Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-10-11
THAT RADICAL ADDREss,

Nepublished Saturday the address of the |
Radical State Committee. 1t is docu-
nent which needs preservation; hence we
nave embalmed it in the files of the |
UNION AND AMERICAN. There are some
If its points deserving of especial no.
ice, particularly SO, as upon the whole it
is rather uDpointed A cruelty sarcastic
portion Of it is that which congratulates
''the people of Tennessee that they are
restored TO all the rights of American
citizens, and are again under the holy
keeping Of the odd flag free and indie
pendent by the grace of God and the
American people" We beg the Radical
party in Congress and out of it to remem
Der this, and to cease their efforts to re-
construct us as if we were expatriaLed
rebels. 1t may be well too to remind
the vain and arrogant Of the
last Constitutional Convention that
we are free and independent, not
by virtue of any action of that Conven-
ton, but "by the grace of God and the
American people" Without delaying at
those quoted extracts about the fimpious
war" ''the British Lion" "the Eagles of
France" or at The unquoted and entirely
original portion about "pulling down the
American Temple of Liberty" we come
to that gushing Fart of the address which
speaks of ''the National Republican
party" thus:
1t was born from the "Old Line Wing"
party, called into existence TO resist the
aggression of the Democratic party. Its
creed was that of the Henry Clay school
of Wings, and is in the main the same to-
day. Its central idea was, and is love,
admiration and reverence for the Union
of the people Of all the States-its motto,
that uttered by Daniel Webster, and
echoed and re-echoed by every heart in
Tennessee-'Liberty and Union, now
and forever, one and inseparable."
This brings TO our mind, by way of an
tithesis, the letter of that distinguished
old Mississippi Wing Judge w. L.
Sharkey, dated Jackson, Sept. 20, 1870.
Judge Sharkey does not seem to think
with our Radical Tennesseeans that 'the
national Republican party" "was born
from the old Wing party, and called into
existence to resist the aggression of the
Democratic party" He says:
There are now but two parties in the
State, or in the United States-the Rcpub-
lican or Radical party, and the Conserva-
tive or Democratic party.
a great majority of the Wings perhaps
four-fifths, actuated by their deep rooted
aversion TO usurpatioD and misgovern-
ment, are already cooperating with the
Democratic party, and, as far as l know,
are satisfied with their utilization. !
Ii is scarcely probable the Wings, as a
body, could be induced to abandon the
great and distinguished principles of their
old party, and 10 join q party the Radi-
| cal with doctrines antagOnistic 10 theirs,
although some few may have already done
so. If they could be induced
to separate themselves from the Demo
cratic party they would be in q condition
| in which they could do nothing.
Why should the Wings be I'M
willing 10 act in unison with the
Democratic party? There arc now but
two parties, and but single issue before
the country: that issue is, Is the COnsti-
tuition paramount to the will of Congress
or is the wit of Congress paramount to
| the Constitution What is the
Republican or Radical party? The doc
trines or principles which had originally
distinguished that party from others,
ended with the war. They were then ex-
hausted, but very soon it began new
| system of tactics. 1t commenced by de-
| nying representation to the Southern
| States, although the people had estab-
lished for themselves State governments,
as they had a right to do, which
| governments were in successful
operation. Senators and Repre-
senlatives were elected, who went to
Washington and claimed their seats, which
| were denied them in direct violation of
| the Constitution. The next step was to
tax the Southern people heavily without
| reprgsentatiOn-the very grievance that
| brought on the American revolution. Con
| gress next assumes unlimited power over
| State governments, abOliShing them and
substituted military despOtisms over the
people, with unlimited power in the mill
tary commanders over the lives, liberties
and property of the people, in utter dis
regard of the most sacred guarantees of the
| Constitution. But this is not all; State
| Constitutions and amendments to the Con-
sttutiOn of the United States were dictated
to, and forced upon the people. The va
lidity and prOpricty of these measures now
constitute the cardinal principles of the
| party; all other questions which may be
/ put in platforms are but side issues, in
tended to divert attention from the main
issue. OF course, all who belong to the
| party must believe all these reconstruction
measures TO be valid and within the con-
stitutional power of Congress. Any one
who does not go believe should promptly
abandon the party, for it is said to be
hypocrisy TO belong to a church and dis
| believe its creed.
Thus we sec that the great leaders of
Whiggery do not concur in the view of
the National Republican party taken by
the Radical State Committee. The ef-
fort of Messrs. Trimble, Arnell & Co., to
invcigle old Wings into Radical ranks,
will fail. The National Democracy stands
upon a firm foundation, and cannot be
| undermined by any such process.
The Radical papers made a great blow