Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-15

FORBEARANCE THE BEST POLICY.
The Nese- York Hsrasd's argument
that the Democrats hare ten reasons
for impeaehing Grant where the Radi-
Gals had one for impeaehing johnson,
rs more sensational than speculative.
Nothing less than a most imminent
danger to our free institutions, such as
would impress itself on the whole
country, could induce the Democracy
to initiate that dangerous precedent.
The Democracy indulges no revenges.
1t will seek its own perpetuation in
caring for the interests of the whole
country. It cannot afford TO crafty
mere partisanship. The Herald's no
ton Of Presidential impeachment be-
comes positively ridiculous when we
remember that the impeachment court
would be Radical Senate.
AT the same time we recognize that
the forbearance of the Democracy and
Of the people at large may be put to
some severe tests, if Radicalism goes
on with its high. handed measures Sup
pose, for instance, that Keliogg's Re-
turning Board repeats the rascality of
two years ago, and the new Democratic
House should find the outrage still sus-
tanned by Grants bayonets a year
hence. A multitude of counsellors
would urge mastery inactivity, saying
the easiest way viii be the best, and
that Louisiana had better bide her
time yet another year, till the great day
of deliverance for all Others would
ask, querelously, where is the advan-
tage of having Democratic House, if
it affords no relief? What did we elect
Democrats for, except to redress our
wrongs? However, there is no advan-
tage In borrowing trouble, or antici-
pating awkward contingencies except
with the view of impressing ON our
friends the necessity of wisdom, mod
Grafton and frmness. On this point
certainly the most delicate that will
have to be considered in the whole fu-
ture policy of the Democratic party
the Memphis appeal of the 18th inst.
says, In a criticism of Hon. Edwin 81.
Ewing's recent speech at Murfreesboro:
The Democratic party, as we under
stand 1t, does not propose to rip up the
past, aud to commence an indiscrimi-
nate ''repeal" Of obnoxious and sun
constitutional laws" 1t will have
nothing to do with the past but it does
propose to rehabilitate the South; to
demand the maintenance of a Just and
impartial policy whereby both races
viii be protected in all their rights.
Rehabilitation Of the South is the
watchword of the Democratic party.
and this can be accomplished without
going into the past, and repeating"
obnoxious" and "unconstitutiona
laws" The era of peace and good
will cannot be secured by the policy
proposed by Mr.. Ewing. Repeal"
was not the watehword in the recent
elections. The Democratic party can
give the South all she asks, restore
honesty in the administration of both
Federal and State governments, check
wasteful and extravagsnt expendi-
lures, put an end to abuses and cor
rupt practices, and unite all sections
IN a common brotherhood without
nosing out and repeating" the 'ob-
nOxious" and unconstitutional laws"
inspired by Radical hate. Let the
dead past bury Its dead. 1t is the fu-
ture the Democratic party has to deal
with.
We are inclined to think the appeal
has rather brcadened the scope of what
Mr.. Ewing really did intend to say.
The policy indicated by him strikes usas
anything but revolutionary. His views
seem to be in conformity to what
George Tcknor Curtis calls "a grow
ing feeling that the powers Of the Fed
eral Government have been strained
beyond their constitutional scope and
meaning" to use a familiar illustra-
ton, the Government is off the track of
the Constitution, and the wheels ought
to be put back on the rails. But this
does not involve running counter to
what are called the results of the
war, as settled IN the three amendments
to the Constitution. One of them
abolished slavery, anothermade all ma
tive born persons citizens of the United
States, without regard to race, color or
previous condition of servitude, aud the
third made it impossible for any State
to withhold the right of suffrage from
any citizen Of the United States on
account of his race, color, or previous
condition of servitude. There can be
no going behind these amendments,
and no attempt to overturn the
principles which they have es-
tablished But the legislation |
which has been adopted and |
put into operation under the pretext of |
enforcing these amendments is altoge- |
ther another matter A large part of |
it is uncalled for by the amendments,
and has, in fact, no Justification whatev-
er in the text, spirit, or purpose of
those amendments. How far the coun-
try viii be willing to go toward restor-
ing the Constitution to its former su-
premacy remains TO be seen, though we
never felt more strongly assured of any
TACT, than that the Democratic policy
viii be one of prudence, forbearance
and proper regard for the rights and
interests of all classes of citizens.
WE take from the NelC York Bulletin
of Thursday the following sensible and
just views concerning the impaired
credit of the South: "Tbe recent cleo
tons, in so far as they assure the
Southern States fair NAV cannot fail |