Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-20
The Course the COnSerVa-
lives and Democrats
Should Pursue.
The Question Discussed by the
People and the Papers.
70 the Editors of the Union and American

Now, | take my stand against the run
ming of any man claiming to be Con
sentative; that is to say, am opposed L
the once Confederate or Rebel element
being in any way, thing or manner con.
nected with the contest If Radicals
upon the one side, and the consistent CD.
position Union men upon the other, see
proper to make fight in Tennessee fol-
the office of Governor, then l say, 90
ahead, it is no affair Of mine. But do
mean to say that the man who has been
Rebel, (as both the parties
mentioned see proper to call the
Southern sOldier,) ought now to
distinctly locate himself as apolitical nom
combatant. Let him keep himself free
and aloof from conventions and public
meetings political let him attend to his
private business exclusively. The con-
nection or rather utilization Of the Con-
federate with with the so~called Con.
seryatiVe party has made him responsible
for much of the deviltry and outrage that
has been committed through the country,
when he was, in truth, as innocent as the
sucking Of any offense. The part we
have taken in elections has identified the
whole of the once Rebel element with the
Ku-klux, and caused us to be denounced
as murderers, thieves, robbers, assassins
and every other manner Of mean thing
that horrible epithets could be found to
describe. Now let US / mean the former
Rebels, and it is to them only mean by
this communication to appeaD be hands
off and abide our time let US be patient
the day of our deliverance is bound to
come, and the sooner by our PRESENT POI
litical silence. To deal plainly, we really
| are loved no more by the one of these
parties than the other, and the reason
why the one advocates our right
to vote is, that its opponent is in
power, and it wants to be, there
fore the appeal is made to US to
help them by our influence and when
they or it shall succeed it will restore to
us the right to vote, and this is all they
promise.
mall the speeches, oral or written, l
have never seen the liberal proposion ex>
tended beyond the right to vote, and this
is only offered because the party offering
wants help. 1t offers to advance ITSELF
not US. At the close of each election the
Radical Legislatures have legislated
against what they termed rebel viola
tions and rebel outrages in the canvass
just passed. Let's give them no further
excuses. Let the Radical and Conserva-
tive Union parties fight it out and when
the one or the other shall be victorious it
Will have no cause nor excuse to thrust at
US. Newspapers are saying Mr.. John.
son IS the man with whom to defeat
Radicalsm. If he is let Conservatives
use him. If they can win with him GER
tainly have no objection, but while they
are doing SO, don't want the country
around and about US eternally stirred up
with stories Of Outrages committed by
Southern soldiers. | don't want the
good man Of the North who would /
make good citizen Of our State deferred |
from coming amongst US by the horrible |
political newspaper pictures drawn and |
painted for party purposes.
The rebel is poor, he looks to his in /
dustry only for his support and the sup
port Of his family. He has no time, no |
money, and should have no inclination to i
engage in political broils, that so much |
injure his material interests.
These, gentlemen, are the convictions
Of my mind. / intend to stand BY them, i
and, if need be, canvass my section of |
the State to induce the Southern element |
to make it its policy. P. TURNEY.
To the Editors of the Union and American.
l Tread with mingled feelings of regret
and surprise, in your issue of February
II, an article signed "Pacifcus," urging
and advising the Conservative and Demo-
cratic people Of this State not to manifest
or take any active part in the August
election for Governor and members to the
Legislature. | am now, and always have
been, in favor Of the speedy re-enfran~
chisement of the white people of this
State but whilst l am in favor of this
great and vital measure, l am not willing
to yield without struggle, or to surren-
der to the infamous and degrading rule of
Radical despotiSm in Tennessee. /, for
one, am not willing to adopt the timely
suggestions" Of "Pacitcus." As to the
e-enfranchisement of the white people
Of this State, sooner or later, | have the
most implicit confidence. 1t is only
question Of time. The rotten fabric of
Radical despotism is fast tumbling to
pieces, and the day is not far distant when
the carpet>baggers, scalawags, and Radi~
cal knaves, who have usurped the liber-
ties Of the people and squandered and
stolen their money, will only be known
to be despised. Then let their infamy
and knavery be dissected and exposed,
that it may stink in the nostrils OF every
honest man, both white and black. |
sincerely believe that the Democrats can,
not only elect a Governor, but they can
elect both branches Of the Legislature,
provided they disregard the untimely
suggestions of these superannuatsd
politicians. say, let Us have a thorough
and vigorous canvass. Let the young
men of the country take this matter in
hand at once, and 90 before the people in
the fearless advocacy of the right. The
conservative Republicans North are in
favor Of removing the political disabilities
from the Southern people, and Tennessee
Radicals know this. The reason why
they are not in favor Of re-enfranchising
the white people here is, that they know
when this is done their lease of power is
gone forever. Then let US work out our
own political salvation without their aid
and assistance. We will then be under
no obligations to them. Let US maintain
the unity of the Democratic party and
make no concessions to our Radical ad-
verssries. Truth is omnipotent, and
public justice certain" What do the
Democracy throughout the State think
of these timely suggestiOns?"
WILSON.
From the MurfreesbOro Monitor, Feb 20.
We observe that throughout the State
there is a growing feeling among the dis
franchised to have as little to do with pol
tiles as possible If this course should
have been pursued from the day of their
Acknowledgement, in our humble opinion,
we should all at the present time be in
the full enjoyment of our political rights. |
The disafiectIon which is now daily grow |
ing more apparent in the Radical ranks,
would long since have divided that party, |
and each faction would have We'd with
the other in appealing to the "Reber'
element for sympathy and aid
From the MurfreesborO News. Feb 70.
We hope our friends, (the true con-
servatives OF the State } will hold no con-
ventiOn, and nominate no candidate for
- L.