Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-15

/ ctCBPCO III dA0 Ou Jul PAotAOA iC WOnh
| have been next Governor, and elected b
the Legislature to the United States Sen
! ate. But Stokes eyes were on East Ten
nessee, his back 10 Middle ard West Ten
nessee He heard the shouts of the noun
tain boys, and his ears were deaf to tn
, murmurs and groans of the tax payers O
the valleys and plains. He OCCASIONAL,
cast his head to one side to catch the noisy
song of the 'blackbirdf;;" but with his fac,
+ TO themountains, and his Duff Thornburgl
letter in his hand, he declared bite
proscriptive policy. Yes, she would suffel
his throat cut from ear TO ear, his right arm
amputated, and his heart and bowels Gu
from his body, before he would be favor o
Rebels voting" fright there he parted
with every liberal Republican in Tennes
see that was honestly working for univer.
sal suffrage.) While Senter with bold.
ness that deserves success, dropped his
past record like child would drop hol
potato, and planted himself squarely on
the platform of universal manhood suf.
frage; and on that platform the people,
without regard TO his past record, will
elect him Governor of Tennessee. And
| with the ballot in their hands, The people
/ VI AChhCocCC VIII oCItlC AudQCS QueBs
ton, and then redeemed, and disenthrslIed
| enjoying their full constitutional rights,
they will invite capital and labor from the
North, and from Europe, and the day il
not far distant when Tennessee will be to
the South what Pennsylvania is to the
North. -...- 3
l support Senter, not that l like him
better Than Stokes, but because on the BAN
ner of Senter are written the noble words
of universal manhood suffrage. l have a
high regard for Stokes, but have higher
regard for principle; and for principle
will sacrifice ny own interest, politically
speaking, aud work for the interests of the
disfranchised taxpayers Of Tennessee.
Stokes position on the franchise is
laughable. 15t, his Thornburgh letter.
which ex plains itself, and commits him
forever to proscriptive policy. %, his
removing disabilities by two thirds vote
Of the Legislature, 30 far as being practi.
cal relief, is not respectable nonsense. Sd,
he will recommend the calling of con-
vention. Now, has not Stokes sense
enough to know, that if he calls conven-
ton, he, nor no other power, but the peo-
pie have right to restrict the action of
that convention. His platform is like
bed.quilt, and in it he has a patch of The
color and form to suit the political
taste Of everybody. 1t is for
show, and not for use. But the voters of
Tennessee now demand a platform open
and square-no room for lodging There
are no ''iwo sides to the mill-pond" is Sem
ter's position, and upon it victory is writ.
ten so plain that the old political fossils of
the past are awaiting the resurrection horn
of the Democratic Gabriel, and the old
Wings are building ladders to climb up
on the platform Of the great National Re.
publican party.
God speed the right, is my prayer.
Yours truly,
E. s. WILLIAMS.
NASHVILLE, July IA, 1S69.-Hon. E. S,
Williams-Desr Sir: Your favor of the
18th inst. is just received and heartily
approve your course in abandoning your
favorite man for the sake of the principles
which you have 80 ably advocated, both in
and out of the Legislature, for the past two
years. Although we differed in the con-
venton, so-called, as to the choice of the
man most likely to inaugurate and carry
out liberal and progressive policy, yet
we did not differ as to what that policy
shoVld be; and claim no special credit
to myself for being better judge of men
than you, for l confess l also thought |
Gen. Stokes was a better reader of the |
times than to plant himself directly in |
to the Republican sentiment |
of the nation. But the friends of Gov.
Senter also believed him equally sagscious |
and patriotic, and that he would plant |
himself upon the broad and liberal plat |
form of universal suffrage, upon which he |
now stands, with Victory written upon
it 80 plain that he who runs may read! |
Bot granting that they would both take |
the same position, Cd that question, We |
thought Gov. Senter had more claims to |
the Endorsement of his party, by nomi- |
nation for the office to which he had sue |
ceeded by regular promotion, than Ge1.
Stokes, who already holds a high and |
honorable Office But the proscripti7s
policy to which Stokes adheres in the |
canvass not only has disappointed many
of his friends, but shows such a want of |
true craftsmanship, that all National Re- |
publicsns, who have not already abandon
ed his cause, must do 30 before the cleo.
ton.
The Republican party had IFS origin in
a contest Of ideas, and all its battles,
whether on the forum, or in the "tented |
field" have been fought to extend aud per-
petuate liberty to the greatest number, and |
in favor Of progress, equality and justice. |
And those who have sought, and are still |
seeking, to make it narrow proscriptive |
party, in Tennessee, and who are striving |
to perpetuate themselves 10 power, by |
tyrannical and unjust laws, are not only |
unworthy of the name of Republicans, but |
are committing a positive crime against |
the civiIiz alton of the age.
The franchise law may have done good, |
and think perhaps it has, by preserving
the State government 10 the hands of |
those who we're in sympathy with the
national government, during the war,
until the passions engeUdered in that
struggle had time to cool, and judgment
resume its sway; and, even then it was
antly, and as a temporary "politicsl
necessity" and not as an article of
its faith, or plank in its platform.
But our worst fears of it's results
we're realized, and aspiring demagogu
with but little brains, and no enlightened
patriotism, seized upon it as the only
means of perpetuatiDg themselves in Of
fees they had no capacity to fill, and are
now endeavoring to fasten it upon tie
party as a part of its policy. But Gov.
Senter has boldly taken the marks from
their diminutive heads, and exposed their
sefishDess and hypocrisy; and | am much
mistaken if before the canvass is over.
there will not be more "Bald Eagles of
the Mountains" than one, without either
nest or prey.
] agree with you that the true man
hood of the South, as we'll as of the State
is represented by the soldiers of the tive
opposing armies. And the illiberal and
proscriptive men of both part es, with
but few exceptions are found among those
who never received the severe lessons of
experience on the battlefield.
1t is there We learn genuine sympathy
and federation for each others faults. No
revenge can burn in the heart of true
soldier against brave and honorable foe.
And think that is one of the most obiec-
tionable features of the present franchise
law, that while it allows "deserters and
skirks" from the Rebel army, who we're
equally or more guilty in bringing on the
war, Tout were at home to vote in certain
elections,) all the rights Of citizens. yot
the more ncbls and generous Confede-
rate soldiers are excluded. This is 80
manifestly unjust that many of that class
of soldiers have become FESTIVE and en-
FILTERED; so that the wholesome influence
and wise counsels Of others are less patent
for good and without a change 10 the pol