The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-02
of the matter.

fer the oath of amnesty, he can have hi
choice. At least, such is our understand
of the matter.
EXTRACT FROM GOV. JOHNsoN's SPEECH.
In this connection there comes 10
very important question, and that is
who shall be allowed to vote? This il
the touchstone. And let US talk abou
this in plain, common sense way, anC
see if we can ascertain who ought, anC
who ought not to vote. | assume thai
an individual who has engaged in thi.
rebellion, who has got his consent tC
give up the government of the United
States, and with his person attach his
fortunes to the Southern COnfederacy,
or to any other GoYeFnn1ent-T say be
has been, by his own set, ezpatriated al
the very point of time at which he gets
his consent to take up arms against the
Government of the United States, be
ceases to be a citizen of the United
States. Applause. A man coming
into the United States from Great Brit
ain, ireland, or elsewhere, does net be-
come citizen until he has fled de-
clarAtion aud taken the oath Of ale
glance. We describe in our laws the
process by which ne may become a citi-
zen. Renouncing his allegiance TO Ell
powers, kings and potentates, thus CON-
plying with our naturalization laws, be
becomes 3 citizen Of the United States.
We know that great many who went
into this rebellion, went into it under 3
reign of terror; we know great many
were conscripted, . great many went
from interest and speculation; and others
the intelligent portion-Went into it
for the purpose of changing the Govern
ment and establishing an AristocracY or
negro oligarchy. Laughter This we
know; and now shall we act upon the
doctrine that man can't repent, or upon
the Christian principle, that man can
conscientously acknowledge bis error
aud once more become a citizen of the
United States? This is the question.
Shall we lay down q rule which pro-
hjbits all restoration, and by which all
will be excluded from participation in
the exercise of the elective franchise
Think we are told that honest men
sometimes do change their opinions.
We are told upon pretty high authority
that sinners sometimes repent; and we
are told that in this repentance there
should be works meet for repentance
that there should be some evidence Of it.
That is the condition of community
We want TO restore the Government, and
the restoring process is, that you, the
people, must go 10 the ball0t-box and
exercise the elective franchise ia so doing
Now let us get at it practically. These
three gentlemen sitting here to night
who are reporting, | presume, are judges
of an election. We want TO elect orr
squires, cur coustsbles, our county OH
GERS and our judges. am speaking Of
things to be done before we get to con
vention. about which have much TO say
before / conclude. What rule will you
adopt, by which you can tell dis
loyal from loyal neng Over there /
can point TO man who has been
standing out like Saul of old, head and
shoulders above the rest for the Union,
as every body knows. Over there stands
another who has been equally pertinent
on the other side. or these two we can
say at once that the one nsy vote and
the other may not. Bat in this instance
we haYo got two extremes-we have got
case which everybody or anybody can
decide without difficulty. But is the
whole community in this condition? You
may discriminate for awhile--these are
Union men, these are rebeis---bus after q
while you approach line where they
have not been prominent and then how
many can tell which is which? Will
you have no test2 No rule? Will you
confer the power upon these judges, to
say that no person shall vote save those
that be loyal But they cannot tell;
they may act correctly 80 far rs their
Judgment goes. Then again, in addition,
[ tell you you are trusting 3 great deal,
where you leave this matter 30 the dis
cretion Of judges. They may, in many
instances, act right, and they may think
they act rightin all. Here SIT the three
judges; they look around the neighbor-
hood and say: Why, | do not like to
in favor Of one friend and
sgainst snother-I hope be has done
right, and if be has done wrong, hope
be has repented.Y Then what rub will
you establish? We want sozne standard
by which we can put him that has been a
traitor 70 the test, though he hiss repentee-
Now what will il be Il Is easy to talk
that rebels shall mt vote and Union men
may, bus IL is difficult TO practice this
thing. What rule will you establish ?
ask the question. want information.
came up here 70 talk TO you, and you
70 me.
know it has been said By some Union
men that we should not be placed in the
attitude Of calpTiss-~of men asking for
pardon. / do not feel that you, and yon,
should be required, for the sake Of
vote, % ask for psrd0n. 1 am not crimi-
nal-I hsse violsted no laW--I have not
raised my arm sgainst my goFernment
Thsrsfore, / do not want pardon. Bat.
IN the election Of eflosrs who are 70 take
charge Of TIE governments we want some
test Il least, that the msn who vote are
loyal and viii set with loyal men. In
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