Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-20

I
that the elements of the two societies are
widely different. composed of those who, q
few years since, ruled the State, and ex-
acted obedience to their viii from then
slaves, and held absolute sway over the
votes of their white dependents, but who
are now reduced in influence and IN wealth
by the events of the war; or the poor white,
who has found himself, as he supposes, de-
graded by the elevation of the negro TO po-
litical equality with him; his vote before
/ having been the chief badge of his superior
ity Of the negro in not only voting but rul-
| ing the State in Office with or over his former
master, or struggling with the evils Of pow
! erty in the beginning of life for himself af-
! ter the best wears of his life have been spent
| in the service of others. Ali these elements
! beget feeling, and result in disorders to
| which the Northern communities are strang-
ers.
TIE BRAVE CONFEDERATE.
The strong feeling which led TO the re-
bellion and sustained brave men however
mistaken in resisting the Government
which demanded their submission to its
authority, the sincerity of whose belief was
attested by their enormous sacrifices of life
and treasure, their feelings can't be expec-
ted to subside at once, nor in years. 1t re-
quiyed first forty years to develop disafec-
ton into sedition and sedition into treason;
should we not be patient, fin less than ten
we have fair prospect of seeing so many
who were armed enemies becoming obedi-
ent citizens? Should we not give all en-
coUrsgement to those who manifest a dis
position now to become such, especially
when it is shown that in sections well dis
posed men were deferred by fear of the
power of an armed and desperate conspira-
cy from afording aid to the authorities in
enforcing law? But while we make this
fOrbearance and Cancellation, fully recog-
nizing that they form far the largest part of
the Southern people, is reluctance al that
is to be hoped for?
WHAT is REQUIRED.
Let it be understood that less than obedi-
ence the Government cannot accept. Obe-
dent citizens they cannot be considered
who, themselves complaining of bad laws,
excuse or encourage masked and armed
mobs that override all law. Brave and
magnanimous enemies even they cannot be
reckoned who permit the remnants of re-
bellious feeling, the animosities or bitterness
of political partisanship, TO degrade the
soldiers of Lee and Johnston into coWardly
midnight providers and assassins, who
scourge and kill the poor and defenseless.
WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE.
Against all such crimes, as well as against
incompetency and corruption in office, the
power and intelligence of public sentiment,
and of the courts of justice, should be in
vOked and united. And appealing for pa
thence and forbearance in the North, while
time and these powers are doing their work,
we would also appeal to the good sense of
the Southern men, if they sincerely desire
TO accomplish political reforms through a
change in the negro vote. If their theory
is true that he votes solidly now with the
Republican party, and is kept there by his
ignorance and by deception, all that is neces-
sary to keep him there is to keep up, by
their cOuntenance, the Ku-KluX organiZa-
tion. Having the rishts Of citizen voter,
neither of these rights can be abrogated by
whipping him. If his political opinions are
erroneous he will not take kindly to the
opposite creed when its apostles continue
to use the scourge on himself and outrages
his wife and children. If he is ignorant he
will not be educated by burning his school !
houses and exiting his teachers. If he is
wicked he will not be made better by ban !
ishing to Liberia his religious teachers. If |
the resuScitatiOn of the State is desired by |
his labor, neither will it be secured by a |
persecution which depopulates townships |
and prevents the introduction Of new labor |
and Of capital.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
The law Of 1871 has been effective in sup |
pressing for the present, to a great extent, |
the operations of masked and disguised mel |
in North and South Carolina. Bills have |
also been found by grand iuries in Georgia, !
Alabama and Mississippi. But compare |
lively few, if any, of the defendants in the |
last-named States have yet been tried. The |
cessation of operations should not |
lead to the conclusion that the community |
would be safe if protective measures were,
These should be continued |
until there remain no further doubts of the |
actual suppressing and disaming of the |
and dangerous conspiracy.
CORPUS MUST BE SUSPENDED.
The results of suspending the writ Of |
habeas corpus in South Carolina show that |
where the membership, mysteries and |
power of the organization have been kept |
this is the most and perhaps the |
only effective remedy for its suppression. /
And in view Of its cessation and the resnmp- |
ton Of hostilities at different times, of its |
extent and power, and that in several of |
the States where it exists the courts have |
not vet held terms at which cases can be |
tried, we recommend that the power con- |
ferred on the President by the fourth sec
ton of that act be extended until the end of |
the next session of the Congress.
MORE UNITED STATES COURTS WANTED. |
In view also of the large number of in /
dictments found in the several courts, I'M |
der this act, which remain untried, and of |
the evident encouragement derived from |
the belief that the present United States |
Courts can not possibly reach and try them |
within any reasonable time, we recommend |
such an increase of the judiciary of the |
United States by districts and circuits in the /
States shown to be affected by these disor- |
ders as in the judgment of the Congress will /
secure speedy and certain justice to be ad- |
and leave no hope of IMMUNITY |
TO criminals by the laws delay.
THE CONTINUANCE OF DISABILITIES
is the only cause not yet considered. No |
man under disabilities has avOwed himself !
as either committing or encouraging out |
TRACES for that reason, and no member Of |
the organization has justified their acts on |
that ground. 1t is one of the preteXts made |
by those who were willing to urge any plau |
sible excuse for the Outrages, which admit |
of none. But to remove the alleged i'm |
pediments tOSOcal government encountered |
by the existence of disabilities, to hold .
office, and being satisfied that there should |
be a general removal Of them with proper |
condition and exceptions, we recommend |
passage Of a law for that purpose, agreeing /
il the recommendation made by the Presi-
dent to exclude from its benefits any great
criminals distinguished above all others for
the part they took in opposition to the Gov
In this connection we wish to say that as
the disregard Of the law has been an evil so
largely complained Of and so widely ex-
tended in the late insurreCtionary States,
no encouragement should be given to those
who have accepted Office in defiance of the /
existence of their constitutional disabilities,
or have elected Ito Office men whom
they knew to be excluded by these docu
ments.
The majority concludes with a report
from Representative Stevenson, from a sub
Committee on the Debts and Election
Laws Of the late Insurrectionary States,
the substance of which has been already
published.