Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-16


various schemes Of Observation-Disclosures wer,
adopted, by which large masses of til
whites IA every State were deprived o
tbe right of voting, thus giving, in man,
OF the States, the ascendant TO the celOrel
men over the whites. In the meantime
Tue fourteenth amendment was forcet
upon the country and declared adopted
az u TIM wi,.a the Southern States wer,
| "a 'i'i''ss Iii ranchised under the contrn
"i strangers and c0lOred people. Thi
amendment disqualifies from holdin.
ONCE large mass of the leading men ol
the South, and confers upon Congress tn.
power to enforce its provisions by appro
pirate legislation, which means any sort
OF law they please.
The fifteenth amendment has been de-
clared adopted under the same circum.
stances, with like reserve of unlimited
power of legislation to enforce its pro-
visions. That legislation has been had
and is to be carried out by force. In the
meantime, under all these disquahfications
and restrictions in the presence of bayo
nets everywhere, many of our principal
offices have been filed by strangers and
adventures, who had no identity or sym
patty with US, and who have been busy
and ofhciOus in inspiring the colored
people with hatred toward US. They
have not been satisfied to make the COL
ored man our equal, but by their amend
ments, so-called, by their legislation, and
by the use of force and terror, they have
sought to make him our superior, and to
perpetuate their own power and our de-
graduation. How any native born Ten
nesseean, educated in the principles of
Washington, Jefferson, Madison and
Others, and affiliating and being led by
such men as Clay and Webster, and
White and Bell and Jackson, Grundy and
Polk, can approve and support these
extraordinary measures, passes my COM
prehension.
l learned that all power, not expressly
conferred upon the Federal Government,
or fairly implied, was reserved to- the
States; and that that reservation for all
local purposes, was as independent as
though the Federal Government had
never been created. am now too old to
unlearn this lesson. How these cherished
ideas, derived from our political hand
books, have been carried out, let the
mournful and Frustrated condition of
these States answer. In Tennessee our
condition has greatly improved in the last
twelve months; and if we are prudent
and firm, and remain united, we have
cause to hope that the worst is over with
Dur local grievances. But, like prudence,
irmness and union are Indispensable, in |
order to exert our full weight in the ma
,ional councils, and aid in restoring the |
Government to its original purity. We |
lesire to see the tariff system changed to |
me of mere revenue, and adapted to an |
expenditure. We desire to |
ZEE the income tax abolished, and the
node of meeting the public debt mate
tally changed, either by paying it in
or by more gradual process
If extinction, and consequently with
ighter system of taxation. We are deeply
in the construction of the South
IN Pacific Railroad, and in leveeing the
Mississippi river. Above all, we desire
D re-establish the Government as our
athers left it to us, excepting only such
hanges as have been wrought by the
vents of the war. We desire to see re-
tored the equilibrium between the differ
ut departments, so that man cannot be
ragged from Richmond for an assault,
ven on member of Congress, and tried
nd imprisoned by that body, as has been
one.
Now, in all these views, and many
Tiers that might be added, if it were
roper to reiterate them in one letter,
3sume that the great mass of old Wings,
J well as Democrats, concur, and ear
estly desire to see them carried out. This
innot be done unless they unite. And
IN they not act in council in pursuit of an
ID that appeals to their patriotism, their
terest, and the prosperity and happiness
{ the whole countryl If there be any
asOn why they cannot it is founded
,lely in the mere fact that fifteen years
20 they were antagonist parties. But l
aintain that both these organizations,
they then existed, are extinct, and the
lestions which then divided them have
cen settled and passed away. In fact,
lere is now no such organization as the |
yhig party. 1t was destroyed by the ag-
alton of the slavery question. The |
party was more tenacious of
fe, but became disrupted by the same
lestiOn, and by the events of the wal.
he question of slavery is forever settled,
Id no sane man proposes to revive it, or
sturb its adjustment This leaves no
ring issue between Wings and Democrats
at may prevent their joint action. At
events, we are engaged in struggle
hich rises above all party, and in which
prejudices and antipathies should be
lried and forgotten. Ihave no difficulty
harmonizing my action with Democrats
ID Republicans who agree upon these
neral views of government. Nor must
9 be startled by a name. The name is
thing; but what it imports is every
ing. You cannot sanctify bad man
It'll good name, nor can you sully
od man by bad name. History is re-
etc with instances where people of dis
nilar tastes, and creeds, and pursuits,
lited for the common safety. On the
e of the battle of New Orleans, the
aiming squadrons of the Gulf, stirred by
c inspirations or patriotism, came up to
e rescue of the Crescent City, and
relied our attenuated lines on that mem
able morning. So, also, came citizens
diverse races and pursuits, and mingled
the glorious effort of repelling the APP
oaching columns of Wellington's great ,
my.
In 1910 the conviction pervaded the
pular mind to remarkable extent, that
e administration of Mr.. Van Buren, was {
furious in its policy, and threatened
rious detriment to our institutions. This t
nviction, whether well or i'll founded,
evailed so far that thousands and hun /
eds of thousands of Democrats left their
rty colOrs for a season, and Joined in the
ection of Gen. Harrison, who carried all
C States save six. This result could not
we happened without such a combina-
IN. So, to less extent, might be cited
c instances of other elections, in which
e sacrifices of party prejudices and party
terests were reciprocal. There is an at
osphere in this world, higher and purer
an that of party, or sect, or creed, and
hich, in>an hour of emergency, must
aw US upward, and animate us with a
,bler inspiration. The hour has struck;
id the cry Is to the rescue! not of aparty
not of setOf men outOf power-not of
No. ;Oc,1no NOT of mouldprinU memories |