Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-08-14

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H. WE presume that few of our readers
were surprised at the signal failure OF
the conference between the Confede-
rate generals and the military COM
mittee of the Legislature as well as
the failure Of the various memorials
and petitions to make an impression,
for good, upon the bcsotted fools who
misrepresent the entire population
outside of negroes and adventures.
We indulge the hope, however, that
these movements in behalf of politi-
cal justice and popular liberty will
not fail to impress the people of the
North with an adequate idea of the
character and extent of the nefa-
rious tyranny to which the worthiest
people Of the State are subjected by
and with the aid and connivance of
the federal despots Mt Washington,
who claim to be the opponents of
Northern feelings and wishes. -
And what are the reasons assigned
for turning deaf ear to the earnest
and respectful petitions of an oppress-
ed and insulted people? One con-
tcmptible and pusilanimous wretch
cries that the time has not yet come
when II will be safe to do JUSTICE
Another repeats the stale cry of OPP
preston of loyal men, and cites in
stances of thieves shot and horse
thieves hung by no one knows whom
unerring instinct teaching him that
every thief and murderer is Radical
voter and therefore entitled to the
special protection of the Legislature.
Still another, on whose brute-like fea-
lures are depicted fear and malignity,
gives, rs his reason, the single word
Kuklux! ....
Justice and truth have cut them off
from every argument that is even
plausible, and forced them to fall back
upon naked lies rs the only ground
upon which their lettering fabric can
Stbit loi ill liptii. anu as llle lies
serve rs well Us valid reasons, the pur-
poses of those who need preteXts only
for additional tyranny, they are null
tiplicd just now, because the scouu.
drels feel that their crumbling throne
needs the sustaining power of II law
less militia-we say lawless because
tile bill which provides for calling
them into service declares they shall
be held guiltlcss, no matter what
crimes they may commit
This Is the answer to the prayer for
ppacc-thiS is the answer to petitions
by the best men men in the State, to
bc clothed with no higher rights than
are conferred upon negroes and fugi-
tives from Northcrnjustice. And the
crying evils of which we complain
arc even aggravated by the well
founded apprehension that the militia
Is to be ordered out by Congress, not
to keep the peace, but to bring about
conflict upon which may be based
the old cry-the South is still rebel
lious!
But in the face of all this, we call
upon the people to forbcaryet longer
remembering, however, that the Leg
islature can deprive no man of the
right of solfdcfcnse-an that each
must he his own judge when and to
what extent his life and property are
endangered 10y aSsassins and robbers.
We insist upon this longer endurance
for two reasons. The first Is, that If
the Democrats succeed in November
our wrongs will right themselves
through the operation of simple and
natural causes; and the second is, that
il the Radicals retain power resistance
will bo mavailing unless il be made
simultaneously in every State, North
and South. Sporadic eases of resist
ancc will only aggrlvatc local suffer-
ings; to make resistance effective 1t
must hc rs widespread ~ are the po-
liticN evils to b. rcmcliGd
For these reasons we deem il wise
toawait the return of justice through
peaceful agencies, or its Enforcement
through apopular uprising based upon
determination 10 wade through
blood forth restoration of the bless
ings of liberty and peace. We can
not separate our destiny from that of
the whole country, and hence the ne
cessity for concerted rather than Scpa-
rate action.
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