Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-20
UNION AND AMERICAN.
GRANTS OPPORTUNITY.

is not the Union of our fathers tbs
he is called to preside over, it is nc
the. constitution simply that lie
expected to administer, it is not th
law alone that he is appointed to ez
ecute He will find some portion
of the country under the DONNA
ton of civil governments which ex
ist says the Baltimore Gazette
without the consent of, and do no
represent the people, while othe-
districts are governed by military
despotisms, pure and simple. Wha
is the supreme law under thu
constitution in one section is of NJ
validity in another. In some State:
the people are denied rights which
were originally secured to them by
the Great Charter which was wrung
from King John, and which our
fathers proclaimed to be inalienable
and sacred when they put forth the
Declaration of Independence; and
the representatives of other States
in Congress assembled have usurped
arbitrary and despotic powers, and
having set at naught the constitu-
ton, they seek also to deprive the
Executive of the functions legiti-
.mately pertaining to his depart
ment Of the government. Confusion
aud decentralization are apparent
everywhere, and amid the ruin that
has been wrought stands a triumph
ant party, avowing its determination
to rule this land for years to come,
despite, if need be, the law or the
right. 1t is at such juncture as
this that Gen. Grant assumes the
Presidential chair, and he and the
whole people may well pause and
dedicate the hour to solemn, anxious
thought. This man may, and prob
ably will, shape the destinies Of our
children's children, and even of this
whole continent, for the century or
centuries yet to come. With what
feelings and purposes Gen. Grant
enters upon his office we cannot Of
course divine. We are known to
have been among those who have
been forced to regard him as an in
dividual of fair but moderate cap
acity. We have feared, therefore,
that he would be governed, rather
than govern, and that the extrem-
lists and tricksters who have so
long been supreme in Washington
would make him the instrument
through which to perfect their sell
fish and ruinOus schemes. 1t was
for these reasons that we grieyOusly
his accession to the Presi
dency. But while the question as to
what he may do is an open one,
there can be no doubt as to what he
can do if he pleascs. He can give
to this country the peace she yearns
for, and which he has promised. He
can WELD the sword of State with |
the firmness of Andrew Jackson
and faction will cover low before
him. If he has the brain and the |
nerve his admirers have claimed for
him, he can stay the usurpations Of
Congress with a resistless hand and
break like cobwebs the meshes in
which it has sought to fetter his
lawful prerogatives. If he should
set himself about the restoration of
constitutional law and free govern
ment, he would find himself backed
by a concourse of the people whose
applauding shouts would send ter
ror into the body of corrupt revO-
lutionists, who, for purely partisan
ends, are ready TO sacrifice the inter
ests, welfare and honor Of the
country. If he has the head and
heart for the work of reconstruc-
ton on a fair and honest and patri-
otto basis, the opportunity is now
his to lift his name from the ranks
Of Fortunate or successful soldiers,
and place it among those of the
rulers who live in the worlds his
tory as patriots and statesmen who
have saved or founded nations, and
of whom Washington is the great
exemplar. The people, and the law
and the right all await the advent
Of the man who shall release them
from the thraIl of faction, and if
Gen. Grant be as his friends say he
is, "the foremost man of the age"
he can now do that which will for
ever preclude mankind from here
liter questioning his greatness or
detracting from his glory.