Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-11

1t Is not through any win or wish of ours
that the g dead issue y of secession is being
resuscitated at this late day. We had
hoped for better things from those who
claim to be the doctrinaires of Liberalism
in Tennessee. We have understood that
Mr.. Greeley's universal amnesty meant the
olive branch Of peace for all We have
understood that Schurz and Trumbull and
Sumner welcome even "original secss-
sionists as co-workers and compatriots in
The future of our common country. 1t
hardly COMFORTS with this, TO assault men
on their secession record, or to ostracise
ex Confederates from holding Office, which
is the very thing for which Greeley and
Graft Brown condemn the Radical admin
istzation.
To assert that secession was merely ga
politicians war" on the part of the South,
is an arraignment of our whole people as
dupes and dolts. 1t is tantamount to as
sorting that the Southern people are in
capable of self-government-in incapable of
managing their own affairs. This is real
" Radical view of the South, and would
justify Federal interference in Southern
affairs indefinitely. 1t is the very quint-
essence of the logic of Radicalism.
To confess that the institution of slavery
was involved in the war, and at the same
time deny that the people were directly in
terested in it, is an absurd paradox. Over
100000, 900 of property in slaves, would
certainly interest ordinary human nature.
If, when put on the defensive unwilling
ly, we resist the efforts of such as cloak
their malice under spurious Liberalism to
SNAKE treason odious," we do not thereby
reassert at this day any right Of secession.
But we do assert that, in 1851, with our
previous history and the prevailing con-
struction of our Federal institutions, Sc
cession was an open question, the advoca-
cy or realization of which was not "trea-
son." had not been so construed by any au-
thoritative power, and the Federal statutes
thereon were blank. This fact is suffi-
GENTLY proven by the later fact that, after the
collapse ofthe rebellion" with the Central
lists in absolute control of the government,
and frenzied by the mad murder Of Lin
coin, no one was ever convicted of ''trea-
son." This should suffice to settle the
status of secession in 1861. Since then the
debatable question has been sternly decided
by the rude arbitrament of war; and at this
date we know of no individual or party
that seeks to re open 1t. .a.E
We are willing to accord all the merit of
discretion to those among us who through
various motives refused to join in seces-
sion, and to those who could coolly figure
out the result from mere numbers-that
refuge of cowardice. They may taunt US
now with i1discretion; we can only remind
them that this American republic originally
achieved its independence against greater
odds. ~ -@ u Es--.-
But cm bono? What bearing has this
bitterness of the past on our present or
prospective prosperity? All must confess
that men embraced the cause of secession
as noble, honest and able as ever embraced
any cause. The patriotism and abilities of
these men should not be left useless, merely
because they have survived lost cause.
We have use for their talents. Gratz
Brown and Carl Schurz tell US the
country has need of them. Universal
Amnesty and Reconciliation are the shib-
boleth of this Greeley campaign.
Democrats of Tennessee, whenever you
see newspaper so short Of political capital
that it must needs rake up the failure of
secession, impugning your intelligence,
judgment, honesty and patriotism-spot it
for wolf in sleeps clothing, Radical at
heart though it sport the livery of Liberal
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