Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-24
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR.
The Suggestions of wisdom i'm the In.
teresis of Peace.

The Suggestions Of wisdom i'm the In
terests of Peace.
/ have heard of late some intimation
ofa purpose among certain classes to or
ganize new party or new parties, and
have seen the same thing in the col
umns ofsome of our newspapers. With al
proper respect for the opinions Of others
feel certain that such plans, if they ex
ist at all, are premature, and fraugh
with mischief to the best interests of ths
State.
The organization of any new party
would, of course, beget another of antag.
onist views, and ifthe difference at first
was not very marked, the divergence
would be rapid and in the end irrepara-
BILE, and we should then have the State
divided into three parties or factions, at
one time wrangling among themselves,
and anon each one alternately in the
ascendant by an alliance with one Of its
rivals.
But what necessity is there for any
new organization, by whatever name it
may be called? What good would it &C.
complish for the State? All parties must
have their origin in, and derive their sup
port from certain great cardinal princi-
pies, either organic in their character or
of vast import in their practical bearing
on the public veal No set Of men, how>
ever wise, can make parties merely by
their ipse di1it. They have to be
formed by pervading sentiment among
large masses, a common sense of public
necessity, or of the public interest. Let
US see if the past will not illustrate and
sustain this view. The first division of
parties in this country was into Federal
and Republican, the one headed by the
elder Adams and the other by Jefferson.
This continued until the Federal party
disappeared ;and till the time Of Gen Jack.
son, and for many years before, the term
Republican represented the party faith of
nine>tsnths of the American people. This
continued until the latter part of Gen.
,Tackson's administration, when two new
organizations were formed-the one
called Democratic and the other Wing.
Which was prior in point Of time and be~
got the other, is of no consequence.
They were formed upon great principles
and questions upon which the country
was intensely divided. Who made these
parties? Public men? By no means.
They were the legitimate offspring Of
public sentiment. They became, in fact,
a necessity. Great men figured in them
and led them; but they no more made
them than they made the earth. Most of
the questions in which both those parties
originated and were long governed, have
passed away, and they have filled their
mission. The question of slavery is dead
forever, and so it may be said of seces-
sion. No one now advocates q national
bank. There is no surplus revenue to
distribute, nor will there be. Internal
improvement by the general government
is also practically dead for the want of
means; and this generation will not see
the government in a condition to do much
in that direction. Of what use then
can new party be for any
national purpose. Several Of the South-
ern States are still kept out Of the Union
and have no voice in the public councils,
and those that are in, are powerless to
oppose the measures of reconstruction
dictated by the powers at Washington.
There is then no legitimate motive that
l can conceive, for the organization of
new party, or parties in Tennessee at
present, and if we look to the condition
Of the State, in which lies our chief in
terest, the answer to all such schemes is
of easier tenor. The State is over
whelmed with debt, and the taxes are
onerous. Our industrial pursuits have
been greatly deranged by the war, and
the sudden change N our system Of
labor. We need capital and immigration
so as to give a new impulse to agriculture
and to manufactures. To accomplish
these desirable ends, it was the cons
current opinion of all phases Of politics,
that the enfranchisement Of the white
race was important as peace measure
as an act of justice, and to bring to the
aid Of the State councils an additional
weight of intellect and experience.
This was substantially achieved by
the late electiou-thanks to Gov. Senter
and his friends, and the whole people.
But the work is not yet complete, DOR
can it be without the action of cons
vention, which is expected 10 be chosen
this fall at an early day. The final
settlement Of this momentous question,
beyond all contingency, is Of an import
ance that cannot be overestimated. Not
only the prosperity Of the State, but the
happiness and the rights Of one hundred
thousand white men depend upon it.
These men stand all upon the same
level, without regard to their party
antecedents, or predictions. They have
gone through the same fiery ordeal. They
have suffered the same privations. They
have the same ends to accomplish, and
it will require entire concert Of action to
do it. To falter or divide now, is to fail;
and a failure would be equal to the
second death. Is that policy wise
which would divide a people thus situ-
ated 1t seems to me, it would not
only be short-sighted but absolutely cruel
as well as suicidal. Do we hear OF
party politics in an army, especially IN
an active campaign, or on the eve Of a
battle ? Never. And are we not still
in struggle? Wait till that struggle
is over, and the rights of all completely
established; wait till the Union is re-
stored, and all the States are fully rev
cognized, and in the meantime, we will
have quite enough to do to take care OF
the State and ourselves.
The DISTINGUISHED masses Of Tennes-
see have been in purgatory-whether
atoning for their sins, or purging off their
misfortunes, l will not now discuss.
They have just emerged from that pit,
and are now struggling on the
shores of paradise. Shall we
not rather linger awhile on the border,
than rush for entrance into the golden
gate? Shall we not contrast for time
the past with the present? Contemplate
"what was and is, and is to come" Let
us while we are listening to the music o
the spheres as it breaks upon the ear
and gazing upon the gorgeous landscapes
as they stretch across our vision, no
forget for moment the tolls and priva
tons and suffering that we have en-
dured. There is world of philosophy
in always remembering our faults OF
misfortunes. To carry the figure further
what would be thought of US, if the mo