Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-12


opinion North fostered at the outset our
feeble efforts and though beaten down,
furnished such support as maintained our
courage, and inspired our hopes. 1t was
from Tammany Hall, under the auspices
of the National Democratic Convention,
and backed by its influence, that the ex-
posture of the wrongs and expressions in
tiicted on the people Of Tennessee first
went forth to the masses of the North;
and in this way received such audience
that even the enemies of the Demos
cratic party denounced the usurping
faction in our State, and even in
their own household they lost sym
PATTY and credit. =
The real question involved in the con>
test, and indeed the only questions, were
set forth in the report on the political
condition of Tennessee, presented to the
National Democratic Convention as
sembled in New York, in 1868. That
paper emanated from Tennesseeans, and
clearly defined then for our people the
issues they had to meet, and the evils to
the correction Of which they were to ad-
dress their efforts. These issues can be
briefly epitomised from that document,
which then received the approval and
assent Of the great mass of the white
people OF the State. 1t demanded that
the government of Tennessee should be
restored to the ancient electoral body Of
the State, which was the white people,
claiming that it had been illegally and
by usurpation wrested from them.
1t maintained that the DISTINGUISHING
acts, with their machinery Of registras
ton, test>Oaths and executive control
were unconstitutional, fatal to republic
can government, and necessarily result
ing in despotism. 1t exhibited the in
telligence, the property and industry OF
the State as under the control of litter
ate negroes and yagabonds, and the ads
ministratioR Of our affairs in the hands of
incompetent and dishonest men-compe-
.ency and integrity being carefully ex~
cluded. As the sequel to this, discon-
tent, disorder, decline Of all material in
terests and oppressive taxation followed. i
To reform these evils, and restore the
State government to the control Of the
old electoral body sums up the entire
purpose of those who supported Senter.
His triumph hath but this extent no
more. His adversary was opposed to this
contamination, and was beaten. -
From the Memphis Avalanche, Aug. $.
The Southern people have ignored
former political divisions, and have
turned their attention to living issues.
The work of disintegration is rapidly go
ing on among old politicians. The issues
that divided the country in the presi-
Dental election of last year are practi>
cally settled. Negro suffrage is fixed,
inevitable fact. Reconstruction accord
ing to the congressional demands, is uns
avoidable. The Southern people have
accepted the situation. Virginia was
the first to ignore old party issues and
nomenclatures. Tennessee followed, and
it will be seen that Mississippi, our
sister State, has adopted the same
Wise policy. But "oh," says some old
party hack, ARE you going to sink the
hallowed name of Democracy, and
abandoned party that has stood by the
constitution so long?" We say yes, If the
public good requires it, sink the name
and the party so deep that the hand OF
the resurrection will never reach it. We
know that Democrats ardently desire to
preserve the constitution and our institu>
tions as they received them from their
fathers. But they are powerless for
good. The policy they have opposed has
triumphed, and let US meet the new lly'
ing vital issues that concern the South,
not as partisans, but as patriots anxious
to strike hands with any body that can
do the greatest good to people who are
so much in need Of good deeds. When a
party confesSedly becomes a failure, so
far as the accomplishment Of results, then
its organization is a cheat and de-
fusion; and profting by the lessons
| which history teaches, we should
abandon it. The Democratic party
is now nothing but the shell from which
the oyster was taken. Isl
sues will come up in the next Congress
which will force new party organizations.
1t is certain there will be split in the
Radical ranks. A party so large and
unwieldly can not be kept together. Be-
fore the next presidential election all
the Southern States will have been re-
constructed and entitled to vote in the
next election for President. This fact
will create Conservative Republican
party that will bid for the Southern vote.
One wing of the Radical party will GER
tainly ally itself with the Democratic
party. What the combination will be
named we know not. Until the proper
time arrives let us wait and watch. The
South holds the balance of power, and
can hereafter command all she wants.
From the Memphis Ledger. Aug 9.
After days of thought and nights O
conscious meditation, our neighbor OF tho
Avalanche has, at last, with his mag
lantern, discovered most beautiful name
for his universal suffrage party. We had
ran through the entire list Of proper
names, and could only surmise as to
which of the great number would bt
adopted for the new organization being
started by the Avalanche and Nashville
Banner. Conjecture, reader, our dis
appointment when we found on yes
terday that all these old family and
endearing recollections had been dis
> carded and the unheard of name o.
Liberty applied to this neWly-born. 1t is
at least, quite convenient cognomon, as
| this shiity editor may have the liberty o
: adopting all or any of the principles tina
! NAV, in the future, strike his fancy fo
. the time. But what we shall most siren
uously object to at the beginning of this
q new existence, is that the Avalanche vii
4 endeayo. to create a wrong impression
|. on the public mind, by terming tn
:. Democratic Conservative members ofth
Legislative Liberals. The impudence i
,. great, and such could only be found i
the Liberal party, for nicknaming peo
pie according to ones desire.
s This sheet has again begun its wagge
= ", but we presume no harm will com