Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-31

StDcSS CONNECTIONS Win tennessee nave
been startled, during the past few days,
by the receipt of private kilograms. from
that State, Of which the following is q
sample:
Nashville, March 10, I870.-The
merchants of Nashville are alarmed at the
threatened action of Congress in regard
| to Tennessee, and that its effect upon the
trade of the State will be disastrous in the
extreme. Their embarrassment viii react
upon yourselves. We would respectfully
urge upon you the necessity of using
your influence through your Chamber Of
Commerce, or otherwise in our behalf
These dispatches are signed by num-
bers of leading merchants of Nashville,
quiet, sensible business men who take no
active part in politics, and are in posi-
ton to think and act calmly. The effect
produced by the kilograms here was one
of surprise and amazement. They con-
tanned almost the first intimation received
by our merchants that any trouble was
brewing in Tennessee. Private letters
from their correspondents in that State
had represented everything to be serene
and prosperous, and the newspapers had
given nc account Of any difficulty there
worth mentioning. They had read, per-
haps, In the Congressional debates, a fort
night ago, threat from Gen. Butler that
If Tennessee did not behave herself Fed
eral troops would be sent to regulate her,
but, as Tennessee was behaving her
self in the most exemplary fashion,
they supposed that this was a
bit of Buffers fun or gasconade.
They had noticed, possibly, Senator
brakes proposed amendment to the Geor-
gia bill, but not having scrutinized it care
fully, failed to see that Tennessee and
every other Southern State (and for that
matter Northern States too) as well as
Georgia, could be made the camping
ground of United States regulars, the
scene o. martial law, drum-head courts,
suspended writs of habeas corpus, ETC.,
at the pleasure of the President, cooper
ating with any governor who for politi-
cal purposes of his own or his party, saw
fit to summon Federal bayonets to his aid.
But even if they had remarked the appli-
cability of the Drake amendment to Ten
nessee, they were not aware of any disOr-
ders existing or prospective there which
could possibly require such extraordinary
measures to quell them. In the extrem-
ity of their bewilderment they sought
information in various quarters
where it was likely to be OBJ
tanned. Some of them consulted
us, and we have patiently examined our
Tennessee exchanges in hope of throwing
light on the dark mystery. But all in
vain. We are as much puzzled as the
merchants are to find any good reason for
putting Federal troops upon Tennessee
and placing her under martial law. The
State in its whole length and breadth
seems to be as peaceable and orderly as
Vermont Ohio or Minnesota. Her in
habitants are busy as bees, rebuilding
fortunes shattered by the rude hand of
war, and offering a spectacle of almost
pastoral simplicity and contentment. But
for the unpleasant rumors of Federal in
reference now rife, we should recon-
mend Tennesseeas one ofthe most favored
places on earth, where man could live
in peace, and enjoy the fruits of
his industry and die of old age.
Our impressions, after rummaging
the Tennessee newspapers, are that
that State is being made the victim of
concerted misrepresentation at Washing
ton, with view of putting her under
military rule and executing the ambitious
designs of certain Radical politicians who
are doubtful about retaining their mastery
in the State if unassisted by bayonets.
All the news that we are daily getting
from Tennessee confirms these impress
sions. The rumored disturbances are q
hOax-that may be set down as fact.
Two large public meetings, the one of
merchants and the other of citizens ire
spectiVe of party, at Nashville, have de-
clared that the population of Tennessee
are as quiet and orderly as the same num-
Der of people anywhere, and that there is
no need of Federal interference" and that
''the State has been unusually peaceful
and business prosperous, and as these
statements and otherso the same tenor
from equally respectable sources bear out
the assertions OF all the newspapers that
we have consulted, there can be no doubt
of the imposture that designing persons
are practicing on Congress and the Presi-
dent in their efforts TO have troops sent
Immediately to Tennessee.
In our editorial columns of Tuesday,
commenting on the Drake amendment to
the Georgia bill, we touched the heart of
this mystery. The design of that amend
ment is to strengthen the centralized Fed
eral authority by substituting regular SOL
diers for the militia throughout all the
States; and to begin the job by stationing
them in Georgia, Tennessee and other
parts of the South. The Radical rulers
of Tennessee earnestly desire this amend
ment to pass, and are concocting vague
reports of outrages, committed by nobody
knows whom, and nobody knows where,
in order to facilitate its adoption and keep
them and their fellows in office for an in
definite period That they are endenger
ing the peace and happiness and business
prosperity of the State is nothing
to them, but it is something of great
importance to the American people as re-
CARDS not only Tennessee but all the other
States of the Union. And we trust that
the merchants of New York, and solid
men all over the country, will unite in a
protest against the base partisan spirit
which casts suchfal aspersiOns upon the
fair fame of State, and makes them the
justification of declaring martial law in
her borders. The Drake amendment in
its letter and scope is one of the most out
rageous propositions to subvert republican
government ever submitted to Congress,
and ought to evoke indignant remon-
stranees from citizens of all the States,
without reference to party.
As we understand the facts at present
writing, the President has not yet sent
troops into Tennessee On the requisitiOn
of Gov. Senter, feeling doubtful about his
authority to do so under the circumstan
ces, and has asked the opinion of the At
torney General, which has not yet been
given. The Drake amendment to the
Georgia bill, if passed, will throw statu-
tory sanction over such an act and relieve
him of the embarrassing scruples under
which he now labors.
FRUIT AND CHOPS IN INDIANA.
From the New Albany Ledger, March IS.
In this Floyd county there will be
very fair peach crop the present year,
unless the buds arc killed hereafter.
Pears, apples, cherries, and small fruits
and berries will be abundant unless killed
in the future. The farmers are mostly
through with sowing oats, planting pota-
toes, onions, peas, etc. The weather is
cold, and the spring backward.
The Jasper Dubois county Courier
says: The last few days OF fine weather
have put the farmers all at work, and a
great breadth of oats has been sOwn in
| this county this week. Our farmers
generally report the peaches all ''gone
/ NM for this year.