Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-24
He Thinks this Conservative Move
ment Calculated to Secure to the
Negroes and Radicals the Control
of Our state.
From the Memphis AnnssI

not then sufficiently recovered from m,
extreme illness to undergo the fatigue O
writing even short letter.
You state 'efforts are being made t.
persuade those who have heretofore beer
associated with the old-line Wing party,
that it is their duty to withdraw from
active cooperation with the Democrats
and reorganize q separate party" You
further do me the honor to ask my opin
ion ''as to the course the old-line Wing,
should pursue in the present and approach
ing crisis. --I-E
The point presented is one of uncom
mon interest to me, as it involves the
honor of the old Wing party, as well a.
the safety of the country. / sincerely
hope all such efforts will signally fail.
They ought to fail, for if successful, they
will bring ruin to our cause. 1t can have
no other effect than to divide and weaken
the conservative strength in Tennessee.
and would speedily hand over the State to
the tender mercies of the Radicals and
their allies, the negroes. If, in an evil
hour, the Wings should be seduced
to adopt any such policy, what
good could be accomplished by
iti Would such separate organiza
ton be strong enough to elect a
Governor of Tennessee in 1870 or a
single member of Congress, or President
in 1922 Or rather, would it not secure
the triumph OF the Radicals in the State
and national elections If the old-line
Whigs don't cooperate with the Demo-
Gratis, with what party will they act and
in the language of Daniel Webster,
"where will they go2" Surely not to the
Radicals. Undoubtedly, however, the
very agitation Of the question about the
separate of the Old-line Wings, with a
view TO withdraw from CO operation with
the Democrats has given aid and comfort
to the enemy. But the other day l saw
an article from the Republican, a Radi-
cal paper in Memphis, on the subject of
nominating a Republican candidate for
Governor, in which the following Ian
guage is employed: sour enemies be-
lieve themselves perfectly safe, and be-
lieving they have large majority
in the State, viii soon be demoralized.
They have already commenced to divide.
Old-line Wings do not feel themselves at
home in such a camp, they see around
them still the old signs of disunion, and
over them the old flag of secession, now
called States rights. Though they say
there is nothing in a name, still there is
something in the kind of associates one
has, and we seldom select for our compan-
ions, those with whom we have always been
4twar. Soitiswith old-line Wings and De
mocrats. Sooner or later the former ele-
ment will find itself in the Republican
ranks.
''Already the division shows itself; for,
whenever you find an old-line Wing q
candidate, you will always find Demo-
crat against him, and the time is certainly
not far distant when the elements will eff
fectuslly separate"
commend the serious perusal of this
extract to every old-line Wing in Tennes-
see, and ask him to ponder well the fact
that the Radicals only hope for success on
the idea that the Old-line Wings will not
cooperate with the Democrats, and that
they will sooner or later be found in the
Republican ranks. lit is an infamous
charge against the honor and fidelity of
the Old-line Wings, and pronounce it a
Islander. 1t ought, however, to put all
who are making efforts to effect separate
organization upon their guard, and make
them review the ground on which they
stand, and honestly reconsider what they
owe to themselves and to their country.
In my humble judgment the success of
republican freedom depends upon the
overthrow of the Radical party. To
effect that great object the Wings and
Democrats are called upon by the highest
and most patriotic considerations, to form
close and faithful alliance, and invite to
their support all the elements of Opposi-
ton to Radicalism-al men of whatever
name, who desire TO see the Government
restored to the hands of honest men; who
are sincerely attached TO the republican
institutions founded by our fathers, and
on which they erected the fabric of our
liberty. As you know, was an Old Line
Wing, and was proud to acknowledge
Clay and Webster as the leaders of the
Wig party. 1t is, however, true that
that party has had no separate political
existence since 1860. If we could reani-
mate II now in Tennessee it could accom-
plish no good, because it would be with
out support elsewhere, and would weaken
the Conservative element at home. On
the other hand, the Democratic party has
all the time maintained a strong party
organization at the North, and is now
straining every nerve to expel the Radical
GOths and Vsndsls from the Capital. The
only practical question then is, Shall the
Old-line Wings aid them in effecting this
contamination devoutly to be wished for,
or viii they paralyze their patriotic efforts
10 redeem the country from Radical mis-
rule, by Withdrawing from the conflict
and folding their arms in separate or
gsniZatiOn, which will not have strength
enough to carry single State; and like
Achilles around the walls of Troy, suffer
their swords TO rust in their scabbards,
while our friends are fighting the battle
for us, and bleeding at every pore9
would, therefore, advise the Old-line
Wings if they will permit me TO do so,
to make common cause with Conserva-
lives and Democrats, till we rescue our
abused and suffering country from the
plumber and despotism of the Radical
party. Don't let us think for moment
as TO what party the fruits of such vic
tory shall accfhe. To participate in such
a triumph, however humbly, would be
glory enough for me.
The Southern Wings and Democrats
fought shoulder TO shoulder throughout
our late gallant but disastrous struggle
for Southern independence, and there is
not q battle field from the Potomec to the
Gulf that was not baptized in their kin.
dred blood. We did not ask them if thi:
OF that soldier, who was offering his blood