Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-17
WHAT IS SAID or nacoNsrnuc-

TIONs
The New York Times, (Radical,) of
the l4th, says, editorially:
influential Republicans in Tennessee
deprecate the talked of Congressional in
reference in the affairs of that State.
They urge the Intervention of Federal
authority to secure greater respect for law
and this demand the Administration
will efTectually meet Ku-Klux thieves
and murdere-s win now be restrained,
with the help of United States soldiers.
But the reopening of the relations of the
State toward the general Government
would be followed by much bitterness of
feeling and much practical mischief If
the arm of the law is weak, let it be
strengthened. But no encouragement
should be given to a proposition which
seeks TO justify constant interference with
restored States upon pretexts that would
keep the whole Union everlastingly in hot
water.
We have but to repeat that the people
of Tennessee win make no objection to
the President sending a regiment of regu-
lar United States troops to every county
IN the State. And the citizens of Ten
nessee, who do not make politics trade,
viii be pleased to have such military as
sist the civil authorities in arresting and
bringing offenders to justice. But we
have to repeat that the sending of troops
viii not satisfy the malignants of Ten
nessee, unless it is accompanied by a
change of Our civil government such a
change as viii continue these malignants
in Office.
The Herald Of the 14th says:
Gen. Butler, in conversation concern
ing the proposed reconstruction of Ten
nessee, states that Gov. Senter has no
militia, and it is the duty of the Presi-
dent to call on the militia of adjoining
States to aid in preserving order there,
but that he cannot use the regular forces
for that purpose. And, as the adjoining
States need all their militia at home, he
thinks Congress may come in and secure
republican form of government for
Tennessee, or one wherein the laws are
maintained, by enactment. While Gen.
Butler is making this statement delega-
ton is present in Washington with pc
tition from Gov. Holden, of North Caro-
lima, asking that the United States
troops be sent there to help main
tain the peace and quell insurrec-
ton in six or seven counties of
the State, over which the Governor has
declared martial law If Gen. Butler is
correct, the President cannot send troops
to North Carolina for the purpose required
any more than he can to Tennessee, and
If he does not find the militia of the adj
joining States-SOuth Carolina, Tennes-
see, Virginia and Georgia-ayailable
which, obviously, they are not, then a
Congressional enactment is necessary to
secure a republican form of government
for North Carolina. As North Carolina
is strongly Radical and Tennessee is
strongly Democratic, Mr.. Buffers propO-
sition cuts both ways. Troops have
already been ordered to two gauIsons in
Tennessee, for what purpose is not stated,
but certainly if they are needed TO pre-
serve the peace they can serve in that ca
pacity without any necessity for upsetling
the State government Wehave nodoubt
Mr.. Butler will think SO in the case of
North Carolina.
The Tribune says:
Fifteen hundred troops have been or
dered TO Tennessee, and others have been
officially requested by Gov. Holden for
immediate service in North Carolina. 1t
is extremely unfortunate that this emer-
gency should have arisen at this time
when reconstruction seemed near happy
completion; but the duty Of the Govern
ment under the circumstances is plain.
The provOcation in both States is the
same, and equally gross; lawless whites
have attacked negroes, and with such
bitterness and fury that the civil authori-
ties are powerless to suppress the ma
rauding bands of Ku-Kiux or to protect
the helpless and defenseless blacks. These
circumstances alone justify the act of
the President in sending troops to Ten
nessee, and viii warrant the same asscr-
ton of power in North Carolina But
further than this, the General Government
is bound by every obligation to enforce
the Civil Rights act, grossly violated in
these instances, and TO give protection to
those to whom it has already given citi-
zenship.
1t is painfully astonishing that paper
which makes 50 many pretensions to fair
ness in discussion as the Tribune, should
be guilty of retailing such a SANDER as is
contained in the above, with no other
foundation than the general allegations of
the political prostitutes who have been
plundering the State for the past iyeyears.
The Tribune makes the charge; we AS, it
to produce the proof that '1awless whites
have attacked negroes, and with such bit
terness and fury that the civil authorities
are pOwerless TO suppress the maurauding
bands Of Ku KluX, or to protect the help
less and defenseless blacks" But even
if this were true, it would afford no rea-
son for reconstructing the State. Our
judges and sheriffs were elected two
years ago under the strict construction,
iron-clad, Brownlow enforcement of the
franchise law, and they are true and tried
in their '1oyalty."
But Maynard, Fletcher & Co., see that
they cannot retain power without a
change in the civil government. The
decision of their own Supreme Court on
the registration question win result in
heir defeat in the future Hence the
necessity of having a re-registration of
voters under Federal authority, which
will restrict the ballot to the faithful.
Such is the republican form of govern
ment that Mr.. Greeley advocates. 1T
tug
ssCODDLING THE FREEDMEN,
Ii is notorious that the Federal and
Southern STATE uovprumpnfc have baep