Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-09
sen elevated by them to places of honor

| AASASII1nS 10 DtaF WIFI Iny people Int
reproach-if reproach it is-for having
participated in the war, 1 declined to ask
the pardon of President Andrew Johnson,
and only received it in common with the
mass of our people, by his proclamation
of July 4, 1868, while the National DEM
ocratic Convention at New York was bal
loting for q candidate for President. L
felt that had done no wrong for which
TO ask pardon. recognized my State as
nv sovereign. and myself as her subject,
and believing this, fought as q duty for
the South to the best of my ability, from
the beginning to the end of her tragic
strugele. Neither did | directly or indi-
rectIy ask the last Congress for the reno
val of disabilities, and no action was
taken for relief. 1t was hoped that
more liberal policy would have been
pursued by the last Congress, re-
sulting in the removal of "disabili-
ties' from such as were OBJ
noxious to the Fourteenth Amendment to
the Constitution and thus relieve embar-
easements that might arise from their sup
| posed existence, but it was not done.
This question of disabilities as it is
now presented, is legal one, and should
be decided by the proper judicial tribu-
nal. Until this is done, it matters little
what may be our individual opinions in
regard to it, while those who hold the
power IN the nation adhere to a contrary
opinion and keep the sword of Damocles,
in the shape of reconstruction, in
threatening attitude above the people of
our State. Therefore, while do not, in
common with many of the best lawyers
in the land, believe am under any ''dis-
abilities" created by the said 14th
Amendment, after the Objectionable acts
which it seeks TO punish were commit
ted (Which, if carried into execution
would be as retroactive as any other
ex post facto law; yet, am not disposed,
for the honOrs and emOluments of any
office in the gift of our generous people,
to do anything calculated to prOximately
or remotely even hazard the quiet of our
State. | cannot, therefore, give my con-
sent to allow those whose good opinion
prize, whose friendships l hold dear, and
with whom have a common destiny, to
use my name for Governor of Tennessee,
when it might become a source of en-
barrassment to a people whose patience
has long since become FESTIVE under the
irritation of local oppression. Not that |
believe myself legally under disabilities"
have thus written, but that a majority
of the National Congress seem to think
that those who are situated as l am, are
under the ban of governmental prOscrip-
ton as to holding Office. Tennes-
see owes me no Office. She owes me
nothing but legal protection while l live
and an honorable grave when '9ife's fitful
fever is o'ern and l can serve her no
longer. She owes to herself, however, a
virtuous consistency, and to the memory
of her warrior dead she owes a ritual of
sorrow that shall be chartered by the
muse of history through the fretted vaults
of the temples of her future glory. That,
as opportunity offers, she will recognize
these obligations l have no doubt do
not believe that either of the gentlemen
whose names have been mentioned in
connection with the candidacy for the
next Governor of Tennessee, are under
''disabilities"-and l know either of
them would make an able and efficient
chief magistrate.
Like you, regretted at the time, and
do now, that our late Constitutional Con-
vention, by its action, caused to be
brought on the election for Governor and
Legislature, so soon after the last election,
and more than year before the Governor
elect can be inaugurated As citizen,
used whatever influence l could exert, to
prevent it, but to no purpose. Had the
election for Governor and Legislators been
postponed until 1871, the time in course,
according to precedent, much of the en-
barrassment which now exists would
doubtless have been avoided, and our peo-
pie, without apprehensicns of 'trecon-
aruction" would have then felt free to
act in bringing about such organizations
as their untrammeled wishes, guided by
patriotic wisdom, might dictate. We
would then have heard less of ''third
party, and seen less of the prejudice of
Golden times. | confess | cannot dis
tinguish the features of Wing and Demo-
crat through the battle smoke of four
years of strife. If we stood together in
the hour of peril, in defense of constitu
tiOnal rights. on the battle field, ought we
not still to do so in seeking to maintain
the same right by more peaceful means2
Our sacred dead, whose bones are crossed
and bleaching in their soldier graves,
could they speak, would say so. Were
to visit the battle fields of our victories
and defeats, and, like a political ghOul,
go searching among the mutilated forms
for Wings and Democrats, | would feel
dishOnored in the act and fly their sacred
precincts like Irving's IchabOd from the
headless hOrseman.
Theelection, however, whether brought
on inoppOrtunely or not, is upon US by
constitutional provision, and We must
meet it as the soldier and fight when at
disadvantage-th best we can. Under
these circumstances l yield to the invidi-
Gus distinction against me believing it to
be for the good of my State that l should
not be candidate In this, | only rep
resent my individual feelings, and intend
no criticism upon those who act different
", for l cannot consistently, and will not,
with my ideas of political rights, make
valid objection to anytr man because the
shadow of the fourteenth amendmeU. rests
upon him. With me it is no mark IF dis
honor, but simply Confederate scar,
placed by the heavy hand of Government
upon surrendered sOldiery with unviO-
lated paroles in their pockets. GOuknow,
and so do all fair-minded men, that as a
class, there have been, since the surren-
der of our arms no citizens more Obser-
want of their behests to society and the
Government, than Confederate soldiers,
more free from viCe-nOne who have re-
spOnded more readily to our OnerOus tax
alton, even without representation, and
none so full of hope and enterprise, even
while in our State, they were politically
in UincULiS.
You saw the cloud, dark as it was, for
US, that arose from the Forty-first Con-
gress, yet at least it had ''silver lining,
and may we not expect that the next
| Congress, with an increase of Democratic
element, and a sOftening of Radical asper-
tiles, to dissipate its angry prejudiCes and
! by legislation relieve the membranes,
and place US on footing of equality in
the race of life? If you desire to make
this public, you will not do so until after
the ensuing judicial election, as do not
wish to say anything that might seem to
initiate against the position of any candi
IL, 81, H.