Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-18

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By an American President, and
executed by Gen. Grant In two States Of
this Onion.
Under this act President Grant, less than
two years ago, declared martial Law both in
North and South Carolina, suspended the
privileges OF the writ of habeas corpus, and
precipltated the trial Of scores of citizens
before United States Courts, where, with
out money or friends and before unfriendiy
jurors, they were convicted and sentenced
TO confinement and hard labor for a term
Of years in the State prison at Albany, 500
miles o. more from their homes. AID
this was done in the name Of Repub-
licanismi What moekery! What an
outrage. James the III when England
was invaded by foreign foe, dared not
brave the public sentiment of his people,
80 jealous were they of this writ of righ',
by slspendiug its privileges until Parlia-
ment assembled, and passed an act suspend
lug it. William was afraid under similar
circumstances to suspend the writ. MIR.
Jeferson at q critical period of his admins
tration, believing that the safety of the
country demanded a suspension. sent a
message to Congress in secret session ask.
ing them to exercise this prerogstive. A
bill suspending the privileges OF the writ
was passed by an overwhelming majority
in the lower house, bus before the bill was
transmitted to the Senate, public cl4mor
became so threatening that Mr. Jefferson
sent in another message, asking that the
bill lie defeated, and every
Senator except two voted against
the dill, and OF course defeated il. He con-
tinued this subject at some length, I'D we
are sorry we could not follow him through
in this portion Of his speech which was
listened to with marked attention.
PARTIES.
In all countries ia which the organic law
makes the officers elective, political parties
are not only incidental out necessary to the
well being of the government. The ten
dency of man to abuse power and the dis
position of ofice-hOlders 10 discriminate 10
favor of their friends creates a necessity for
the jealous watchfulness of the opposition.
The opinions OF men are as various as the
stars that beieck the armament of heav-
en-, and as mum ,rols as the sands thai
make tie sea shore. And as a
consequence nope Of US agree
precisely as to the best policy of the Gov
eminent. Free thought and free speech
being the boosted privileges of all free gov
ernments, and being always freely exer-
cised beget discussions among men as to
the true mode of administering tie gov
ernment so that the greatest amount Of
good may result TO the greatest number.
After dwelling st some leugth upon parties,
Gov. Brown then touched upon
POLITICAL CONVEX rIONS.
BE remarked: Much has been said of
late about caucuses aud conventions, and
much more will be said before the Govem-
Der elections. This is no new feature in the
political discu ssions Of this country; for
while all parties for 40 years past have adopt
ed conventions IS the past means Of sup
pressing a multitude Of candidates In their
own ranks, aud thus avoiding defeat, yet
there never has bean wanting the bowls Of
diappointed ambition from the ranks OF
defeated aspTants decrying conventions;
and sometimes these malcontents and bolt
ers FROM the party disc pline have with the
aid Of their political enemia srOde into place
aud power, but generally il not always be-
trayed the great mass OF th-ir supporters,
and in the next hunt for OIL 9 accepted the
olive branch from friendl5 convention,
and bearing alOft the party standard SIS
Justify praised as they had FUSED the con-
vention system. Where parties
exist some system to reconcile The claims of
rival aspirsnts is Absolutely necessary both
for the integrity and success Of the party.
A large minority, however pernieiOus and
hurtful to the country its prime ples, may
overthro8 powerful majority If that mai
ority permits its strength to be neutralized
or destroyed between rival candidates from
its own ranks. How often have you wit
messed such results, and the results
may be disastrous not only TO the pSrty,
but to the country. Take for example
the case of Tennessee. She has very
large majority Of Democratic and Consery-
alive voters agreeing substantial ly upon all
questions Of State and National policy.
All are opposed to Radicslism. and would
deplore as g calamity worse than p ague,
famine or pestilence the re-establishment OF
the Brownlow despotism, with al its dis
Embellishments, its militia, its plundering OF
the treasury, snd its proscrip ions; and yet
rival aspirants for the Gu6ernatOrial chair
and for the General Assembly are permit
ted to waste and fritter away by division
at the polls the party strength. Where is
the security against the very evil we have
endur ID at tn lands Of r I'd caljsm? L
two popular men divide the Democratic
and Conservative vote of Tennessee as rival
candidates for Governor, and what
will prevent even BrownlOw himself, or
Maynard, or any other popular leader OF the
Radical party from becoming your Gov
ernor. In this and many other counties OF
the State the same causes would produce
like results. We have had only short
respite from political State despOtism-not
yet time enough 10 restore our credit, aud
certainly not time enough to enjoy to ss-
tiety our personal liberty; and surely we
ought to avoid line of foolish policy that
will hand back to the despoiier the desti-
MES of ourselves and our posterity. While
conventions present objections, and serious
ones too, can we improve upon this time
honored agency adopted nearly half cen
tury ago by our fathers? The Governor
then reverted to the origin and history of
political conventions from the organization
of the Government, and at this junctUre,
being apprised that his time was out, re-
turned thanks for the attention he had re-
ceived, and took his seat.
Speech OF A. A. Freeman.
N n.
next speaker. He spoke substantially as fol-
lows:
Fellow-citi zens:-I come before you to-day az
the Republican candidate for Governor. have
never visited your town before, and hope you
will give me As careful a hearing as you have my
opponent, who has manifested some inclination
to know how [ can take position with the Ma
tionsl Republican party. | am gratihed TO be-
lieve that when he asked that he did not know
that there are many who would wish 70 know
how he has swallowed Greeley.
beg this audience TO endorse what the Gov
ernor has said in regard to our educational in
terests, for believe it all, but he has said 1t
much more slOqueRtly than can. 1 desire TO
call attention to the statement of the inaugural
address of the Governor IN regard to the public
debt, where he said that in two yea the debt
increased from SIG 900 00) TO $40 900 o, whereas
he states to day that it was $50, 100000. At the
time the Republican party came into power in
1865, the public debt was S22 900 600, all OF which
was created by the Democratic party This &C
counts for that much of the debt. OF the re-
mainder, so, 600 900 was accumulated in build
ing I'D railroads that wore destroyed by the late
war 1 ION as heartily as the Governor himself
In denouncing the practice OF ISSUING ponds 20
Republican party Is not alone responsible for the
railroad policy of this State, aud the Democrats
have no right TO accuse US OF being so. tn pol
lev was instituted By the Democratic party be-
fore the war, and the Republicans have adopt
ed it.
NV relations with Gov. Brown have satisfied
me that his motives in relation to the psnitentiaTy
policy were only those of patriotism. l desire,
however, to show you by figures presented by
Gov. Browns own frien s, that this lease has re-
suited in loss to the State. When the penitentia-
nv was to be leased, Nashville firm offered Sl0,-
600 a year more than the State now recey yes.
Would 1t not then have been a good opportunity
for the Governor aud his friends tOhelp the State?
He was peculiarly interested in concentrating
this lease. shall show you that the State Is
losing $50 900 yearly through this lease which the
IN1Fr hau nfaaf IT,