The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-10-07

/ race, or unwilling to associate with per-
sons of their own color. This bill is not
urged in the interest of the black race,
/ but Is pressed either with view to ac-
complish party and mercenary purpose
! or to crafty the few sclf-conceited, am
| bilious negroes who are unwilling or
ashamed to acknowledge the equality
/ of other negroes with themselves We
/ oppose this bill because it must neees-
sarlly produce an antagOnism between
I the races, hurtful to both and dcstruc-
/ tive to the best interest of the country
] We oppose it because it will destroy the
/ system of free schools in Tennessee and
I other Southern States and from which
! the black race may derive so many bene-
| fits. We oppose it because it would
+ lead TO such anterfeTence ON the part Of
4 the Federal Government with the local
affairs OF the people as viii destroy the
/ last vestige of States rights
| The tendency of the Federal Govern
ment to centraliZation is increasing with
alarming rapidity. Soon, if matters
proceed in the same direction they have
| been doing for some time, there will be
| no remnant left of the rights of the
/ States, or of local self-government The
creature will absorb all the powers of
the creator, and this Government will
/ be nothing more nor less than a great
4 central despotism. Rights of person and
/ property, and all other local matters,
/ which have been wisely left by the
! trainers of the Constitution to local
| legislation and local tribunals, will all
! be absorbed by the great Federal Mel-
| strom- One of the great doctrines of the
| common law, handed down to ms for
| generations, as & hulwark OfdfbcrTy and
| personal rights, that is, the right to be
| tried by jury of the vicinage, will be
! toll -nFo
| from their homes upon the slightest sus-
| picion, to be tried by iuries and tribu-
mails organized to convict The impress
| sion which has been industriouSly sought
to be made, viz: that immigrants are un-
safe in Tennessee because of the spirit
| of lawlessness which is said to prevail, is
an unmitigated SANDER, without the
shadow of foundation in truth. W. have
in our State thousand of Germans, SWedCS,
lrishmcn, Swiss, Italians and men Of
every nationality, and they will all tes-
| tIty that nowhere are they received With
more joyous welcome, or are their
rights and their persons treated with
more courtesy ana regard. Men have
been elected, and will continue to be
elected by the Democratic and Conscr-
VatIve party Of Tennessee, to positions of
honor and trust who were born in Europe
and in Northern States, some of whom
servcd'in'the Federal army during the re-
cent civil war. These malicious reports
are circulated with the twO-fold object
of affecting our material interests, and
of gaining a party triumph among those
unacquainted with the real facts
Although we are fully aEY&re Of thc
evil effects and disastrous consequences
of the Civil Rights Bill to both the white
and black races in our State, and
throughout the Southern States general
ly, we propose to resist it only, 10 use
the language of our platform, by legal
and constitutional means We are OPP
posed to all forms Of vi0lencea and crime.
We eXhOrt and cntrcat every man to re-
Spect and obey the law. Do net resort
to violence, no matter how great the
grievance MAY Ike, but rplF upon the
more peaceable and e1Iicaci0us remedies;
for remember that violence viii only
tend to Tiyet the fettcrs which have been
forged to bind your limbs. In vain let
the net he spread which is intended to
entangle you in its meshcS. We, how
ever, appeal with confidence to the en-
liglftened sense Of Justice Of our broth
rCn of the Northern, and especially of
the Northwestern States to save rs and
themselves from the dire effects of this
most 3fttaOgs measure. We are united
with them, not only by railroads but by
their intcrests-the blow at our prosper
ity must affect them. If we can become
a great agricultural and manufacturing
people, producing cotton, sugar, rice,
and, at the same time, engaging eXtcn-
sively in the various kinds of manufac-
turing for which our country is so adj
mirablE adapted, we will afford TO them
the nearest and best markets for their
immense grain and other agricultural
supplies The same high tariff which
Oppresscs us is drawing their life blood.
The same bank monopoly which con
centrates ali the money power in the
East, and dcprives them of sufficient
currency to transact their ordinary busi-
ness, and thereby makes them depen-
pendent upon an Eastern oligarchy, is
grinding us and Our industries to pow
der. The same legislation which pro
duces an antagonisn between the races
in the South, and is destroying peace
order and quiet, is materially affecting
their interests. by depriving them of the
Southern markets, which ought to be
the best for their productions. This
Civil Rights Bill must of necessity be
the great controlling question, in local
as we'll as in general elections. Too much
depends upon it for it to be ignored.
4 II men who are opposed to il should
portions of the United States, and that
is the Democratic and Conservative par
ty. Upon this question there is no di-
versity OF sentiment among Democrats
in any part of tile country In Maine
and Massachusetts,, in Indiana and Ohio,
as well as in Tennessee and Alabama.
the Democrats are a unit i'm Opposition
to this bill of mOnstrosites Let all,
then, I'M niTennessee who are opposed to
this measure unite. in this election with
the party pledged to oppose it, and by
that means endeavor to save our State
and country from the calamities which
are in store for us if this bill should be-
come "A law, and remain upon our stat
ute books. If it should unfortunately
be passed by partisan Congress, under
the influence of unprincipled leaders,
we must raise the banner of repeal and
call upon the people Of all sections of
the Union, who wish to preserve our re-
publican Government in fact and in
spirit, as well as in name, to rally to the 4
cause of the Constitution and the rights
of the States and of the people.
We do not say, because we do not be-
lieve, the great body of the Republican
party, either in the Northern or in the
Southern States are responsible for the
evil consequences growing out of the ag-
itatiOn of the Civil Rights Bin. Many of
the heaviest blows ii has received have
been from prominent Republicans, and
especially from the distinguished Sena-
tor from Tennessee. Ills trumpet gives
no uncertain sound We ask Republi-
cans Of the Northern States, who can and
will rise above passion and prejudice, to
examine this matter well, and then de-
termine for themselves if a measure,
fraught with so much mischief for the
white and black races in the South, can
he demanded either by party necessity
or public good. If they will not listen
to us, will they not hear the voice of their
own tried and trusted friends in the
South? If the mere agitation of the qucs-
tion has produced such results, what
would be the consequences of its passage
and endorsements for if they do this in
a green tree, what shall be done in the
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