of legal rights to the ne
grOes before the Congressional civil
rights bill was passed No fanatic zeal
can say they ever needed Federal bayO-
net or n Federal dollar to sustain them
And now if they were just peaceable,
inexpensive, and stable, were they not
good governments And did they not
deserve to stand2 No man eUer had any
DOicc IN framing them but such as irere
legal UoterS under the Southern ldUS as
they stood prior to secession, and where
is the Northern State that can show any
better foundation for its government
than this ?
Wherefore, then, were they displaced ?
What good has come of the change ?
And how has the end approved the work ?
Reconstruction seized upon these States
when they were self-sustaining and has
made them the pensioned beggars Of the
burGened North. 1t took them when
peaceful and prosperous and now pres
SCENTS them to Us as he'll upon earth.
Where was the necessity for its inter
ference-ior it is for this we have re-
ferred to these things, Die the past re-
quire it, and does the present furnish any
justification for 80 brutal an intermed-
ding? Why did Congress do it ? The
question is to be met and win be met
but as the people of the North come up
to that issue they will demand of their
unfaithlul servants why it was forced
upon them. Where was the necessity
for this so-called reconstruction is a
living question that it would be we'll for
our speakers to thunder from every
stump Men can forgive usurpatiOn if it
eventuates in anything useful, but they
cannot and will not forgive such barren
usurpation as this. The 65 governments
were cheaper than those of '68 by many
hundred millions of money; they were
safer by thousands of troops; they were
more legal by all the difference between
constitutiOnaland Congressional suffrage.