Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-03-09


Naturalization.
Not only has an unwise and I'M
Just discrimination been made a.
gainst the section lately in insurrec-
tion, but arbitrary laws have been
enacted and enforced, and looking
to the government of the people in
these States by the general govern
ment.
The coming political campaign
will be maintained by the admistra-
ton in direct hostility to the rights
and interests of the South, by APP
peals made to the prejudices of the
North. The leader and adviser of
the administration openly declares
his purpose to infiame the prejudi-
ees of one section against the other,
to secure the control of the govern
ment. Thus all the wounds of the
late rebellion are to be opened
afresh, and set bleeding, with q view
to subjugate and calumniate the
characters of the living aud obedient
citizens.
We seek not dominion over our
fellow citizens, but to restore to
each the consciousness of his nation
atty and the pride of liberty and
equality in great and generous Re
public that protects alike only free
men yielding a voluntary and spon-
taneous obedience 10 laws enacted
by themselves.
The administration and its advis-
ers have refused general amnesty to
all American citizens thus perpet-
uating an odious Irritating, and in
famous badge of degradation long
beyond the period demanded by
wisdom and an enlarged Christian
charity, if not unwisely prescribed
at first.
The administration has been char
acteriZed by aggressions upon the
time honored rights and the most
valued safeguards of civil liberty.
The bayonet has been used to over
awe the citizen at the ballot-box.-
| The writ of habeas corpus has been
suspended without adequate cause (;
and the citizens Of whole counties
been subjected to the reign of the
law of the bayonet. The principle
of local self-goyernment has been
invaded and has almost ceased to
act as check upon centralized
power.
The patronage of the Government
is trust, cOnfided by the people to
the President as their agent, to be
used for their good and the prospe-
rity of the nation. 1t has become
under the present Executive his
own special property, to be used to
forward his own ambitious purpo-
ses, to punish free thought and free
speech, and to purchase or compel a
servile compliance with his interests
and desires.
Under the misconceptiOn of the
objects of this trust and the utter
disregard of the high dignity of the
Office of Chief Magistrate of a "a
ton, the highest stations have been
used to reward his almoners and
pension his relatives, in almost eve
ry instance either unworthy or I'M
qualified to execute faithfully and
efficiently the duties of the office.
He has used his position and pow
er to control the local elections of
the States, prescribing the candi-
dates for whom the people should
cast their suffrage, and Furnishing
honest and competent officials for
refusing to surrender their right of
choice to executive dictation.
The swarms officers, unknown to
the people, that have been sent
forth as spies, informers and politi-
cal agents, into certain States, as
well as the governments countenan-
ced and sustained blythe administra-
ton are a reproach to American
Justice and honor.
The Executive has invaded the
sanctity of the Senator and demand
ed, and through the Instrument of
his viii secured, the punishment
and degradation of the most enligh-
tened, self-denying and faithful Re-
publican Senators, for having dared
according to the dictates of their
consciencies to differ with him on a
great question OF national policy,
or still greater question ofpersonal
duty.
The limited education of the Exc
utiFc has been confined mainly to
learning the duty of obedience and
subordination to rank, and a long
period of command has confirmed
the habit of enforcing the dictates
of an obstinate viii. 1t is not singu-
lar that we are called upon to wit
ness the government reduced to the
character of military camp, and
the principle of subOrdinatiOn subs
TINTED for thevoluntary.d discharge of
duty. If an immediate check Is not
applied, the character Of our people
will become entirely changed.Z
Their elf-goVerning and self-resist-I
ing power will give way before the
genius of the central domination.
The unpreeedented number of de- I
falcations, the extent of corruption
pervading the admins
tration of our public affairs, pr owes
the immediate importance of an eff |
fectiYe remedy to preserve the peo-
pie, already burdened with debt |
and oppressed by an Unnecessary |
and extrayagant expenditure for the ]
several departments of the govern |
ment. There are other and grave |
objections to the present Executive !
and his advisers; which of them /
selves, should demand a change in 4
the administration, such as the tam !
pering with the Supreme Court, the I
means used to force the San Domin-
20 treaty upon the country, with
out any reference ofsO grave a mat
Ter 10 the ueClslOu Oh the people,
but our limits will not admit OF
heir consideration. The Democratic
party is powerless to effect any
change. The fear of a reactionary
will prevent the patriotic
men of Republican faith from going
over to a party regarded as looking
o q return to q DISCHARGED policy
As there viii be no Democratic
candidate in the field, and the great
1ody of Democrats feel the necessi-
Y of change in the administra-
ion, preserve the liberty, dignity |
nd rights of the people, they will
,eyond doubt support the most adj
-anced Republicans in a movement
o secure an honest and intelligent 4
administration, and this upon the
lost advanced Republican ideas.
We hope that the Republicans of {
'ennessee who desire to restore
heir section TO its ancient position
{ equality and honor in the nation,
nd who oppose the sectionalism of
ne admins tration, its centralizing 5
,ndency, its corruption in Office, :
s military spirit, its undiguifed