Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-21

Intelligence from Washington Of an
unofficial character, but so cOrrOboreted
by recent official givings out of the Sec
rotary Of War, as to make it authentic,
states. that the President and that officer
have had under consideration the threat
ening aspect Of affairs in this State, and
have determined on a line Of interven-
ton in she interest Of peace and order
In other words, as the dispatches pub
Bshed yesterday and today indicate, the
President will forbid the raising of
militia army in Tennessee, and lift should
be done, viii confront it with sufficient
force of Federal troops under a, prudent
commander.
The tenth section of the first article Of
the Constitution declares that mo State
shall, without the consent Of Congress
lay any duty Of tonnage, or keep troops,
Or ships of war in time Of peace" This was
intended to prohibitthe very aotwhich the
State government apparently has nndeT
contemplation-the maintenance Of an
army of its own, by which the citizens of
the State would be egerawed and their
liberties sacrificed The inhabitants Of
the colonies which revolted from George
jill, who formed the States which made
this Constitution, had but recently un-
dergOne a. bitter experience from just
such armies 1t was subject Of romon-
STRANGE by them to the British throne,
that standing armies had been quartered
upon them in time of peace, and that
species Of tyranny was cited in the Dec
laration Of undergraduates as one Of tie
Qualifications Of that step Hence they
took care to guard themselves and their
posterity against it They knew the ten
deney of power to strengthen itself, and
that every form Of government was prone
to use force and they were ehary apd
cautious in giving warrants for its exer-
disc They therefore forbid standing arr
mics to be raised by State governments
IN apprehension of resistance to its auT
thority The fourth section of ths Eourth
article provides for the emergency which
the State government in Tennessee pre-
tends to fear 1t prescribes for 40
application to the United States
government for protection sagainsi
Z domestic violence" The Consti-
tution. clearly interdicts an armed
State militia in time of peace, unless fol
sufficient reasons, Congress consents 70
its equipment Congress has NOT author
lied such force in Tennessee, land II it
is raised, it viii be tho duty Of the Presl
dent to advise the State authorities of its
unlawful character, and to take such
other steps as may be necessary to see
that this provision of the Constitution Is
not violated -F..,. ..r AZ
If in the course of events, this should
occur, the Federal troops should be placed
in charge of cool, sagaciOus and impaE'
tial officer Of high character In advo-
eating and defending this line Of policy,
we do not desire to see conflict between
Federal troops and the men who may be
enlisted or drafted as a State force. We
are for peace, and believe that a Federal
force judieiously and wisely placed and
handled, will take away oil pretexts for
a partisan militia, and give to all such
q sense of security as will preserve quiet
and order without the fixing Of a bayonet
or the explosion of cartridge. Wedo
not believe Gen. Thomas to be the proper
man. lie has heretofore displayed o
fragrant partizanship The preference
Of this people would be General Ham
cock but if he cannot be sent, then any
man, whatever his politics, who will do
justice at the same time he gives as
peace. 1t is a direful alternative under
anv circumstances, for people to re-
quire the presence of any sort of mili'
tary supervision; but if the times are so
disiointed as to demand it, let us have
regular troops lawfully used, and led by
men who wonld rather WELD the sword
as saver than destroyer, and whose
breasts have no ingredients of pc litical
pas sion.