Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-22

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The so-called reconstruction laws were
simply intended to reduce the Southern
states to the lowest condition of political
vassalage. But they have failed. and now
new deal is demanded. The Washington
National Republican, usually termed
Grants hand organ, comes out in its issue
OF the nth inst, in manifesto which fairly
illustrates the wild ideas and desperate pur-
poses Of Grant and his advisers towards the
Southern States, for there is little doubtth
il is suggestion from the throne or the
Cabinet. That paper says:
ever skepticai Of partizan charges, the
Republican must indorse the opinions of
men like Judge Bond and Judge Brooks, of
the United States Circuit and District
Courts. We regret that ID is necessary to
pron,ulgdte the doctrine Of entire abolition
Of State Rights but we must confess that
If the leading men of the late Confederacy
persist in their opposition to the govern
nlent, thereby threatening the life of the
nation, then but one course is open to the
lovers oftr1te Democracy and self-govern-
ment. The reconstructed States must be
reconstructed orer again, and the Con
tederdcy be placed under national ldu and
under men who will carry out the intentions
of Congress in spirit as well as letter; thus
making Treason a crime and assisting in
building up Southern society on the basis of
liberty and not class rule.'' 2 4 - ~ 49,
The work here foreshadowed has already
commenced The placing of portion OF
South Carolina under martial law is only a
subterfuge. 1t is the prelude to grayer
work. Grant means to elect himself
If possible, and to do this he is
ready to seize upon the Southern
States and underline suspension of civil law,
hold them as conquered provinces, so they
cannot vote in the Presidential election.
The pretexts for this coup Tetat are being
manufactured in the different Southern
States by the Radical partisans of the Grant
administration. As remarked by contem-
porary, the issue in the great approaching
contest, disguise it as we may, is not whether
the Radical or the Democratic party shall
prevail, but whether the people or the Presi-
dent shall rule; whether we shall have a
Federal Republic or Central Despotism.
People may sneer at such suggestion, but
it is justified by facts. What popular YER
dict can he rendered, asks the same con-
temporary, that the President cannot
set aside with the aid of the prerogatives
which Congressional laws have conferred on
him? He is in possession of all the ma
chinery of Government. The country
swarms with his official creatures ready to
support his usur2ations. He is the head Of
the army and navy and the center Of mon
eyed aristocracy. He commands both the
sword and the purse. He controls an inau-
entail force in every State, of custom-house
and internal revenue officers, Uuited States
marshals and deputy marshals, who can be
multiplied at win. He has an organization
of armed men bound by oath and secret pass
words, and ready to rally to his support The
interest of every Postmaster, assessor, col
lector, with their clerks aud messengers, is
identified with his perpetuation in power
He can march United States soldiers and
marines to the polls on pretexts which are
never wanting to justify such an expedient
and by that means can dictate the result
of any election. He has done it on score
Of occasions, and it has been done by his Of
ficials with bis sanction in instances which
are fresh inpublic recollection, and the PEG
pie have been powerless to do more than
merely murnur and protest. Know
ing these facts, and the still more
important facts, that there is a grow
ing interest in the country favorable to
! the establishment Of strong government
including national banks, with exclusive
privileges, and bondholders with special i'm
munit;es, what chance is there for the un.
organized popular element against such a
disciplined and interested combination, the
existence of which the masses of the Nortl
are too blind to perceive or too indifferent
| to realize or provide against Viewing,
therefore, the great campaign of 1872 il
whatever light We may, it must result either
in the restoration of popular government
with the success of the Democratic party
or the establishment of deSpotism witt
the election of Gen. Grant,