Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-09-02
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the time has come for the people of
the United States to turn away from
the discussion of dead issues and de-
vote themselves to the solution OF Iiv-
ing questions. The war Of the rebel
lion is now a decade behind us, and
for all practical purposes il is as far
distant as the reFolnkion of aasoantnry
ago. There is nomore dapgex al the
restoration of slaTey or of the South
ern Confederacy than there "a of Che
domination of King. George The Third
In my judgment there is no more dan
ger from the rebels of 1876-than there
is from the tories of 1776. We are
now the people of one country. The
cause Of contention has passed away,
and III is not In the power Of mortal
matkto restore 1t. The South could
not restore slavery IF it would, and
would not if i could. As stated by
Governor Tilden in his message of
1873, the questions settled BY the
war can never be reopened. The ad-
option of the thirteenth, fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments to the Fed
eral Constitution closed one great era
In our politics. 1t marked the end
forever of the system of human slavery,
and the struggles that grew out of that
system. These amendments have been
conclusively adopted, and they have
adopted in good faith by all political
organizations and the people of all
sections. IN hey close the 1ahaptar :,
they are and b ust be final; all parties
heTeafter must accept and stand upon
them, and henceforth our politics are
70 turn upon questions of the present
and the future, and not upon those of
the settled and final past"
Wise words are these, and as an an
tl-slavery man from the very begin
ming of my political career, down to
this present time, l give them greeting.
Human slavery in this republic is dead,
and dead forever. Not only is it dead
ard buried by the Constitution of the
United States, but tits dust and ashes,
and powder impalpable beneath the
slow pvlng put Irresistible proFiden-
ees OF God Almighty 49, 80
We turn our faces therefore from
the past and address ourselves to the
present and future, and for the solu-
ton of them we can not give any bet
ter advice than that given by- Govern
or Tllden In his last gnbernator;al
message: I'VE must build ND new
prosperity upon the old foundation of
American self-government; carry back
our political systems to the ideas of
their authors make governmental in
situations simpleT frugal ding
llttlei with the private concerns Of IN
Notwithstanding at fraternity among
ourselves and peace abroad-and
trusting to the people to work out
their own prosperity and happiness.
All the elements Of. nalfoVaF growth,
and private felicity exist in our coun-
try in an abundance which Providence
has vOchsafed to no other people
What we need to do is TO rescue them
from governmental folly and rapacity."
These are noble words, and i. trust
they mark the beginning Of new era,
as they do the beginning Of newren5.
fury.
The century gone, to us as a people,
has been one of discord but now that
the dissension has passed away, there
Is no reason why the century to come
should not be one of concord.
Believing that the principles enun-
ciated by the Democratic party tend
to this result more than any other, |
enlist under its banner, and trust that
the good sense of the American peo-
pie will give it victory in November.