Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-25
A LETTER FROM JUDGE GARDEN.
HIRE.
He Does not Favor Democratic DIsOr.
ganizatIOn.

He Does not Favor Democratic DLsOr.
ganizatIOn.
! To the Editors of the Union and American:
NASHVILLE, TENN, April "a, 1S72.-
| The other day, at the urgent solicitation OF
q personal friend. consented that be should
put my name down as a delegate to the
| Cincinnati Convention. Some wise gentle
men supposed from that that had changed
the politics of my whole life. One comes
| to me and says, Il never was so much sur
prised in my life." And another and an
| other, with the same song, until it becomes
vexatious. wish to give quiet, and there
fore declare now that | have been Dem
Ocrat since had political opinion. can
scarcely remember when was not such. l
have never changed my political opinions.
l think | am too old to change them
now. 1 LelieYe as formerly, that the
people ought to have the right to
govern themselves. l believe in a strict
construction of the Constitution, and
economical administration of the general
government, and that the States ought to
have the right to control their own domestic
affairs, without the unconstitutional inter-
meddling of the Federal Executive. en-
terrain other views of the ancient Demo-
cratic party, too familiar to be repeated
here.
| am unalterably opposed to consolida-
ton, which seems now near its final con-
summation. For if Mr.. Grant was as tai
ented as he is corrupt and reckless, there
would probably be no more popular cleo
tions. An able man could fan to flame the
insane bitterness of the North against the
poor, oppressed South, an by that means
assume the imperial purple. 1t is practi-
cally that now. In a sister State the judi
cial ermine is disgraced by a brutal
negro, and Congressional honors cluster
around others. Citizens are torn
from their families and cast into
dungeons, and denied the right to trial.
They are denied the right to be heard or to
confront their perjured accusers. In other
instances they are shot down like ferocious
beasts. This too in the noon of the 18th
century. 1t is said to be not in the night
of barbarism. No, we congratulate our
selves and thank God that we are not as
the barbarians of the dark ages, and that
we live in an age of Gospel light and knoWl-
edge. We have reason too to be thankful
that we don't live in Turkey, Russia, Eng
land or Germany, but under the benign pro-
lection of that glorious emblem, the stars
and stripes, the symbols of the powers of
the "best government the world ever saw"
| have sworn, sir, and now repeat the
oath, eternal enmity to this tyranny. l
will oppose it in every legitimate way.
| would be willing to cooperate with any
party, of whatever name, to defeat the pre-
sent administration and to restore the Gov
erment to its ancient purity. In this have
little hope. Political madness seems to rule |
the hour, and fierce, relentless, bloody pro-
scription holds high carnival. To differ in |
political opinion from the canting Puritan !
is an objectionable crime, and of course |
subjects the guilty wretch to stripes, tor |
lures, imprisonment and death. An i'm |
proved and rather dOcile race of GOrillas, !
are to be especially cherished, but the high |
est type of humanity, the children of Wash |
ingtoD, Jefferson, the Calhouns and |
Haynes have no rights if they fail to think |
as do their Yankee masters.
Now, sir, | shall never abandon these |
principles. would assume any name or /
act with any party to make them the ruling |
policy of the country. Politicians and place |
hunters, the pestilent tribe which has well
nigh driven our country to destruction, may
shout and rally around a name, for all l |
care. l will cling to these principles. / !
seek no place or power, and beg the poor
privilege of being let alone. hope, too, 1
shall learn wisdom by experience. l shall
not say hereafter that l am for or against
any man but Grant. l am against him
and all his tribe of cousins. If Hercules
was here, and if had the power of Euris-
theus, one of the twelve labors 1 would
impose on him would be to clear the Au-
gean stable of the foulness, of the nepotism,
that now disgraces the nation. will do
nothing to distract the powerful party that
now opposes the advance and consummation
Of Imperialism. l am Democrat
and if that is the strongest force, which OPP
poses the shameless profigacy which
alarms every patriot, will vote with it. If
all hope is lost, will take care of myself as.
best can, in the wreck of free government.
| hope now l am understood. l am, sir,
your Obedient servant.
e. L. GARDENHIRE.