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

follows you TO the palace and the cabin, 1t
surrounds you in your profession and
daily avocations, it seeks you in your hotel,
and embarks with you in your steamboats,
and rail-cars. In light and in darkness, at
rest or worn with toll in sickness and in
health, in joy or in grief, this universal
spirit, like the atmosphere, envelops you,
in it you move and breathe and have your
being.
POLITICAL SITUATION OF THE SOUTH.
This vast empire, comprised in the pro-
scribed States, with its sun-lit skies, its
fertile soil, its fruitful fields, its vast COM
mercial resources, its glorious historical
associations and memories, its heroic sac
rifces and patriotic people, has no more
practical interests in the Federal Union
than in the Government of Great Britain.
They are not only strangers, but held as
enemies to the country From the execu-
tive department they are excluded. They
have no voice on the floor of Congress,
and could not hope for that respect due to
Independent and equal States, to say moth
| ing of magnanimity. The army is kept at
unwarranted numbers in time of peace, and
| is not only in the interest of the conquer
| ing section, but used to overawe and
| threaten the independence of these States
and thus practically nullifes the idea of
freedom among the people. The navy is
equally removed from their influence and
| interest.
The Court of Claims is closed to all who
cannot take the iron-clad oath. This is
| the only channel through which the citi-
zen can reach the Government. No matter
what may be the justice Of his cause,
whether he has served the Government
since or before the rebellion, he excluded
| by unnecessary and rigorous provisions
| from access to the only tribunal open to
| him by which he may have justice from the
| Government. Thus this limited means of
redress is reserved for the victorious sec
ton. And by a recent political flank
movement the pardon of the citizen, OBJ
tanned as safeguard for his rights of prop
erty and privileges in the Government, is
made an insuperable bar to his presence
in this court. Thus the gracious mercy
Of the Government becomes his destroying
angel.
The Supreme Court, that should reflect
the conscience of every section of the Re-
public, has, with an accuracy unexampled
in our history, been selected from the
same section, and that with the view to
block up even that avenue to impartial
justice. What place is left in the Govern
ment for the people of that section? Moth
ing, positively nothing; unless, in the no.
bier sentiments of the people of the So
called loyal States. They might trust to
their knowledge of the history of the past
as an argument in favor of equal interests
in the Government if the recipients of power
were influenced by considerations of pru-
dence in its exercise.
The stronger guarantee resides in the
desire of power in political factions, which
will lead to a broader and more generous
sentiment of justice as due to all sections
and interests in the country as means of
self-defense.
The Union men of the South need not
delude themselves with the hope that their
past fidelity and sufferings in the struggle
for national integrity places them upon any
higher grounds than their neighbors who
followed the fortunes of the confederacy
from its inception through its tragic his
tory till it set in eternal darkness. They
are, Of all men, the most miserable Exiled
from their former society, they are only
taken into the confidence of the conquerors
when they consent to become partners in
striking down the liberties of their section,
Many of them have consented to this dis
honorable transaction. Would that could
call it mistake, a delusion induced from
counsels of fear. / would gladly call it by
any gentle term that might imply weak
ness, ignorance, some unhappy alteration
of the intellect. The facts in too many
instances indicate plainly a moral privation,
the degeneraey of soul that has passed
through many inferior animals in its trans
migratory mission and retained an attribute
of each. Our own rich English can not
find term adequate to the occasion. They
are the true Varna Sanker of the ancient
Indian, a race of men nurtured in the womb
of agony and blood who sprung into life in
the nick of time to feed the spirit of dis
cord exhausted by its long saturnalia of
| blood.
Unhappily, neither party is free from
this implacable race. In calamity and
war they swarm like vultures over the life
| less victims. Time, the ''tomb-builder'' of
| individuals and races, is also the grave of
| prejudice, ambition, and pride. 1t may
come to the relief of that sadly-stricken
and desolsted region, for as yet l see no
light frcm any political organization that
| justifes hope. 1t is vain for her to look
| beyond herself for relief. She is strong
! yet in all the elements that surround her,
| that live on her surface or exist in her bO-
| som. Her strength is in the character of
her people, in the solemn purposes and di-
vine instincts within their own hearts.
! From out the soul of the South must spring
her hope. Her very prostration and pow
erty will call forth unparalleled energies in
all the departments of human enterprise
Her system of education has now to COM
mence. 1t must extend to her whole peo-
pie. She may profit from the experience
of others, but she cannot afford to copy
that of any.
trust that she may not resort TO that
system which sharpens the intellect for
the agent of the passions and appetites, but
look to broader and higher culture than
has yet met the approval of Americans 1t
is in this sphere of activity that the germ
of her hope is to be found As it springs
into life we may look for rapid improve
ment in peace and harmony, in power and
wealth, in virtue and freedom. While the
| present ideas of government prevail we
need not hope for any advantage from that
source. So long as all the conditions of
life are controlled by statute-law, under the
administration of bureau, there is Just
the same freedom that obtains under the
| daopaoo Of iporar;o1 JoCpo4 Vo nav