Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-12-26
THE ERA OF PEACE.

merce. one of the ablest journals in
this country, commenting on the pres
ent state of feeling at the South, says:
That northern man must be cross
grained and very hard to please who is
not satisfied with the conduct of the
southern whites since the election
They have won great victory in break
ing the backbone OF thepowerfulcom-
binstion of earpet-baggers and negro
dupes which has long misgoverned
their country. In the revolution
they have wrought they are sus-
tanned by the public sentiment
which has triumphed at the North
They see that they are in happy accord
with the majority of voters in the nor
thern States, for the first time since the
close of the war. This emboldens
them to speak out their minds freely
and in full confidence that they will be
understood and appreciated. And they
are doing so in way that leaves no
doubt of their sincerity. The tone of
the southern press is simply admira-
BILE. We read nowhere in its pages
word of vengeance on the late tyrants.
There is but little of exultation even );
but we note everywhere a remarkable
moderation and reserve. The best hen
of the South have long been disposed
to forget the ancient grudges of the
war. Only few southerners of infu-
ence have sullenly cherished the old
animosities. And now we find the
whole conservative party Of the South
generally inclined to forgive and forget
the carpet baggers and the negro allies
who have mercilessly plundered them
for nearly ten years. 1t is revenge
enough to know that these petty des-
pots are overthrow in some States and
that in others their doom is near at
hand. The men of the South will be
content TO take the wreck which car
pet-bagism has left to them and rebuild
and furnish the vessel as best they can.
In the kindness of their hearts they
may go so far as to refrain from prose-
cutting and furnishing anyOf the thiev-
ing rings which they have broken;
though we hope that such magnanim-
ity will not be extended to men who
do not in the least deserve it. When
New York city voted down the ring,
the next step in order was TO catch the
thieves and put them in prison, and
that fate they only could avoid by
fight. The South seems only too hap
by at the prospect of escape from car
pet bag domination TO think of penal
ties for her oppressors. Before the
elections the radicals asserted that
wherever they were defeated there
would be an immediate cutlery for re-
peal OF all the legislation comforting
rights upon the freedmen. This was a
wanton misstatement of southern con-
sentative feeling. Iu their campaigns
the conservatives pledged themselves.
If successful, to respect the acquired
rights of the negroes; and on this
promise they received in many places
large share of the cvlored vote; and
since the election they have voluntarily
renewed those pledges in the strongest
terms. The Democratic State Com
mittee of Alabama say in their cOngrat-
ulatory address These duties require
of US that justice must be fairly ad-
ministered according to the laws of the
land that the rights Of all the people
of Alabama, both of person and of
property. must be preserved inviolate,
that there must be no OPT ression of any
race or class of men, ETC., and other
passages of the address are to the same
effect. The Charleston News says in
the same vein: The southern whites
should seize every opportunity of prov
ing that, as their power increases, so
will they do more and more for the
moral and intellectual elevation and
the material advancement of the negro.
maintaining him in freedom, enabling
him to earn more and live better. =
Senator Gordon CONSERVATIVE, in a
speech at Augusta after the election,
asked that he be commissioned to
pledge anew the loyalty of the people
of Georgia ITO the constitution and the
laws, their support of all rightful au-
thOrity, their cordial friendship for ev-
cry man and and all men of all sections
who will aid in restoring peace to the
sections, justice to the States, liberty to
the citizens, purity to the Government,
and the constitution to its supremacy"
Such is the language of the conserva-
tive press and platform, with no excep-
ton worthy of remark; and we point
TO it asan augury of great good to the
whole country 1t is of the utmost i'm
portance to the peace aud prosperity of
the Union thatthis right feeling should
be manifested spontaneously at the
South, aud not be forced out of her by
the pressure of other sections. The
great mistake OF the administration
has been in using unnecessary means
10 compel the southern people to do
justice 20 the freedmen and to respect
the constitution and the laws. The
truth is that they have not been want
ing in consideration for the cOlored
race nor in obedience to the laws. and
the compulsory policy of the admins
tration was superfuous and insulting
This is now evident when we see thatin
the moment of conservative success at
the South, they seem to be as respect
full Of the laws and the rights of the
humblest, as the warmest radical friend
of the negro could desire. One of the
objects sought for in the political rev.
olution was TO restore harmony to the
white and black races at the South and
20 Danish the last trace Of disSenSiOn
between lately rival sections of the
country, and this great end, we may
now say, is in . fair way Of accomplish
mani