Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-23
THE CROAKING OF A sOREHEAD.

THE CROAKIEG OF A SOREHEAD.
Our attention has been called to letter
written from Knoxville under date of Sept.
8, and published in the New York Times
of the l4th of that month, in which the
writer delivers him self as follows:
ave Union men of the South are just
now watching the political horizon of the
North with considerable anxiety, in order
to see whether the Northern people realize
what we conceive to be the inevitable re-
suit that would follow the success of the
Democratic party in the pending Presiden-
tial campaign-results that to us are of
fearful import. As you are doubtless aware,
three years ago, through dissensions in the
Republican party, the Democracy coalesced
with the Liberal wing Of the Republican
party, as it was called, and through
which they (the Democracy foisted
themselves into power in this State,
the result Of which has been an
uninterrupted course of vindictive tyranni-
cal, proscriptive and revengef1l legislation,
added to which is the wholesale social pro-
scription (as we'll as in business matters
also) of all who cherish Union sentiments.
What we now apprehend is, that, through
the pretended surrender on the part Of the
Democratic party of their anti-Republican
principles and their union with what is
called Liberal Republicanism, the people of
the North may be deceived into trusting
them with power-the trying and fearful
result of which, in State Government, we
have had the fruits of here, viii be repeat
ed in Federal Legislation, and the virtual
return to power Of the old slave oligarchy,
with the fearful passions and vindictiveness
the war engendered and twelve years OF
exclusion from power has certainly pro-
duced, the fruits of which we here witness
in every way and on every hand"
Now, the writer of this letter cannot be
lieve his own statements. BE is simply
painting "raw head and bloody bones
with which to frighten Republicans in the
North from voting for Mr.. Greeley. There
never has been day since the close of the
war when a "Union man." and one whC
fought in the 'Union army" for that mat
ter, could not go into the best society in
Tennessee and be treated with the same
courtesey and consideration as "Rebel'
who fought in the "Rebel army" if he 81
elected. We have some testimony on thi;
point that is worth reproducing here. The
following episode occurred when the COM
mittee from Nashville called on Mr.. Gree
ley at Louisville on the 23d of September
to invite him to visit our late fair:
"Col. Cahill of the committee then saiC
to Mr.. Greeley that he was Northern maj
and had been an officer in the Federal ar
my; that at the close of the war he had set
tied in Nashville, and that he had neve
been better treated in his life. He coult
assure him that any Northern man VIII
desired 10 locate in Tennessee could do 81
with entire safety; that any man who dl
not so conduct himself as TO become OBJ
noxious TO the people [any where], Woult
be cordially received by Tennesseeans an
be treated as one of them"
Here is the testimony of a gentleman
who does not conceal himself to fire
masked battery at his neighbors. Wha
he says of the people of Tennessee Is sim
ply what every man will testify whose pre-
judices have not been aroused by vindictiv'
partisan hatred, as is clearly the troubl
with the writer of the Knoxville letter
Men like the writer of that letter-chroni
gramblers because they are not petted an'
honored beyond their merits-would kee
this country in ferment until doom's day
Hany attention should be paid to thei
evil croakings by the people Of the North
They belongto class who are never happ
unless their neighbors are deprived Of tn
rights Of citizenship that they may hold Of
fee and fill their pockets. The time ough
TO have gone by when the croakings @
such evil-disposed persons could have th
slightest influence upon the minds and POI
icy of the Northern people. 1t is time t
listen TO such honest, conscientious gentle
men as Col. Cahill, who can look at societ,
and things as they exist, and report upo
the con iition of affairs without prejudice