Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-31


united with the Democracy. The Demo-
cratic party has in name survived the great
rebellion, having been subjected to par
tial dissolution and the loss of many OF It's
most efficient members. These great party
changes were the result of general causes
long quietly tending to their final result.
For two hundred years conditions fostering
voluntary labor and personal freedom bad
been combining the entire North against the
South, whilst natural causes of different
character, and the presence of servile and
uncongenial race had eementea the ruling
race in the South into party supporting
slave labor and desperately determined to
resist the threatened revolution of free Ia
Dor. The conflict of sections holding these
opposing ideas resulted in conflict OF
arms. The Wing viii not condemn the
Democrat, for both were loyal to the sacred
institution. No man who sustained the re-
lation of master can justly say to his neigh
Dor 'sthou art the guilty man."
The contest that grew out of these enc
my institutions was in no sense one of
personal character. That man is indeed
debased who cherishes resentment or pan
ders to tkem in others for political ends, or
seeks to hold parties or individuals respon-
that into which we have emerged. The
terrible convulsion which shook our infant
Republic, so young and strong, from ocean
to ocean, was but The revelation of Gods
eternal purposes. It was the closing out
an exhausted era and the inauguration ola
more exalted one. The passions, the con-
tests and the suffsrings were the offspring
of the creative hours. The Tina had come
for the dissolution of ancient forms and
expiring faiths. The passing ages had re-
vealed to us fragments of brighter future.
The minds of the Republic sought to break
away from the past, in pursuit Of higher
destiny. In this struggle the South bravely
resisted, and in the hour of consummation
molly yielded. She has bid adieu to all
forms of caste, to all restraints upon the
liberties of men. The decision OF the eau
Gus and the authority of master have Civ
en- place to the montions of conscience
and the inviolabiliiy # the individual. We
have assembled to an era of liberty realized,
equality respected and fraternity practissd.
The antagonisms, the bitter resentnents,
the sectional malignity Of the past belong
| to history.
do not pretend to say that there are not
men of both parties who use the memories
| vi ltlG DT6N6 luCu NAIlD koll Lu6 COLbCob 6S
the means by which they are to arise to
power. SRch selfshness and malignity be-
| long to individuals and not to the masses of
men. 1t may win so long as
| the fires of hatred have not
become exhausted. 1t is a sad spectacle
| to behold American citizens so blinded by
passion and infuriated by the desire Of
| power that they tear open the collins of the
| dead for the grim skeletons with which to
in1ame the living to continued resentment.
1t is open war upon the purpose and faith
Of the Cincinnati movement.
The conduct of none of the ante-bellum
parties is now the issue. The military Ca
Teer of no man merits one moments con-
sideration in this issue. We come now to
the consideration Of Grants policy and
| practice during the four years that he has
enjoyed the honors Of President. l will
examine the sentiments a. issue. We df-
firm that Grant IS the representative of the
principle Of dominating, reseafW and
unjust 1uiH, of sectional antagonism and
| hatred. We affirm also that Mr.. Greeley
| is the representative of the principle of a
government of voluntary consent, reconcil-
iation Of races and sections, of equal and
exact justice to States and sections.
The Administration is InjuSt(y sectional.
Men of self respect and pride of character
need not require the discussion of this
proposition. What is the attitude of the
country? Is it not the government of one
section by the other?
The President and Vice President are
\ from the victorious section. The com
mander of the army and all its influential
officers; the admiral of the navy and all its
leading commanders; the entire cabinet, all
are bitterly sectional. Every member OF
the supreme court; all the Grant Appendices
of the new circuit judges; every chairman
of every important committee in both
Houses of Congress; all the important
| ministers and consular repre-.
sentatives at foreign courts;
the representatives Of the same section
sworn in all the Southern Federal Offices
thick as the flies in Pharoah's palaces. This
section has nothing left but its misrepre-
sentstion in Congress. Grant had the op-
potunity to have distributed these offices
impartislly and in the spirit of American
justice among ali the different sections
Why did he choose all from one? There
was design in this. It was not from that
spirit of christian charity (which seeketh
not her own, is not easily proVo5ed and
thinketh no evil" Is il not a most humili-
ating exhibition Of the exercise of little
''brief authority" and mean suspicion?
Inevery contest in the South which involved
the Acknowledgement ofthe whites, Grant
and his cabinet have been in favor of The
restricting unjust minority and against the
liberal majority. In eDery instance they
have opposed the reiefrGachiSement Of the
whites. They were found against the
liberal policy in Tennessee in 1860. Ii
Virginia they took the side of injustice and
tyranny. Next in Mississippi they are
found true to their instincts. Thsn they
carry the day in Texas ia favor of conten-
ton and crimes. In Missouri Grant at tbs
head of his party confronts B. Graft
Brown,the champion of equal rights, peace
and reconciliation. In Virginia, Tennessee
and Missouri, the still unconquered spirit
of a gallant people confronted him, and
peace and happiness every where rejoice
all the inhabitants of these States. Ii
Texas and Mississippi, strife, oppression
and blood mark the triumph Of the admins
tratioa. Do you no5 ali remember thai
Tennessee was threatened to be reduced Il
military prOcOnsulate foi he
independent course? Georgia was remand
ed under Federal Oayonets, commanded By
Grant, to the tender mercies OF the Tapa.
cious Bullock. Need | repeat the high
handel career of the Administration in the
other Southern States? Is would require &
: volume to recount the repssted violations
of every principle of our form Of govern
ment. Who has forgotten the proclama
ton of martial law in Texas and Arkansas
the despoiling, disarming and murder 0
the citizens? Is not the suspension of tht
writ of habeas corpus in North and Soutl
Carolina sill fresh IN the memories of all
There is not even the promise of reform.
must hasten oa to other points. Presi
} dent Grant is a man of passions, prejudiceS
antipathies and ambition. He is not maj
Of ideas, but he is fairly the Representative
of the thinkers of bis school. We will nov
} go to the men who fabricate his thunde
and mould the conduct of administration
The sentiments of these men will accouu
r for this one-sided administration. Mr.. Wen
dell Phillips, the leading thinker, thus ad
| dresses the colored men: "VOte every on
of you for Grant, as you value property
life, wife or child. If Greeley is elected
l arm, concentrate, conceal your property
J But organize for defense. You viii nee
/ | it soon and sadly" The ring of this j
= fearful. 1t is like the ''snap of angry sci
!, | pants' teeth" You can almost hear thi
S Shrek of the victim Of the dagger, and Sc