Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-17
THE APPROACHING CANVASS.
Prospect of Re EnfrancIsemeHt I'm
Tennessee.

Prospect of Re -EnfrancIsement I'm
Tennessee.
To the Editors of the Union and American.
1t must certainly be exceedingly graft
flying to every true lover of freedom among
us to see on all sides indications present
ing themselves that the present degrading
state Of ensIavement of msjority of our
white citizens cannot be much longer con-
tinued. ALI hope Of relief from the pre-
sent Legislature is indeed now extinct,
and upon the whole, since such spirit OF
cruel injustice and barbarous disregard of
right and decency have been displayed by
that body, Notwithstanding the extraordi-
nary efforts which have been made to en-
Tighten and to concIliate the more litter
ate and unfeeling members thereof; 1t will
perhaps be better that our long oppressed
people should be indebted for their future
deliTeranee to instrumentalities for which
they can have more respect than they
possibly can have for those heretofore ap-
peaied to, especially after recent revela-
lions Of frand and knayery in high official
places. There is really now no serious
difficulty in cur case whatever, If we shall
hereafter but exercise a sound discretion,
and avoid certain dangers now just in
view, and which indeed are too obvious to
remain unseen by the dullest among us.
Our Radical adversaries are completely
broken to pieces and disOrganised by
recent occurrences. The more intelligent
and respectable among them have been Of
late rapidly abandoning the foul camps Of
the Philistines and seeking more respect
able ompanionship. Many of the most
yirtuOus and enlightened of cur colored
citizens within the last three months have
publicly avOWed their determination never
again to act in connection with those who
have so often broken faith with them, and
who have now become so thoroughly de
moralized and dishonered. All that we
have TO do at present is TO hold fast to the
pledges heretofore made to our colored
citizens in regard to their future enjoyment
of the civil rights now enjoyed by them !
demean ourselves az orderly and law abld-
ing citizens decline taking any prominent
and conspicuous part in the struggle for
Office now soon to occur; avoid cautiously
all appearance of party organization 10
connection with the struggle; putting all
the aspirants to official place strictly
on their good behavior between now and
the August election, and taking care to
have it distinctly understood that no one
in favor of e-enfranchisement will cast
vote, or spend dollar, in the canvass,
except in support of those who shall come
out openly in favor Of our immediate res
toration 10 our long-withheld rights. /
l. al raat,lf IN ha rfaIn Ann1a init.
yidual pledged to our deliyerance, lin
whose becoming a candidate we shall have
had no participancy) will be chosen in all
probability for the Office of Governor and,
what is of much greater importance
to us-an overwhelmg majority Of just and
enlightened men will be elected to the
State Legislature, whose first act will be to
break to pieces the cruel letters which at
this moment bind us in degrading
serytude. This desirable denouement will
be rendered still more certain, if possible,
in the event that Gen. Grant should give
the country a wise and truly constitutional
administration, based on universal amnesty
and universal suffrage, (which many dis
corning persons bes in to regard as qnlte
probable J inasmuch as the whole body Of
our really patriotic and peace-loving citi
zens would be found in that case, yielding
him a hearty and efficient support, and
there would then be no possibility, that
during the approaching political struggle,
any influence would come out from Wash
ington CITY adverse to our relief from
civil bondage.
Hoping that these timely suggestions
may be received By the public generally in
the kind and patriotic spirit in which they
have been offered. and that the views
which l have ventured TO present may
find their way at once to the calm and
enlightened consideration of our fellow
citizens in every part of the State, shall
look with the most intense solicitude to the
action of our more influential newspapers
on this subject, considering az | do, that
those iu charge Of them do now hold,
to great extent, the fate of our long suffer
ing commonwealth in their hands.
PACIFICUs.