Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-16
GOV. NELL s. BROWN.
His Views on the SituatiOn-NO
Third Party Needed.

From the memphis appeal.
NASHVILLE, Aug. 6, 1S7O.-Gentlemen
Your esteemed favor of the 1st instant
has been received, and l thank you for
the kind confidence implied in its tenor.
You state that ''efforts are being made to
persuade those who have heretofore af-
tiliated with the old line Wing party, that
it is their duty to withdraw from active
cooperation with the Democrats and re-
organize a separate party" And you ask
'tmy counsel as to the course old line
Wings should pursue in the present and
approaching crisis" l do not feel myself
entitled to give advice or counsel, for l
occupy no official position, and am the
expectant of no Office. Besides, feel
very much inclined to consult my own
peace and repose, which l have never
found in political life. But l respect
your wishes, and have, upon the ques-
tons of the day very decided convictions,
and as l have nothing to hope or fear
from declaring my opinions, cheerfully
comply with your request by placing them
at your disposal.
have no sympathy with any scheme
that may be entertained for the formation
of any separate or new party; and would
regard such q course as ill-advised and
fraught with mischief and disaster We
are in the midst of struggle of the
Cravest magnitude-one involving nothing
less than the perpetuity of free constitu-
tional government. We are already On
the field, marshalling for the combat
which is to ensue in November; and all
experience teaches US that it is hazardous
on the eve of battle, in the presence of a
veteran foe, to change front, or to divide
our forces. The prize at the stake, with
me-, is not mere party ascendanCy-nOt
the elevation of one set of men over an
other-not the emOluments or honors of
office, and certainly not the mere gratii-
cation of resentment for the past.
The alternative is pressingupo US with
ominous and menacing 'front.' whether
Capitalization is to go on until it culmin-
ates IN despotism, or shall the Government
be restored to its original simplicity, dig
nifty and equality among the States and
people, as it came from the hands of
Washington and his compeers.
charge that those in power have VIC
lated and are every day violating the great
organic principles of the Government, and
if not arrested in their career, we shall
soon have nothing left but the name and
the forms of liberty. The war ended
more than five years ago, and yet up to
this time the country has been substan-
TALLY governed by force. Our State, one
of the old thirteen, illustrous for her SER
vices, her statesmen, and the industry and
enterprise of her people, is still kept out of
the Union, first upon one preteXt and then
| upon another. No free State has ever
been more outrageously treated than
Georgia. North Carolina, our venerated
mother, distinguished for her past services
and sacrifices, and the great names of the
men she has reared and sent forth, al
though for some time in the Union, as it
is called, is even now oppressed by local
tyranny which imprisons her best citizens
at pleasure, spurns the writ of habeas cor
pus and defes the courts; and the gov
eminent at Washington, instead of COM
ing to the relief of helpless people, up
holds and sustains the rod which afflicts
| them.
This has been substantially, and in a
greater or less degree, the policy toward
our own and the other States of the
| South. And this good day none of these