Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-09
UNION AND AMERICAN.
THE ISSUES OF THE DAY.
Universal Amnesty and Impair
tlal Suffrage.
Tennessee Conservatives on the
Situation.
From the New York Tribune, Jan. 10.

divided in sentiment and action
and their division grows daily mors
definite and palpable. On one side
are the landholders, merchants and
men of property, with all who are
inclined to industry and thrift
many of whom opposed secession
so long as they could, and all Of
whom now ask, " What use in fight
ing longer against destiny? The
Union is restored; slavery is abol-
ishod the blacks are cnfranehised;
let us cordially accept these facts,
bow TO the inevitable, make peace
between the mansion and the cot
tage, cordially invite the immigra-
ton Of men of capacity. means and
energy and rebuild the Basto places
Of our States, doasle their annual
products, and cause their deserts
TO blossom as the rose. We have
lavished useless tears in profusion
on a past which can never be re-
tcalled henceforth let us devote
ourselves wholly and heartily to
the present and the future. +
Opposed to these, stand a very
considerable but decreasing faction
Of sore-heads and malignants who
were foisted into consequence Dy
the rebellion, and who forget its
hardships and perils in the contem-
plation of its delusivc hopes, its
thrilling eXcitcments, and its falla-
cious glories. These want to main
tain ,he war in the only form still
practicable-by scowling at and
threatening the Unionists whom
they dare not shoot, by trampiing
on the blacks wherever they can
do so with impunity, infesting in
masks ut midnight their humble
dwellings,, burning their school
houses, abusing their preachers or
teachers, and collaborating with
the dregs Of our Northern cities 10
keep the country distracted and
cOnvulsed, while its industry and
progress are retarded and paralyzed
by an absurd, untimely wrangle,
contesting the right of four millions
Of our native people to q voice in
the governments which they fought
to uphold and are taxed to maintain.
1t is now within the power Of the
Republicans in Congress to give Sc
cure and lasting peace to the coun4
try, by joining hands with the for
mer Of these parties on the simple,
lucid, comprehensive platform Of
Universal Amnesty and Impartial
Suffrage. Let us do so atonce, and
the Ku-Klux and their abettors will
be speedily hunted out of every
pOpuloUs, organized communicated
be compelled to disband or fee
school houses and all other means
of intellectual and moral improve
ment will be placed under the pro-
lection Of all who have property or
hope to acquire any; and the Rights
Of the Blacks secured forever against
assault by a compact which
pledges 10 their support all that is
substantial and honored in the en-
tire community.
No bargain, 10 makc-wcight, is
needed TO secure our hearty advo-
cacy Of Universal Amnesty, so far
as the past is concerned. While
we would deal sternly with those
who, from Rebel malignity, persist
in disturbing and harrassing Union-
lists, White or Black, we would, in
any case, enfranchlsc any man who
now heartily accepts the triumph
Of the Union, and its logical cOnse-
quences. But = good thing is new
cr disparaged in our eyes by its ten
dencv 10 secure another equally
good. We greatly desire complete
and Universal Amnesty for all who
are now loyal, whatever they may
have been il the past; we shall re-
joice all the more in its triumph if
it secures that oflmpartial Suffrage
as well
We eutreat the White Republic
cans Of the South to consider well
the position Of the Blacks. Most
of these live on the lands Of Con
servativca," otherwise Rebels in the
past; thrcc-fomths Of them either
work for those Rebels or till their
lands Oh sharca and all Of them
are connected by carly associations
amd lifelong intimacy with those
who once owned and still employ or
at least shelter them. SO long ~
the socially dominant race were
lcagued to deny political rights to
their former chattels, it was easy
to rally the most Of these latter to
vote as the law Of sclf-prescryatiOn
dictated but from the moment in
which the late masters abandon this
attitude for one of frank TecOgni-
ton and cheerful concession Of the
Rights OF the Blacks. all this must
inevitably and utterly be changed.
Between a stranger and cole massa
especially when the latter hap
pens 10 be a gcntlcman--t is Just
Il, certain that the latter viii have
most influence with the great body
of Industrious, frugal, docilc ne
grocs, as that water Will run down
hill For a year on two, distrUat OF
sudden conversions and the force
Of party discipline may keep
most Blacks voting rs they be
can but every days ohscr-
vance OF good faith and fair
dealing on the part Of the plan
tation aristocracy will bring more
and more of the blacks over 10 their
side. until the great body Of them
viii be found shouting and voting
with the better portion Of their late
masters. 1t were rs idle 70 hope tc
resist this as to fight against thaW
In March or blossomsin May.
We urge no such consideration:
upon those who think and feel n:
We do; that were supcrauous. W.
plead for universal amnesty, as tol
impartial suffrage, because 1t Il
right and wise-not because one o
these is made right by the other
Gen. Sicklcs is a pretty good Radl
cal yet he reported, three year
ago, that he could not govern SoutI
Carolina satisfactorily becaus'
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