The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-04-07
The proud old ship of State. 80 lon

OF March, 1870, was launched upon
sew and grand and We hope peaceful
waters. All hail! Our career must
lie gloriously sublime! Smiling wealth
and prosperity stand waiting with open
hand to I'll to overlooking the lap Of
abundance. The result OF this civil
and political revolution is not more
imposingly grand than pregnant with
issues pointing to n more prosperous
career for our beloved State. On that
memorable day, dismal gloom en-
shroudcd the earth, and heaven seem
cd to be weeping over eighty thous-
and OF Tcnnessccs proulcst and no
llcst sons, who on the morning OF that
day peacefully set sorrowInlly bore
the rude chains Of political slavery,
and who were, Ger the sun sank be-
meath the western wave, walking proud
ly on their native heath in the mex
prcssible and bcauteous beams Of the
light and liberty Of the New Constitu-
ton. As historical event this reyo-
luton must be noted both new and
grand in its results. Eighty thousand
men cnfranchiscd in one day without
the intervention Of single bayonet,
and without the shedding Of drop Of
blood. There was not the slightest
disturbance or confusion to break the
quiet Of the event, within the borders
Of our State. The imposing scene
seemed to ull the bowling lirelings Of
the corrupt Congress into moderation.
The opposition OF these heretofore
bold and and reckless men was on that
day strangely and remarkably feeble.
They saw and comprchcnded the grand
meaning Of this revolution, so deathly
silent and strangely peaceful in its
workings. and that it would surely
sweep in triumph from the mountains
TO the coasts, all reckless and corrupt
Radicalism, and yet not leave u YES
tigc of ruin in its tract. They dared
not to provoke the impending and the
inevitable event VIII: Oh looked as grand
in its propositions-to even the black
est known--by means Of violence and
outrages heretofore, on election days
so s,udious'y and corruptly devised
and prac'iGcd since their accidental
moment Of power in this State. While
it is true chat they deserve the supreme
contempt Of this people whom they
have so often dared TO outrage, we
wonld rather invoke in the name OF
peace. liberal indulgence Of magma
nimity, and the exercise of more dis.
gust and pity, than to encourage the
utter reputation Of them, Some Of
them may yet become better men, but
that ia something which only time and
circumstances can authortativoN set,
tie, and not opinion or argument.
Its human to err" and It's "more
than human for negro to err" il the
consenting to be led by designing,
shrcwd and bad men, as we all know,
so it is but natural that we should feel
more pity than hatred for this ignorant
creature who has been made the tool of
these bad men, Of whom it is disguise
it if you will, entirely unavoidable for
us to regard otherwise than with de
gree of unkindncss which will I've hard
TO satisfy by any future conduct on
their part 1t is noble and magnani,
nous to forgive, yet no matter how
rcligiously disposed we are, it is hard
for us to forget some things. 1t is in
the nature Of things that q number Of
these vanishing satraps and scalawags
will be remembered just so long at least
us their deeds of yillainy are rcmem-
bcrcd by this insulted and outraged
people. But that smiling Peace with
all its attendant blessings, may crown
the efforts Of our people in the future,
We would solcmnly and earnestly
counsel the exercise Of a spirit of mag
nanimity and forgiveness toward all.
"To be happya man must be virtuous.'
While this is entirely true rs to one in
diyidual, it is no less true as regards
nation. Then let's not seek to avenge
our wrongs, but be magnanimous in
our conduct toward those who have
wronged us.
Old issues out Of which the war
sprang were buried on that eventfll
day, SD far as our State is concerned.
Universal suffrage WAS proclaimed to
be the fundamental policy Of the State,
and it is The grand corner stone upon
which rests the mighty frame. work of
our State Government. And be this
wise or unwisc policy it is fixed TACT,
and We have now to deal with it as
such. While it is to be lamented that
the old men who stand like giants OF
other days, some are silent in the grave,
and others retired from the field of
conflict, yet We hope the gallant young