Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-10

my judgment, prompt convenient, efiea
cious and all embracing. The disease nov
fostering 10 the body polite, needs the i'm
mediate application Of remedies of mos
searching and drastic character. Mer,
emOllients or bread pills, if may so speak
will by no means answer the purpose.
We are suffering greatly at this moment
frem local disseusions, from social discord
from party rancor, and from widespread
distrust among our citizens. 1t is high
time that all th,ss fearful evils should be
removed. II is evident to my mind
that there is only one safe road out of our
troubles. Let Us at once provide for the
| calling of convention for the purpose Of
re enfranchisipg all who are now in 4 ia e
of civic disability under the franchi reg
ulations. The beneficial effect of our do
ing go, will be at once felt in every part OF
the Slate, among all classes of our people,
and 10 connection with all the great maize
rial interests of the commonwealth.
No one deDlores more than / do the late
unhappy war. No one more decidedly
condemns the conduc. of all who had any
hand in the origination of those measures
which had q tendency to bring on that
war. Nor is there man in existence who
holds in greater adherence than dc, the
fearful dogma Of secession, which, in my
judgment, is as absurd in theory 30 ii is
pernitious in practice. l have never been
among those who doubted the power Of the
Federal Government to do all which was
clearly needful to be done in order to main
tain its own existence against those who
might endanger that existence. Every man
who has ever seriously thought upon the
subject, must feel and understand that a
state of civil war must inevitably cali for
the exercise Of extreme powers which it is
not possible that any written constitution
can clearly define. In this consists the
greatest and most dangerous evil ofsuch a
war, and therefore will all truly wise states
men use all just ard honorable
means Of avoiding its occurrence.
Never have | doubted that it
was the right and the duty OF the general
government TO use all needful means Of
preventing the future renewal of such a
war as that through which we have SO
lamentably passed, and of securing in the
most efectual manner the execution Of all
the pledges which it was compelled to
assume in the course OF its prosecution.
No one is more clearly convinced than |
am, that it was the duty of those intrusted
with the exercise Of civil power in Ten
nessee, at the close of the war, 10 adopt
the most efftctual measures for their own
future security, and for the security Of
those who had risked their all in deftn e
of the Union. The franchise laws were
on this ground, as | have always thought,
in their inception, most wise and salutary
If the cause existed now which existed
at the time of their adoption, | should
most strehuously resist their repeal. But
such, | am certain, is not the case.
know we'll that the war in its progress was
exceedingly demorsliziDg in its operation,
both here and elsewhere. 1t has left be-
hind it everywhere, and especially in the
States wherein it was carried on, most
deadly elements of social mischief, which
nothing but time and wholesome and die
Greet legislation, with a thoroughly firm
and upright administration of legal RENE
dies, can either eradicate or suppre 8.
am aware that there are infractions Of the
existing laws every day occurring among
US, which are indeed most seriously to be
lamented, and the happening of which |
am satisfied all good citizans among us,
without regard to the altitude which they
held during the war, do most profoundly
regret. But those who suppose that the
spirit of rebellion yet exists to any consid-
cradle extent in Tennessee do, am GER
tain, most egregiously err.
There is, | am confident, no part Of the
republic where all the legitimate results
Of the war Including the extinction Of
A al III
colored inhabitants with civil right are
more cordially acquiesed in than in Ten
nessee. The main question, indeed, now
between the two autagonizing political
parties in this State, is, which of them
shall do most to conciliate the colored
citizens, and obtain their future political
co operation. Whatever may be thought
or said on this subject by other, am well
satisfied that, making proper allowances
for all certain circumstances now existing
among us, there ia as much of respect for
law, regard for social order, and obedience
to the constituted authorities of the land
in Tennessee as in any other State which
can be mentioned. Let no man doubt
that this is q correct account of the pre-
sent state of public sentiment here, until
he shall have had an ample opportunity,
as l am sure have had, of ascertaining
the actual truth about this matter. |
would ask of these persons also, before
they do further injustice to this much mis-
underatoOd people, TO call to mind certain
well attested facts in our former history.
Let them reflect that the sons of Tenne5-
see were for many years pre-eminently
distinguished, not only for their patriot
ism, but for their indomitable love for the
Federal Union. Let il also be bore in mind
that Tennessee had no participancy what
ever in any of those movements which led
to the late civil war. Their Senators and
Representatives in Congress did not, as
some others did, Vacate the seats they occu-
pied on account Of the election of the la
mented Lincoln ; that not single delegate
was cent from this State TO take part in
that convention which held its fatal
session in the city of Mont
gomery; that in FEBRUARY, 1861, the
people Of Tennessee, in q full election,
voted down, in the most signal manner,
the proposition TO unite Their fortunes with
those of the Confederate States; that the
approves of what is known as the doc.
trine of secession have ever been exceed
ingly few in numbers in this State; that
war was already raging before any consid
cradle portion Of this people were betrayed
by their sympathies into the assumption of
a hostile attitude toward the government
Of their fathers; and lastly, that the pscu-
liar circumstances connected with their
eventually going into the war were such as
the Congress of the Union supposed to JUS
tify the exemption of the people of Ten
nessee altogether from the operation of the
congressional plan of reconstruction.
When these matters shall be calmly
weighed, as they ought to be, am per-
suaded that it will not appear very sur
prising to any one that large majority of
our citizens, including those connected
with the Confederate cause, should be at
this time as law-abiding in action, and as
loyal in spirit, as have on this occa.ion
asserted them to be.
1t is needful that l should draw these
remarks to a close, which have been al
ready more extended than had expected
them to be. 1t will be readily perceived
that the bill which / have introduced is
not at all calculated 10 win favor among
men Of extreme opinions any where. |
do not expect either the cooperation or
approval of any Of those who shall prefer,
for any reason, that our commonwealth
should be longer kept in state Of e1-
citement and conflict, or who desire to ar
ray, in permanent hostility TO each other,
two numerous classes of our population,
both of which are manifeslly at this mo-
ment much inclined to be at peace. 1t has
seemed to me best that the convention pro-
posed shall be called into existence by
those to whom the present franchise reguls-
tions owe their existence. have
supposed that good effects would result
| from the removal of all present
| a;niI diaahiliiiea nv The anIinn of