Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-13
A NORTHERN VIEW OF RECON
STRUCTED TENNESSEE.

A NORTHERN VIEW OF RECON
sTRUCTED TENNESSEE.
The New Haven Conn., Register of the
9th inst contains the views of a former
resident of that town, "who now has the
misfortune to call Middle Tennessee his
home" as to the condition of reconstructed
Tennessee. The contrast between Radical
Tennessee and Democratic Kentucky is ex-
ceedingly we'll put. We reproduce the ar
ticle from the New Haven paper to let our
readers see what a candid Northern man
thinks ofthe outrage that has been inflict-
ed upon this people through the potent in
fuence of military power, The article is
as follows: s- l.
AN INSIDE VIEW OF RECONSTRUCTION.
The supporters and opponents of Con-
gressionai reconstruction, professedly at
least, have common end in view, how
ever much they may differ as to the means.
That end is the restoration of the Union in
fact as well as in name, and thus the Sc
curing of lasting peace 10 the whole coun-
try. Waving then all questions as to the
constitutionality of the Radical plan, even
admitting for the time that the Southern
people deserve whatever hardship and
humiliation it brings upon them, let the
whole matter be considered in this one
light, 10 its efficacy as means to secure
the desired end Does it, fairly tried,
tend to promote order and good feeling
among the different classes of the popula-
tion Does it impart that security to life
and property, which is 50 imperalively
demanded? 4? Does it, in short, ever promise
to give us peace?
Nowhere has the Radical party been so
thoroughly tried as in Tennessee, and no.
where under such favoring circumstances.
Only small portion Of her people were
original secessionists, and many were firm
for the Union throughout. At an early
period the Southern armies were driven
from most Of the State. More than two
years ago her Representatives were admit
ted 10 Congress, and reconstruction was ac-
complished in the most approved Radical
form. A most rigid franchise law was en-
acted, which excluded ali the "disloyal,"
and included all the negroes. Let it be
| borne in mind also that there was large
original Union element to assist in the
work Of restoration. To crown all, when
we state that Brownlow was elected, and
| then reelected Governor, our Radical
| friends certainly must admit that Tennessee
was "loyally" reconstructed. Surely then,
if the Radical plan is good one, if it eVer
| can bring peace, some snch Indications
must be manifest in Tennessee. Candid men
must admit that the issue was fairly tried.
BY its workings in Tennessee, let Radical
reconstruction stand or fall. -- .f E
A mere statement of this question is
enough for any candid man, at all ac-
auainted with the condition of that unhap-
py State. But those who have no personal
knowledge, but who derive all their infor-l
nation from the conflicting, erroneous,
and often willfully false statements of the
public press, can hardly realize the truth.
Society there to-day is as distracted as ever.
The old wounds, instead Of healing, are
breaking out afresh. The granting of the
ballot to the negro, instead Of projecting
him, intensifies the prejudice of race. The
lines everywhere are drawn with terrible
distinctness. The whole State seems COM
posed Of two hostile camps, and the gov
ernment to rest on a slumbering volcano.
Political. adventures swarm through the
State and fill the most important offices.
The holders of Tennessee bonds, have re-
Gently had severe lesson as 10 the value
of State securities under such a regime p
The negroes have been voting there Ion
ger than in any other part of the South,
thus afordingus an excellent opportunity TO
Judge Of the tendency and workings Of negro
suffrage. If there is any difference in in
tellieence between the blacks of Tennessee
and those of the Gulf States, it is in favor
of the former. Is the ballot essential to
the aeqro prOtecti0n2 Why then do we hear
more concerning "Ku-Klux ~ outrages"
in Tennessee than in any other State in the
Union Let US take more marked case.
Kentucky and Tennessee lie side by side
Do our Radical friends pretend that in Sc
curity of life and property TO all classes, the
latter State is any improvement on the for
mer9 If they do, short stay in the heart
of each will remove their delusion. As to
, the actual working of negro suffrage, and
the class Of men elevated to Office, it is diff
icult to convey any adequate idea. Every
election is the high carnival of ignorance
and corruption. So disgusting are the
scenes enacted, that to my personal kuowl-
! edge, large portion of those white citi-
= zens who can vote, refuse TO approach the
polls. In many parts Of the State, IL is al
most impossible for an old citizen, whatever
his Secord, to hold any public position. The
| shorter the residence, the less the identi6-
, | cation with the interests Of the community,
S seem to render surer the prospecS OF adj
E gancement.
5 Dark as this picture is, no candid man,
D acquainted with the subject, can deny It's
: truth. The question is not one OF opinion
T but simply oil fact Bat il may be said,
e this is indeed bad condition, but There II
B., hone in the future Disaffeciion will die
:, out aad harmony will be restored, az Dew
/ generation comes upon the Stage. fai
- from IL. Under the present system the M
Z tnre is even darker still. The youpg mer
: and boys are growing up 20 administer :
n Government which has Ouilawed their ia
& thers. The present generation remembef'
= the time when the national Dag was th'
symbol Of their patriotism, and the I'm
gcring love, which even the years p' n ~
e could not utterly qaench, would IN titl' IN
have ripened into the former deSou0u. 4 h'
coming generation viii "kDow NOT Joseph
! The fag will have ever been the symeo
Of oppression, and their governing PohiieA
o. sentiment will be the desire OF avengin'
their fathers wrOngs. This opinion Is %
given upon heresay, but sfer unlis'lAI op
A podanities of noticing the sentiments an
,n the.marked unanimiiy Of this class o. IN
r. population. No scheme OF recensttncilo'
v can exclude Gca from voting, and ever
n yesr they are coming upon the stase ID az
~ creasing numbers. There is hops lroI
le Immigration, when il does not bring !
at ! mose Of those professional politicians, Wh
20 only intensity the existing bitterness
a. Oar only hope OF permanent Peaee mn
,e- rest ON the wiling, Intelligent loyalty {
he the mass Of the Southern people. Tbs
he cannot come while ignOranca is governing
re whiie intelligence ia ouilawed while mi
a. government and widespread disaiiecilo
ii threaten serious disturbance and lAstiF