Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-25

But they owe heirshort-lived ascendancy
to the treachery on pusillanimity of Re
publicans in that same Legislature Had
these all stood by their colors, insisting
that the vote on expelling each colored
member should he taken separately, and
all voted no, the conspiracy must have
failed. Their piesiding officers and few
other doughfaces have much to answer
for. Yet, even u the falsified Legislature
as it, stands, tie fifteenth amendment
would have been ratified if all the Re-
publicans had voted for it. Why some
did not, can noinore guess, than why
the Legislature of Rhode Island has acted
so mulishly. Bn too many have idly
fancied that the amendment would pre-
vail anyhow, and lave failed to realize the
need of effort and zeal to secure its rati-
fication.
THE OTTER FABRICS.
| VI As to the other reconstructed
States, one of us would seem to be grossly
iu error as to the facts. Can mistake in
saying that the Republicans of Virginia
carried their State handsomely in choos-
ing delegates to the constitutional conven-
| toni that this contention made sweep
| ingly proscriptive constitutions and that,
President Grant having submitted the pro-
sCriptive clauses separately, they were
Overwhelmingly voted down at the polls?
Am wrong in assuming that the Repub-
lican party, thus identified with proscrip-
ton, was beaten, while their opponents,
aided by many Republicans, triumphed
expressly on the plstform on which |
ctonH tho fiftao,,fl, s,,o1,,IaI0
think have not misread the essential
facts.
THE MISSISSIPPI MORAL.
Now turn to Mississippi, where the Re-
publicans were badly beaten in their for
mer attempt to ratify proscriptive con-
stitutiOn, but where they have now over
whelmingly triumphed, having by Gen.
Grants help thrown prescription over
board, and planted themselves on a plat
form of all rights for all. Their candi-
date for Governor was not merely Rebel,
but a fighting Rebel; yet:he is elected over
the Presidents brother-in-law, who was
no Rebel at all. In Texas, also, proscrip-
ton was expressly thrown overheard, and
universal amnesty made the corner stone
of the new political fabric You sec and |
rejoice over the result. Win you not COM
prehend its morale
A LITTLE REMINDER
VII. A few words concerning repent
ance, which you think should precede en-
reimbursement l shall not offend you by |
alluding to the fact that you were till 1861 |
prO-slayery Democrat-doubtless, sin
cerely so. At length, great crisis,
great national peril, constrained you to
cut loose from the party with which you |
had so long anG so efficiently acted, and |
seek the public good through other associ-
atiOns. | am sure that some things wear
a different aspect in your eyes from that
they wore ten or twenty years ago it |
would be strange, indeed, if they did not |
But suppose those with whom you have |
acted since 1861 had met you at the TIRES |
hold with the inquiry, 'Do you repent of !
having hitherto been a Democrat 2" am !
sure you would have regarded the query |
as an untimely impertinence, and replied, |
Judge me by my acts. If | have been |
dishonest and insinCere hitherto, it is not |
probable that am now truthful and patri- |
otto. On the other hand, if l have thus
far in good faith acted up to the light |
vOuchsafed me, | shall probably do so !
hereafter. AT all events, this seems to !
me the spirit of true mans answer. So |
that my COmpatriot does right to-day and |
purposes to do right tomorrow, do not |
wish him to forSwear his self-respect by
humiliating confessions and abjurations
with regard to what he thought right yes
terday.
A SMALLER MAJORITY THAN LAST YEAR.
think you will not, on reflection, in |
sist that your view prevails outside of the
Republican party or outside of our own
country. On the contrary, you must be
aware tina. it has absolutely no champions
save among those to whose passions it
appeals, whose personal grievances il
propose Clrter fashion, to redress.
Grant that our political adversaries,
whether here or abroad, are partial judges,
you must have read the stirring appeal of
Victor Hugo to Juarez, imploring him to
spare the life of Macmillan, and must
have discerned therein the voice of Euro
pean Democracy, entreating us not to
stain our great triumph with one drop of |
blood not inevitably shed in battle. l
have heard no expression of opinion from
a European Liberal adverse to this; l |
think you have heard none. On the |
contrary, our friends across the Atlantic |
are proud of the lesson of humanity and |
mercy we have taught alike to insurgents |
and oppressors. And, while l cOncede |
that's majority of our party here are decid- |
edly with you, rejoice in the faith that |
it is smaller majority than it was last |
year, smaller still than it was the year be- |
fore, and must steadily waste away until |
it ceases to be any majority at all. "The |
murderer has but his hour; his victim has
all eternity" says Lamartine, cOntem
plating the lawless execution of the Due
d'Enghein; and, seeing how passions
cool and wrath abates, l confidently LOOK
forward to the time when thousands who
have cursed will thank me for what have
done and dared in resistance to their own
sanguinary impulses. And though |
know that the prophets vision outruns
the dubious, hating, Maynard steps of
the multitude, am sure it does not mis-
take their general direction, and that the
greatest poet of your own State and vicin-
age, is only in advance of the millions,
not in conflict with them, when he sings,
"Thank God that l have lived to see the time
When the great truth begins at last to find
An utterance from the deep heart of mankind,
Earnest and clear, that all Revenge is Crime"
In the joyful trust that this will become
at last the common faith, and even your
own, | remain, Yours,
HORACE GREELEY.
VARIETIES.