Year: 1868

ABLEST STATESMEN,


From the Montgomery NALL


/ When such as the writer of the commupica
ton, an extract from which print below deems il
necessary to emerge from the retirement of public life
and to express grave apprehension concerning the
perils by which surrounded, there is, indeed
occasion tor every citizen, no matter what may be biz
party affiliations, to pause and consider the situation
We earnestly hope that in this spirit will the counse
of the venerable patriot and be received ant
acted upon by the General Assembly of both Tennes
see and Alabama:


1t is expedient sometimes to submit to unconstitu
tional and oppressive enactments for time, rather
than appeal immediately to the ultimate arbiter; but
: where the Legislature has become by accident. as
sumption and force possessed of power which it uses
as the mere instrument of faction where the Courts
have become its creatures and the registers of its
edct, where all the executive offices are filed bv the
| ministers of this facton-where, in one word the
whole State has got into groove in which, whatever
the consequences it must run forever without some
irregular and ecstatic exertion then time has come
in which the people must relieve themselves by direct
and immediate action under the first clause of the
stuton of the State. If such action should be re-
sisted by force that force should be repulSed


time comes in the history of people occasionally
where to submit to oppression invites its increase and
where the consequences more grievous than any
that arise from resisance-a tine when>men look
upon danger with contempt, and upon life itself with
Indifference. That point is almost reached in Ten
nessee. ,"5s .-'..-


The denial of the right of voting to the great mass
Of the intelligent wealth of the State upon the pre-
ence that the allowance of such right would endan-
ger the public peace and liberty is too fimsy to de-
mand a serious argument to contradict it. The deci-
sion of the Supreme Court declaring the franchise law
constitutional as an argument and opinion is beneath
all contempt would review it if itwere worth a re-
view Even this does not sustain the law as righteous
or polite one but declares it only to be within the





These are my opinions; let them be taken for what
they are worth. l do not counsel force Such coun-
sell If to be given, must come from younger and more
energetic men, men who be actors as we'll as ad-
vsers. will, however, express the opinion that the
Legislature have no constitutional power under pre-
tence of calling out the militia, to establish standing
force Of armed men, by whatever name they may choose
to call it. And Twill say further, from my observa.
ton of the feelings and opinions of the people of the
State that the readiest way to get up that very civil
war which the Radical party profess depreeate is 10
attempt to inaugurate such force And in the name
Of all that is good and kindly among men, with no


ieelng towards any one, with but short remnant of
life that would fain have apeaceful ending and
in the Of Him who did as the Enissary of Peace
among men, would pray our Legislature, now in seq
sion to forbear from doing this thing ear-I fear
that9ruin will followt Very truly,


July ~, 1865 - EDWIN H.. EWING.