Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-25

| district; that where two years since he
| had 200 murders to report, he now has
not a single one. Certainly this ought to
/ be good testimony in the premises 1t is
| claimed that justice cannot be enforced.
Now have the fact in undeniable shape
that several of these reported desperadoes
in various counties are now under indict-
ment in the United States Court. No
| pretense is made that resistance is made
| to the United States Marshal. Certainly
| if the United States Courts make not the
| slightest attemptto ferret out and arrest
these offenders when indicted, little fault
| can be found with the lesser lights in the
shape of county magistrate for the same
neglect.
! Again, if there be such urgent need of
Congressional interference, why is not
this the most proper manner for the fact
to be brought before the people? If the
| process of the United States Court cannot
be enforced, then lawlessncss is indeed
triumphant and the United States should
| interfere. 1t is a notorious fact, too,
that there was far more lawlessness in
| Tennessee during the administration of
| Gov. Brownlow than now. Why the ex-
emption then, and the necessity of Con-
| gressional interference to day? Simply
| because as it appears Gov. Senter, using
the power conferred upon him by Re-
publican Assembly, sold us to the De-
| mocracy.
Now upon the question of the expedi-
| ency of such Interference / have yet to
| find the first Republican of prominence
who expresses the belief that it will be of
an advantage in the premises. On the
contrary, it seems the universal opinion,
that while it will remedy nothing, it will
aggrayate one hundred fold the very evils
complained Of, That the present Legis-
lature has been guilty of many unheard of
| extravagances, seems undeniable. That
very much of the same is unconstitutional,
including, perhaps, the calling of the Con-
vention in the manner done, is admitted
That the Convention finally, of itself, was
an unconstitutional body and its facts,
therefore, illegal, is admitted as probable
| even by Democrats themselves. Admit
ting all this, however, certain it is that the
Republicans see no remedy for wrongs
committed by interference now. 1t is
simply the reinstating in power of
party that having the power in their
hands had not the ability to retain
it. Again, the sooner it is under
stood in the North that there is practical
ly no Republican party in Tennessee to
place in power, but simply few political
| demagogues, having neither the brains
nor the character to fit them for leaders,
the sooner correct knowledge will be
obtained of the actual condition of affairs
Let it be understood, therefore, that the
Republican party of Tennessee is a myth;
that it has been hopelessly scattered, and
| that it has no leaders around whom it can
or ever will rally. Let it be known, too,
that it fell to pieces literally of its own
weight, broken in fact, under the load of
| its own leaders; victim to their pretty
quarrels and wranglings, and more than
| all to their greed aud corruption. When
| these uRdeniable facts are well under
stood the Republican party of the nation
will understand the situation. Until such
facts are realized there is no hope of
| Republican organization in Tennessee.
Once admitted, however, and left to itself
that its leeches may die natural death
and there is the material upon which to
| base hopes of reconstruction.
Past issues aside, and the Old Line
Wing element in Tennessee to-day stands
on the same ground as the true Republi-
cans. The present State Government is
! admitted to be failure. 1t represents
| the extreme Democratic element. 1t is,
| therefore, extremely obnoxious to the Old
Line Wings. Its every act but widens the
breach. More than this, it can but make
itself a disgrace TO its party through lis
Legislation. 1t has slaughtered the schools.
1t has practically repudiated the State debt
by providing no means to pay the interest
on the same. 1t has, in fact, done moth
ing but TO the serious injury of the State.
In its haste 10 undo Republican legisla-
ton, il has undone itself The old
feuds of the Wings and Democrats thus
revived, and the Republican organization
properly cut loose. as it will be, from its
old, wholly incompetent, and extremely
obnoxious leaders, the Wings and Repub-
licans may unite upon the liberal platform
of the National party. This, i know, is
the view of the mOrereSpectablea and intelli-
gent Republicans of Tennessee. Such Re-
publicans are found to a man opposed to
any Congressional interference. They
look upon such interference, in fact, as
utterly ruinous to their hopes, as well as
suicidal to the party at large. Surely,
they say, if Republican Congress can
interfere in Democratic Tennessee, a
Democratic Congress may do the same in
Radical Massachusetts.
So far l have found none in favor of
interference save few blacks, who, per.
haps, reason more from instinct than
| judgment. l saw, day or two since, for
instance, a eolOred man running about
town collecting means with which TO send
a cOlored delegate to Washington to urge
Congressional interference. His sole Wis
its seemed to be to few Office holders,
whose only hopes Of reelection lie in the
success of such programme. As far as
could ascertain he visited none of the
more prominent and lifelong white Re
publicans. OF course, comment is un-
u