Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-25
A GOvnRNmESr or THE zsAEo-

NET. 4
The Secretary of War says that the de-
mand for troops in the Southern States
and on the frontiers win prevent q reduc-
ton of the army.
Gov. Davis, of Texas, writes 10 the
President that the troops cannot he safely
withdrawn from the State. sss
Gov Holden, of North Carolina DEF
Inands troops to suppress instruction,
and asks for "a suspension Of habeasdotpus.
The Radical leaders in Tennessse say
that the lives and property of Union men
are not safe here, and that Ku-Klux
abound, and that murders and robberies
are committed daily, and that the Federal
forces in the STATE must be largely in
creased, and The present State Government
overthrown., ~. =
Coy. Bullock of Georgia, wants more
troops, and wants Congress to extend the
terms of Office of himself and the present
Legislature, and says that such action is ne
nessary to maintain order and protect the
lives and property of the Union men of
the State.
Admit, for the purpose of argument,
all that is alleged by Ben Butler and the
men who are with him in manufacturing
and publishing accounts of lawlessness
and crimes in the South, betrue, what bet
ter proof can be asked to show that the
reconstruction infamy has been the par
ent of crine9
Upon this subject of reconstruction the
Chicago Times proceeds:
| Ii "organized he'll in the Southern
States" and the men who were engaged
| in the work have been given control of
those States. When vice and ignorance
rule, can it be expected that a decent
| respect for law and order can be MAN.
tainedY The press of the ruling party
does not deny that the carpet-baggers are
despicable gangs of adventures, and of
| the lowest order of demagogues. 1t is
not pretended that the negroes of the
South have any knowledge of public
business; or are in any way capacitated to
act as Legislators or public officers. Not
withstanding this, negroes and carpet
baggers are given political supremacy, and
such was the purpose of the reconstruc-
ton infamy. ia
In spite, however, of the infamy and
| of all the corruptions and crimes glowing
out of it, the accounts of lawlessness in
the South are grossly exaggerated. The
abundance of the cotton crop last year,
and the improvement of the country after
| the waste and desolation of the war, are
| evidence that the Southern whites are try
ing by hard work to repair their fortunes.
| The partial return to prosperity has given
them hope, and they know that all con-
siderations of policy, without regard to
right or wrong, require of them TO main
tain order and do all they can to enforce
law.
They are loaded with political disabili-
ties, and excluded from all share in their
State governments, and yet are the men
whose influence, prudence and regard for
the welfare of society have done most in
suppressing disorder and bringing offend
ers to punishment. The leaders in the
rebellion and the men denied the privilege
of holding civil Office in the South have
redeemed their States from the he'll organ
lied by the reconstruction infamy, and,
even under negro and carpet-bag rule, are
bringing them steadily forward in the
road to wealth, and making return to
stable and just governments probable at
no distant day.
They have met the most terrible calam-
tiles with fortitude; have patiently wrought
to redeem their States from the ravages
and waste of war; have worked manfully
to make life and property safe under the
rule of semi-barbarous negroes and un-
principled demagogues; and have replied
to the insult, and malevolence, and op-
preston of the reconstruction infamy
with such patience and dignity as become
men who are defenceless in the hands of
enemies incapable of generous or just
! policies.
Is it not time that the white people of
the South were released from military
despOtism