Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-12
POLITICAL.
Letter from the Hon. Iohn Netherland, the
Old War Horse Of the Whlg Party.
Ne Is not Ia Favor Of Changing or Amend.
ing ths Party Name, but will Fight On-
der the Democratic Banner.
He Does not Desire 10 Propltlate the Radi-
Gals by the use Of the Ruch-ahussd
Rord, Conservative.
RooERsvrLLE, August 4, 1870.

ROGERsvILLE, August 4, 1870.
MessEs. A. II. Douglass snd others;,
Geutlemeis- 0onr letter of the lst inst.
is received, in which you inform me that
"efiorts are being made 20 pursuade those
who have heretofore affiliated with the
old-line Whig party, that il is their duty
10 withdraw from active cooperation
with the Democrats, and re-organize
separate party" And, you do me the
honor to ask my advice as to the course
which the oll-lne Wings should pursue
in the present and approaching crisis"
see no reason for the movement. Why
should the men who framed the Wing
party withdraw from "sctiVe" co-opera-
tion with the Democrsts2 IL we have any
cooperation, let il be more "Gctiue.' No
halfway work viii avail in a contest with
Radicals. I care little for names. The
men who formed what was called the
Democratic party in Tennessee, i'm our
contests from 1851 10 1859, are now acting,
affd f0f SONS Tine have acted with the
old Wings in opposing the Radical party,
which, in my Judgment, is the most
dangerous and INSCRIPTIONS party that
has existed since the formation Of this
government. Their first motto was, "Tl g
Cons tuition IS iU is, and the Union as it
was, or rather this was the motto Of the
"Union party" When this was ended,
and the COnfederacy failed, the Radicals
refused to let the country have any union,
saying by their action to many Of the
States, when they asked representation,
the right of every free people, "NOu are
out OF the Union But, when taxes and
revenue were needed then these same
men and party said TO those States, you
are now in the Union" So much for tie
Union" part of the motto. The Radi-
Gals, through Mr.. Tbaddeus Stevens,
their leader, who had more tAleut, coQr-
age and candOr than my m ember of the
Radical party, said, that "we are act
ing outside OF the constitution" And
proceeding on that doctrine, there
Is no right of person or property,
left to the nation, so as TO be
secure, whenever the Radicals are
in power. BY their partisan
legislation, the executive department has
been virtually abolished: the President,
having little more TO do than to dispense
the patronage and offices of the Govern
menJ-a task great enough for the caps-
city Of the present incumbent. But the
policy is destructive Of the checks intend
ed by the trainers of the Constitutional
one department on the other. the Judi
cial depsrtment-the last hope of the ma
tiOn 10 check violence, misrule and pRrti-
san and unconstitutional legislaiion-is
in danger OF destruction from the aggres-
sive spirit of Radical Congress. To op-
pose a party of this kind, the friends of
our institutions have put themselves in
array; they are composed of Wings and
Democrats. The name of Democrat was
retained. No principle is surrendered.
And although all my sympathies, for
more than thirty years, were with the
principles and name of the Nhig party,
as they now are, and though fought at
its head in the last political contest for
its existence in Tennessee, yet, / am not
H. ia -. 4
into the Radical party, because their Op-
pOnents are called Democrats.
This withdrawal from our friends is
what our opponents desire. They taunt
the old Wings with change of name. How
is il with them? First, they called them
selves &" onion" men; but when they re-
fused to let the Southern States come into
the Union, they abandoned the name, as
they had the principle second, they
adopted the name OF Radical, and for a
time seemed proud of it; but the people
began to leave them, and are continuing
TO do so; and third, they assume the
name of Republican, which, in the hands
of good men. was respectable, hut which |
they will ruin. For the honor Of the /
name, and good Of the nation, ! would 4
that the conduct OF the party were better. |
The Radicals first selected for us the name 1
" Copperhead;n - now they wish TO alter il |
to Wing; and il seems some of our friends /
are willing TO please the Radicals by |
changing our name and leaving our
friends. / AN not. The Radicals may /
name their own progeny; let US exercise |
the same right with ours.
The Old-line Wings hsve no cause to |
complain Of the men in one party who |
once fought Us on different issues, under |
the name Of Democrats. The contests for |
the Governor of Tennessee, since the war,
have been made bV leaders selected from
the Union and Wing party, on the last |
of which the Radicals were defeated, as
no party ever was before in the State, |
and would have been in the first but for
the franchise law, which was repudiated
as unconstitutional by every legal mind
in America. The Democrats supported
the leaders On our side in both the cleo
tiODs, and have continued to do so in
other subsequent elections.
We have now but two parties, the Radi
Gals and their oppOnents-sOme say let
the Wings withdraw" / ask where viii
they go7 There is but one other room,
and that is occupied by the Radicals. If
Wings go in that room they will sleep
cold. The Radicals have no more blan-
ksts than they need. Many are already
leaving the room.
Why should the old Wings "reorgsnize
a separate party2" By ourselves we can
do nothing, and viii be destroyed in de-
tail, unless the friends that we are called
on 70 abandon come 10 our relief.
In conclusion, gentlemen, let us stand
10 our friends, and they will continue 70
do a. they have heretofore done-stand
by us; and in that way our great State
can be redeemed from the misrule under
y hich Is has suffered. With sentiments !
Of high regard, / am
Your fellow -citiZen,