The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-14

VIZ. CAEEROn CO., Publishers
Re-organizatioD OF the state Gov
ernment-An Excellent OpPoFtu-
nifty.
The plan of President Lincoln for the
resurrection Of LEGAL State organizations,
in the rebelliOus sections, finds valuable
auxiliary in the condition Of affairs in
Tennessee. In the first place, there are
more loyal citizens in proportion to the
whole population, than are to be found
farther TO the South; secondly, = great
proportion of the State was freed from
rebel dominion so early in the contest,
that outside Of q few localities, the
wholesale CONSUMPTION 50 mercilessly en-
forced by the subordinates Of the Rich
mond conspirators, did not entirely drain
il Of voters, while thousands who were
At first seduced, or forced into the con-
test, have been enabled to escape the
clutches of their oppressOrs, and resume
she allegisncs they at first unwittingly,
or unwillingly repudisted and thirdly,
= local election, which, under the pro-
visions Of the Constitution, can take
place, without qualified officers, is near
at hand.
By this latter auxiliary, county officers
can be chosen, and the first steps to-
ward the selection of Governor, mem
bers of the Legislature, and of Congress,
viii be taken. So far IS the approaching
March election is concerned, candidates
are already in the field; and the cleo
tiOn can be held by any three freehOlders
Of any precinct, and consequently no ir-
regularity will exist; but for the other
Offices named, extra constitutional meas
.ures must be adopted. Neither the Con-
stilution Of the State, nor of the United
States, ever contemplated the existence
Of the present condition of affairs it is
an anomaly, and requires some assump-
ton Of power, as q means, that an end,
which is absolutely necessary to the ex-
istence of free society, nay be accom-
plished. When the Constitutional Con-
vsntion of 1887 assembled, the duties
assigned it were . revision of the Arti-
cles Of Confederation; but the necessi-
ties of the crisis called for an assump-
tion Of undelegated powers, and members
did not hesitate to act ss became men
impressed with the Importance of the
preservation of the Union they disre-
gsrded all forms, framed the Constitution,
and appealed directly to the people.
No code Of laws can ever cover every
particular case; and not all the ten
thousand volumes of legal works-sta-
tutes, reports, and commentaries
are sufficient to guide judge in al his
decisions, and not q Court is held but
some new principle arises, calling
for decision, based upon reason, and
not precedent. Least of all, would there
be provision in a constitution, cOunten-
ancing its violent destruction though
there be for its amendment or for the
substitution of another, by peaceful and
gradual measures. The very existence
of successful suspension of the func-
tons Of a government, until all those
elected or appointed TO administer it
have ceased to be its officers, necessi-
tates some deviation f,om the routine
prescribed by the Constitution. Law,
whether fundamental or statutory, can
not provide for q contingency that it
does not contemplate; and nothing is
clearer than that the present state Of af-
fairs is an anomaly never dreamed Of by
those who aided in the erection of Ten
nessee into State.
Loyal citizens should attend the polls
At the March election, and swell the
number of votes as greatly as possible;
they have an opportunity to exhibit
their strength to the world, and should
embrace it. A large vote would indi-
cato to the rebel authorities that there
existed : strong Union sentiment in
Tennessee, and would operate as bar
ming 10 them to abandon all hope of re-
possessing the State.
IL might be well to choose other than
mere county officers in March; though
possibly the intervening time is so brief
that general election could not be held;
but be that as it may, the time for re-
organization of the State government
must not long be deferred. We do not
believe we exaggerate; when asserting
that ten regiments are now employed
doing the duties which might be per-
formed by the civil magistrates, and
hence our armies are prOpOrtionately
weakened.
Important 80 the Army.
ErnIa k,vo - co.t g.. Tu.rI.--