Year: 1868

Club in this city, in support of resolution
offered by me for consideration, asserting
the expediency of continuing the Presiden-
tial canvass in Tennessee, and some friends
who were present having requested the
presentation Of the argument then made in
print, have 10 ask the insertion Of what
follows: - II. s. FooTE,


THE ARGUMENT. - .,-.
No more important question could be
propounded at the present moment than
the one now under consideration in this
community, whether or not the Democratic,
party in Tennessee should, or should not
| decline the presentation Of an electoral
ticket in the Presidential contest in pro-
gress. The question is important and in
teresting in very high degree, indeed !;
but, as believe, it is not at all difficult Of
decision. All will admit that the approach
ing Presidential election is far the most inn
portant election of the kind that has ever
occurred. If decided in favor of Radical
ism, our constitutional liberties are gone
forever. If decided in favor Of theiparty
now in power, corruption, the most lun-
blushing aud audacious that mankind have
yet known, will have received the .dsliber-
ate sanction Of forty millions of Teople,
and be permanently enthroned iniall the
high places of power. 1.-THE Radicals are
successful, the American peopleWill be sub.
jected hereafter, as they are at this moment,
TO the heaviest taxation which any free peo-
pie have ever heretofore endured. That il
to- say, to a taxstion of four hundred
and sixty millions of dollars per annum,
if not more, in all time to- come. for the
national debt, SO far from being dimin-
ished during the last three years of peace,
has been constantly increasing; so that we
owe now one thousand millions of dollars
more than we did at the end of the war. If
the Radicals succeed, the whole of that
portions of the public debtnow lawfully and
justly payable in legal tenders, will be pay
able in gold; thus greatly enhancing the
mass of public indebtedness at once, and
making it perpetual If the Radicals sue
ceed, the neiarious tariff system now ex-
isting, and which is rapidly enriching New
England at the expense of all the rest of
the Union, viii be every year aggravated
in its enormity and be ultimately rendered
completely uncomfortable. If the Radicals
succeed, the system of cold -blooded and re-
morseless. tyranny nov imposed upon
the States of the South, will re-
ceiye such increased energy and
strength, that in all coming time we shall
not be able to get rid of it. If Seymour
and Blair shall be elected, precisely the re-
verse of this terrific picture will be realized.
An honest and frugal administration of the
government will in few years pay off the
national debt and relieve our people from
the grinding taxation under which they
are now languishing. Constitutional free
dom will be once more restored with all
its attendant blessings. General confidence
and friendly feeling will be revived in
every section of our Union, and universal
prosperity will once more reign. Every
patriotic man who treads American soil
should feel deeply solieitous to secure this
noble result and exert himself most
actively in order to bring it about. 1t
could be easily demonstrated that the
people of Tennessee will be more bene-
fitted by the election of Seymour and
Blair, and the triumph Of Demo
cratic principles, than the people D of
any other State. We are more oppressed by
tyrannous government than the people of
any other State that can be mentioned.
We suffer more injustice in single day
than all the States of the South besides do,
in a whole twelve month. We are taxed
far more heavily than any free people in
the world. A large majority Of our free
white citizens are in a state of cruel dis
franchisement and slavery, and our heart
less and arrogant tyrants will not even con-
descend to promise our restoration to free
dom within any definite period of time,
however remote. "A system of legislation
has been devised by those in power among
us, which, in less than three years, will
transmute the whole mass of our property
into the hands of corrupt and heartless
legislalors-and their associates in Villainy.
No amount of moderation and forbearanGe
will appease our vandal Prosecutors.
Schemes of high-handed frand and
of unparalleled injustice, of various
kinds, are now on foot that, If not IN some
way arrested, must soon eonsign us to new
er-ending ruin and degradation. If Grant
and Colfax are elected, every man of dis
cernment among us must know and feel
that our condition will be utterly hopeless.
If they shall be defeated, again, and speed
ily, we shall become free and happy
people. Six months ago, l aided In the
reorganization of the Democratic party, in
Tennessee, that we might lend our help in
the great struggle for liberty even then in
progress. and for the redemption of our ma
tive land from evils which no human Lam
guage is capable Of adequately portraying.
Thus far we have gone on well. In a
peaceable, orderly, and decorous manner,
we have endeavored TO do our
duty at this most perilous crisis.
The prospect Of Democratic success
ia most bright and cheering in every
quarter. Great and marked changes in
public sentiment have occurred all over
| the land. Enthusiasm and activity are al
most exclusively on our eide. Radicalism is
depressed, lauguishing, and almost hopeless
everywhere except in Massachusetts and
| Vermont. In several Of the States 10 the
south of us. it is evident that the electoral
vote will be given to Seymour and Blair.
| In our own State, Radicalism is every day
growing weaker and weaker. The ranks
| of our adversaries are marked with discord
| and confusion. Some shameless enormiLies
| recently perpetrated in that State Conven-
ton. have heartily disgusted every decent
Radical in the State with cause which
| claims open and unblushing afhliation with
fraud. perjury and villainy Of every


description. II we make proper efforts in
the pending canvass, am most confident
that we can carry the State for Seymour
and Blair in November Let us then con-
tinue the struggle already so nobiy COM
menced. Let us continue It IN a pacific,
! orderly manner, but in the foil exercise Of
our unforteitable rights as free men. Let
us exercise the utmost boldness and free
dom ofspeech consistent with our character
as quiet and Iaw-abiding citizens. Let Us
assert our principles with manly vigoT
everywhere, and expose the errors and
atrocities of our tyrants. Detus vindioate
our dignity as freemen. Let us preserve
the honor of our noble State from the
hideous..degradation now Threatened TO pe


brought upon it. Let us keep our tickel


in the field at all hazarda Let US support


il in a worthy and becoming manner. A.


those in power shall choose TO take Il upon


themselves to "dppoinr the Presidentla


electors, let them assume this respoDsioiif


But. for Heavens sake, let us not hear Il


urged again that We should peiarstdTlfy re


linguish the canvass, To do 80 would % %


10 my Judgment, the deepest disgrace it


do 40, would be 10 give up the sympAiny :


and respect Of our friends throughout th'