Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-05

I
| men, and the manly manner of the offer of
| those terms was more powerful and COZ
| quering than all their implements of war.
Ii awoke IN our hearts admiration for our
soldierly foeman, and it was a convincing
argument that the Federal government was
true TO the pledge Congress had given dur
ing the war at the instance of Andrew
johnson, and that it was not the artful
trick OF demagogue, introduced by Mr..
johnson, 10 order to secure the Democratic
element of the North Ia the prosecution of
the war against us.
The reputation of the terms Of that sur
| render was violation of the pledge given
US by the Federal Soldiery. Who had a
better right to dictate the terms Of our sur
render, the Federal soldiers who had i'm
| periled their lives on the perilOus edge of
battle, or a Tennesseean who by accident
filed the Presidential chair, and who, not
Withstanding he aided to precipitats the
war as Breckenridge elector in lS60,-and
in the face of his idle boast ''that bis eyes
never yet looked in fear upon mortal man"
held, as Brigadier General, bis brigade
Of old men and women aud ministers of
the gospel in the rear at Nashville with
their headquarters principally in the peni-
Tertiary.
Fellow citizens: Pause and reflect up
on what a fatal stab was this % constitu-
tional liberty in Tennessee and the Cypress
ed South. What has it cost you? Look
back to the years of gloom and sorrow
which have, pall-like, lowered upon our po-
litical horizon! Who caused this irrepar-
able injury? Who struck down, not alone
the Confederate soldiers rights, but that of
| every Conservative Union man? Have you
forgotten it? Because you are willing to am
nesty the past must you confer Office on
man because he, instead of arising TO the
majesty of an exalted patriotism, murdered
the liberties of eleven States in this One
fell blow? But it is argusd that the Radi-
Gals of the country would not let the treaty
stand, and Mr.. johnson acted in ODE
dience to their will. Then If he
was recreant to his high duty as
| President ia obedience to tie cry
of q mob, he is unworthy, of the name
Of statesman. But the argument Is false,
| for the terms of the surrender were in ac-
cordance with the demand Of his predeces-
sor, Abraham Lincoln, in accordance with
the expressed will of Congress in the joint
resolution by johnson introduced, and
would have been backed by Sherman and
his army and the conservative voice Of the
heard the glorious news that our beloved
States would again stand forth draped in
the glory of their past renOWn, and that we
were lifted by he united voice Of our late
| foeman mo citizenship, we fel5 the 70. &c
and power OF their lofty patriotism. We
| felt that the old banner of starlight and
baauty"-ahhough it had been enVeloped
| ia the midnight cloud Of Radicalism, which
| for season hid the face of the sun of con-
| stitutional liberty, had with stood the storm
of fansticism, and emerged from the con-
| flict, each star shedding its halo, not on
States disseevred but on co-equal and SOW
| eign States, united and free, and that in
| stead of being prostituted TO q partizan
banner of the North, it was still a proud
emblem of freedom and hatred Of Tyranny
which in the old Revolution gave it birth.
We honored It, because the flag was mani
| mate and not responsible that it,
| beautiful folds had been soiled
in the black mireSof Rsdicalsm. These
patriotic impulses | sm shure were shared
by the surrendered Confederate army.
But alas, how changed, when by the fat of
Andrew johnson we stood unamed and at
the mercy of the revengefUl faction Of
RadicaliSm.
These are some of the distinguishing
traits between Greeley and johnson, but
let us trace the parallsl further. Greeley's
voice was in favor of opening the prison
| doors of the imprisoned COnfederates,
where many of our men were languishing
in dungeons, l will refer to only two Of
that class as my time is brjef-Jefferson
Davis and St. Lager Grenfel. The latter
vas a gallant, dashing Engishman who
had resigned position in the British army
! TO cross Jne ocean and cast his destiny with
| the South. He united his fortunes with
| the commander of the heroic cavalier,
| GIN. JnO. II. Morgan,
Whose sword leaps not at the long, loud cry,
Nor starts and streams with the crimson dye,
Who shouts no charge, nor the brave line leads,
For he lies in the grave OF his glorious deeds.
st. Legar ives confined at the Dry Tor
tugas, The abode of no living thing except
the reptiles of earth, and where no sound
! could be heard save that Of his gOaier's
! v0ica and the mOurnful surge Of the sea.
For years after the close of the war Pres
| ideaE johnson peremptOrily refused to set
| him at liberty, until at last the gallant En-
! glishmaD, preierriGg to risk death rather
! than remain in what was TO him a living
| tomb, seized a little boat, and when the
storm was its height, under its cover sought
the shore, and madly launched his frail
| bark upon the bosom of the TEN oesJuou5
sea, preferring to trust TO the mercy OF its
! cold, chilly waves rather than 10 the vim
| dictive spirit Of President johnson. And
now the waves chauut mOurnful requiem
over the watery grave OF that gallant En-
! glishman, As 10 the other prisoner, JetfeT-
! son Davis, he was permitted to be confined
III dungeon for near four years after the
close of the war. Mr.. Davis only asked the
! President TO award TO him the same rights
the constitution gave to the humblest Grim
inal in the land, that of speedy trial by
jury of his country. Instead of giving
him trial, Andrew johnson, in tine OF
profol md peace, when Federal guard was
IN almost every hamlet of the South, permit
ted MIR. Davis to be handcuffed and Grained
like a felon. He knew no jury could
convict jeff Davis of treason, OF of
the ,damable charge Of completely in
the assassination of President
Lincoln, IS has been proven by the utter
failure to prosecute him. How was bis
release effected? Horace Greeley came to
the aid of the counsel who were continually
demanding z trial, and demanded that be
be released on bail, and endorsed bis bond
for 100000. That conduct Of Horace
Greeley kuits him to our heart as with
hooks of steel. Was there aught OF mercy,
of justice, Of clemency, upon the part OF
Andrew Johnson in the inhumsn effort to
degrade the Southern people by putting
their leader in chains as a common felol?
Let's run the parable farther We vote
for Greeley because he is the nominee Of
our party. Mr.. johnson is dis rganizer,
aud yet owes every office he ever held to
conventions, and by bis candidacy endaE-
gers us with the defeat Of or State ticket.
Are not these reasons potent? We have
yet stronger cause to stand by Greeley.
He still advocates the pardon of the gifted
q Jn0. G. Breckiuridge, our pure Chief jus
- tic9 Nicholson, and the many Others under
8 the ban Of Ouylawry, so far IS political
! rights are concerned, under the Fourteenth
I Amendment. Andrew johnson does not
open bis lips in favor of further pardon.
; Horace Greeley asks the suffrage Of the
, people of Tennessee, but distinc ly an-
nOunces that he wants no endorsement At
: their hands of bis course during the war -
that he wants the recollection of our acts
n | and his to be forgotten aud forgiven: aid
! recognizes that the South was honest in
her convictions, and that our citizens are
E true citizens and worthy Of trust.
| What striking contrast between him