The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-06
Attorney General NAV nard on the
Right of Suffsage,

In The Dispatch Of yesterday morning
was letter from Attorney General May
nard, on the subject Of The necessary
qualification for voters, which viii st
tract much attention from the public.
We have already stated that the only
construction we could place upon the
Presidents amnesty proclamation, was
that all who accepted it were voters; and
we see nothing in the reasoning of the
Attorney General 70 change cur views
upon that subject Every one who has
willingly taken part in the rebellion,
either directly or indirectly, is liable to
punishment for treason; but the Presi-
dent, in bis capacity Of National Execu-
tive, can pardon, either cOnditionaly, or
absolutely; and in this instance the for
mer method has been adopted: Tf you
will faithfully observe the oath I pre-
SCRIBE" is the Interpretation of the Pres
idenfs language, u viii pardon you
will agree not to prosecute you, confis-
cate your property, or imprison you"
When The repentent rebel takes that
oath, il is in the nature Of contract, and
both parties are bound by it.
We cannot agree to the theory that
those who have entered ilto the rebel
lion have expatriated themselves that
cannot~be done except by naturalization
10 foreign country. The doctrine, IS
promulgated by Mr.. Maynard, leads to
inextricable absurdities. None but q
citizen can be prosecuted for treason:
and if the moment . man arrays himself
against the government be decitizenizes
himself, such thing as treason has no
existence. Such ia the unavoidable con-
clusion we must arrive at, if we accept
the AttOrney-GeneraPs premises.
The Constitution of Tennessee requires
that al nsturalized foreigners shall re-
side in the county six months after be-
coming citizens, before they csn vote at
least such is the construction put upon
the instrument, and such has been the
prstice under it; but as returned
rebels are not naturalized citizens, but
pardoned criminals, this section cannot
apply TO them. If they have been resid-
ing out of the State, with the intention
of remaining, but return for the benefit of
the amnesty, they cannot vote, of course.
If entering the rebel army, is expatri-
otion, then the Southern Confectionery is a
Legitimate government, and we have no
right TO attempt its overthrow; and
against this theOrywe protest; and with us
the great mass of the people will protest
We hold that such an admission would be
frAught with evil consequences Of which
we can scarcely form any conception, be-
fore they are realized. IL is granting all
that the CalhOuns, the Rhetts, and the
Yanceys ever demanded.
What we have urged relative to the
amnesty, we now repeat; two OAehs
should have been prescribed by the Pres
ident-One for the prOdigals, and one for
original Union men. Justice TO the lat
ter, required such distinction; but there
is no avoiding the conclusion that all
who take The amnesty oath are voters in
the reorganization of the Rebel States.
We want TO see the Union men control
the Legislatures of the Rebel States and
we have the utmost contempt for men
who, just after aiding the rebellion, are
loud in their dennncistions of those
who ''violste" constitutions modesty
should teach such to take back seat
but they are voters; and they can demand
that their voice be heard. We should
oppose, with all our power, the selection
Of such for Office; but would not, to
effect Our purpose, accept theories, the
adoption of which would be more dan
gerous than the Vaccinations of such
men.