Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-26
THE REGINNING OF THE END.

Senator Sprague, of Rhode Island,
son-in- law of Chief Justice Chase,
the latter an eX-Secretary of the
Treasury, and whilom rival OfPres-
ident Grant with the Radical
party for the succession TO the
Presidency, closed the debate on
the repeal of the tenure of-office
law. The telegraph furnishes an
abstract of his speech which will
be found subioined. It's deeply in
teresting to the political reader.
1t is the broadest, deepest, angriest
patch of eruption which the fever
boiling in the Radical body and
presaging its dissolution, has yet
manifested. The Senator's antece-
dents as a strictly party man the
fact that he is a newly elected Sena-
tor for a second term; and the
probable source of inspiration of
this remarkable speech, (his father
in law,) make it very significant.
1t was evidently delivered in a heat.
1t is explosive, striking every
thing in its range. Intended as an
argument against a law, for the al
legged violation of which the speaker
voted to impeach Ex-President
johnson, it is expanded into
general arraignment Of every
thing which the men in power
have done for the past four years,
and pOintedly expresses disapprov-
al and distrust Of the new admins
tratiOn. 1t is a general diatribe
against the congressional policy, as
well as a denunciation of the prin-
ciple that Congress has the power
to legislate and administer laws
also. 1t is an Indictment against
the revenue and financial manage
meht. 1t is lamentation over the
stricken liberties of the South and
the waning fortunes of the West. 1t
is a wall over the social degeneracy
that prevails as a result of the mis-
rule that has held sway under con
gressiOnal usurpation. 1t is an in
| cisive criticism on Grant, charac-
terizing his inaugural as containing
"a great error, and warning him
to avoid the course in which he has
set out as leading to ga charnel
house" Mr. Sprague has been in
the Senate for several wears without
making his mark, but this speech
doubtless created a sensation. 1t is
thus reported
Mr.. Sprague administered rebuke to
the galleries for laughing at him the
other day, saying they reminded him of
the idiotic inmate Of burning dwelling,
who laughed at all warning aud per-
| ished in the flames. He would never
| theless repeat his warning. The affairs
| of Congress were being mismanaged by
LAWYERS. He had felt deeply interested
in the success Of the Republican party
| in the pat. and had contributed to IT, he
| thought. as much in character and good
deal more in money than other Ssna-
ators. Indeed, he believed his contri>
| button Of the latter had been greater
than that OF all other Senators combined
He denied that Congress had restored
harmony or prosperity to the country,
| and asserted that the people in the South
| are rather in a state of chronic reyOlu>
ton and that there was no justice Tor
the poor man OF protection for the rights
| and Liberties of the citizens In tins
boosted land of freedom. lmmigra-
lion had fallen off; the industry and
agriculture CT the country were so
Frustrated at The West that immigrants
can not find Temunerative employment
because the people cannot sell their pro.
ducts for enough TO supply themselves
with the necessaries of life. The Tea-
SON was that legislation and administra-
ton were so shaped as to encourage cap
ital to speculate upon every industrial
occupation in the country. Ifthis course
was to be continued, in less than five
years there wauld be clamor Tor a tariff
to keep ont foreign cotton. But great a
was the mismanagement oil our aiiaiIs "a
every department, the greatest abuses
were in our linicial policy. That policy
was directed and controlled by the bank
eGs They no doubt gave as good advice