Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-12


wrong are crushed with sling.
The reformation demanded in the South
is the application of the energies there to
| the physical resources undeveloped in their
| midst. 1t is an age that demands the APP
plication of natural agents to the produc-
ton of the utilities. 1t seeks intelligent la
Dor evolving from the soil all that it so
bountifully promises, free access to the
markets of the world unfettered by Excess
| sive taxation. 1t is not numbers we need
| so much as the constant, active, intelligent
| application of existing forces. 1t is not
more laborers, but more and more intelli-
| gent labor. 1t is not so much the intro
duction of population as the activity of
those now there. 1t is the creation Of ad-
vantages, not the importation Of them.
| These are questions for our own people
to work out in the new era now opening up
in their history. 1t is not their domestic
relations that concern me so muchas their
national. To me the problem of our ma
tional career is full of the deepest solicit
| tude. A nation divided against itself can
not stand. Sooner or later it will pass to
the role of departed nationalities.
But it is not alone national integrity that
has the highest claims on my sympathies
and hopes, but the inviolability of personal
liberty, the perpetuity and sanctity Of local
governments, and the voluntary preserva-
| ton of the national Union, acting in the
interest of independent States and free
citizens. The solemn lesson taught by
history and the fearful retributiOn so fresh
in our memories that the lamentatiOn for
whole hetacombs of slaughtered country
| men still rings in our ears should not pass
as the sport of idle men. 1t should be felt
as the reverential would feel the groans Of
agoniZed nature uttering her wall of mise
ry The return of peace should have
brought pleasure so thrilling to the heart
that the memories of even the battlefield
would rejoice the soul
The spirit of domination on the one side
and resentment upon the other has spread
dark cloud over the whole heavens. 1t
is only a divine love that can dispel this
gloom, as it descends to hind up the ''ten-
drills of that vine that bears the wine Of
life" How long shall this spirit Of dis
trust, this demon Of discord, reign? When
will the long-delayed hour of reconciliation
arrive2 When shall the past be forgotten
and the parental mansion be opened to all
the nations sons and daughters? What
approaching day-spring? How many sum-
mers shall clothe the earth with harvests,
rejoicing her children, before they shall re-
ceive each other to their embrace? What
other divinity in the hour of his agony
shall invoke a prayer Of mercy upon his
enemies before we are convinced that for
giveness is the noblest attribute Of his
character? What other sacrifices shall be
offered up before the avenging Nemesis is
appeased? What temples shall be built,
what incense shall be burned, what new
VOWS shall be made, before these wander
ing children shall be purified? If enough
has not been done, tell us what further hu-
Mutations must be endured, how much
longer the sack-cloth and ashes must be
worn? Shall God alone, who sees and I'M
derstands the springs from which human
thoughts eternally arise, know how to par
don? Is there no bond in all our virtues
and our errors that can claim for us a COM
mon brotherhood? At all events, this sad
departure. so terrible to all who were in
yolved in 1t. was not within the choice of
those for whom we this day speak; they
were borne onward by the Irresistible rev
olution Of the ages
"As if the planet, on which ihou i,cst
And has. Il dwelling, from its orbit starts,
1t is not thy choice whether or no
Thou1 follow il; unfet it whirls thee onward,
Together with his ring and all his moons"
We know, indeed, that those who resist
This measure Of peace are proud of their
recent triumph, and feel confident of their
ability to order all things as they please.
Theirassured repOse callsin review the long
line of nations, victorious not over their own
but foreign States, that in the day OF their
glory could see no future inferiority. This
side of the Middle Ages memory viii call
from her humiliation Venice, the proud
Queen of the Adriatic, that never dreamed
of a reverse, now crOwnless, the stake for
which despots long have played. Austria
and Spain within our memories have sunk
from States of the first to a secondary i'm
portance, and most mournful of all the
States that have sunk under the weight Of
unchastened ambition is France, twice the
conqueror of the world, now bleeding and
mangled beneath the countless hosts of
avenging Germany. France, that but yes
terday was the first great Power of the
world is destined soon to glide into a sec
ondary if not an insignificant Power among
the nations. These, and long list of
others, might admonish us of the salutary
influence of justice and generosity.
Justice and respect are dear to the hearts
of all They need no definition and learned
! commentaries to inform us of their mean
ing. The child can understand them as
well as the philosopher. He can feel the
sting of injustice and neglect as kccnly.
You need not attempt by the logic of pow
er to convince them that injustice is any
thing short of bald, hideOus injustice. YaU
| may disguise it as you please, celebrate it
by holidays, by bonfres, ami by illumina-
tons; you may decree alters Tor its wor-
| ship-it is the same naked deformity, only
! the more abhorrent to the minds of its
victims.
The road to reconciliation is along the
broad highway of truth and justice. Re-
peal all laws making and cementing section
al distinctions and antipathy. Leave the
| local legislatures free to regulate their own
interests under the inspiration of the peo-
pie Return to the principles Of universal
| justice, and every section and every interest
will bow in reverence to her peaceful reign.
----=
HOW SHE SETTLED III.
An American Captain had as passenger
! ~, hoard b;c CHR, worry bpal1tif1l vOuDU