The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-13
The state Convention.

sgents-the qualities of The candidates
for seats in the Convention. Usually
an ordinary business man, can carry at
the will Of bis constituents; such an
one was not likely to make serious blum
ders, while holding the helm Of the ship
of State, during calm.
But affairs have changed; s revolu-
tiOD, violent and bloody has swept over
the State; has completely overturned
the civil authority, aud the very
social foundations upon which society
rested, have been destroyed; and upon
the members Of The Convention win de-
vslve the duty Of restoring order, and
dispelling cbOas. OF revolutions, of
political character exclusively, history
is full of examples and they present
sufficient difficulties to call forth the
highest talent of the country; and it too
frequently happens that men are not
found who are equal TO the occasion:
and the result is that anarchy continues.
But If the obstacles to . restoration
of order in this instance, are great, what
must they be, when, added to the politi-
cal, there has been 8 socisl revolution ?
Yet such is the case in Tennessee, to-
day; aud it is to adapt both government
and society to the demands-inexorabI
demands Of circumstances that the
Convention is to be called.
The first question to be asked relative
to one who presents himself for the suf-
frages of the people, and asks to be made
= delegate is: Is be loyal? Whatever
qualifications the Governor may pre-
scribe for the voters at the March cleo
tiOns, if he has the right to prescribe
any, this thing is certain-thst all who
have taken the amnesty oath and kept
il, will be entitled TO q voice in the
choice of delegates to the convention.
The words of the President are explicit,
and he is bound 10 adhere to his pledges
BE can, without doubt, withdraw, or
modify his amnesty proclamation and
oath but only with reference to the
future; those who have accepted it, and
never violated il, as IL stands, cannOt be
deprived Of any Of the rights they &C
quired under IL hence the necessity for
redoubled vigilance on the part of voters
who are, in spirit and in truth, Union
men.
No candidate who has taken the oath
merely to save bis property, should re-
ceive 4 moments consideration. Those
who seek the suffrsges of the people,
should be Intercepted with care and
each should be made to fully commit him
self for the restoration Of the Govern
meDt, and for the measures Of the Ad-
ministration, or else be rejected. We
are now speaking in party sense. If
the vilest guerrilla in Tennessee were to
be elected to the Convention, after hsv-
ing taken the amnesty oath, and OBJ
served it, be would be entitled legally, to
. seat; and it is because this is true,
that VIC nrsa votors TO beware of wolves
in the guise of sheep.
Whatever one may think of the policy |
of the Presidents liberal amnesty, its |
operation, while in existence, is abso-
Lutte; and it is our duty as citizens to act |
under it. If il allows men to hold office |
who are not at heart loyal, then the
greater the vigilance required of Us, in
the political canvass. They should be
beaten as the copperheads Of the North
were beaten last Extraordinarily,
at the polls.
It is much better TO accept the cirsum-
stances in which we are placed, by the
Presidents proclamation of amnesty, and
by vigilance prevent evil from any undue
leniency it contains than, by attempting
impossible tests, TO prevent men from
voting who are entitled, IN lao, to voice
in the elections
That the Convention may be repre-
of the loyal, and not disloyal
sentiment of the State, provision ought
10 be made, to give the soldiers from the
State, 81 opportunity to vote. Tennessee
has sent 80, 600 white soldiers to the field,
II whom at least $4,000 were voters;
shall they be ignored in the coming cleo
lions? They have been thus far ignored,
We regret to say. II they are At home,
IN election day, they can, Of course,
TOte; but the exigsncies Of the service
viii not permit general furloughing of
Ill the troops Of the State, at one time;
therefore polls should be opened at regi-
mental, battalion, or pest headquarters,
Ind in the various hospitals, where there
ire Tennessee troops, so that the voice of
hese heroes may be heard. Their views
should be needed; they who have volun-
eered under the old flag; who have free
" offered their lives 10 their country, can
Iiways be trusted as truly loyal; and
10000 OF more votes from such men,
would do more than ell the test oaths
which could be devised by the ingenuity
f man, to secure = loyal Convention to
evise the State Constitution. 1t is time
omething was done to secure 10 these
sen The inestimable right of suffrage;
,ut as yet, we regret TO ssy, nothing has
rAnspired to warrant US in saying that
be subject has ever received cOnsidera-
ion among those on whom the duty Of
ttending to such details, devOlyes. Il
night be we'll for the soldiers from this
Itste to petition Gov. johnson on the
ubjeet.
These things, to which we have ad-
'erted, are essential, as preliminaries: all
oval citizens, whether in or out Of the
.rmy, should be allowed an opportunity
o vote; and in vetiBg it is their duty,
md we believe they will adhere to ito