The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-04-02

bAc1Ai DAt tAey eau not clum 20 DC
union men. As in the contest Of 1861
he viii find ell party names forgotten,
and q united front against Sscsssionists
and traitors in the hills and vallies Of
EAST TEsxEssEE.
Correspondence Of the Nashville lJAiOa.l
Who Shall Exercise She Blight or suF-
'frage, and What Test eight 10 be
Affixed
BY the action of the people on the
I'D Of February, the present Legisla-
ture have the power, and it is their duty
to throw guards and restrictions around
and over the elective franchise, or our
State viii pass into the oontroll Of poll
titions whose policy would be ruinous
to the country They have by their 40
tions declared the further existence Of
slavery in this State an evil, and by the
power inherited in the people abolished
it in Tennessee; they have further de-
clared the right of Secession attempted
to be exercised by the action oi part
Of the people, ia Withdrawing ffom the
Federal. Union was unconstitutional
and void, and detrimental to the in
terest Of the people We have sll seen
the terrible consequences growing out
of the attempt to exercise this right
The status Of the State hag been dc
teTmined by the vote Of the people and
it must not again be disturbed There
are With US a class Of discontentsd men
who will seek to disturb the exating or.
der of things, by inducing the people
to believe the vote was without the
sanction of Law; that majority of the
vote OF the State was not cast in the
election, that the property of the citi-
zen was taken without just conlpensaA
ton. Give such men political
power and We will again have
another revelation, They would
sacrifice every principle of freedom for
their right to hold property in SLAVES;
to accomplish this end they would
plunge the good Ship Of State into the
whirlpool of Secession, from which she
has lately been taken by the loyal men.
To prevent this it is necessary the right
Of suffrage should be restricted, it win
not do to prohibit all who have borne
arms against the State; we must look
to the condition Of the country 10 June
1861 and see the motives and feelings
that Influenced the masses in Middle
and West Tenn was it their free and
voluntary aet2 A wild excitement
ogerspread the land and many true
au1 good men bent to the storm and in
fuenced by the circumstances entered
the army Of theState Tennessee has ey-
er had the character of q proud ard chiv-
alrous State, her men have ever been
among the FIRST to rush to their coun-
try's banner in the hour Of danger, the
bones Of her sons rest on every battle
field, chronicled in the history of our
eoantrs most OF her sons have seen
the error Of their ways and return 10
their allegiance, aud many are now
standing as living wall in defence Of
the Union; ought such men to be pro-
hibited from the right Of suffrage1 No,
il is against the interest Of the country
they have come back in good faith re-
pented them ofthe evil they have done
and are far nobler aud better men
than that class Of men who taught the
doctrines Of secession, and urged the
people to throw of their allegiance.
And it is that class Of people v'ko are
now secretly influencing the public
mind against the amendments TO the
Constitution, and the schedule thereto.
A registry system Of voters, sui,h as Is
in force in the State Of New York, or
system similar in principle ought to
be adopted, and every man, who is
citizen Of the State, and wishes TO ex-
exercise the right Of saffTage before
registering, should be required 10 take
an oath 10 support Che Constitution Of
the United States and the Constitution
of the State Of Tennessee with the
amendment and schedale adorsed on
the 22d Of February, 1866. Ufon the
taking Of the oath, and registry Of his
name, a certificate should be given him
By the proper officer and upon the
presentation Of the certificate Of regis
tratioD, he VIII be entitled to sast his
vote. Make it q high penalty for any
officer to register the name of the
party without administering tie oath
required, to take = similar oath before
they car enter upon che siiseAsrse Of
their duties that 40 lawyer shsll prAs-
tice in the several Courts Of the
State, without taking the cath.
Surely. there can be no hardship
il this. II citizen Of the
State, he canhos object 70 s4king an
oath to sustain and support the Consti.
tuition Of the United States, and the
/ Stase Of tennessee, with the kmsud-
ments accepted on the 22d Of February,
kl6s5 II be rsfssss, be Is the esssmy Of
the State, aud not entitled to the rights
and privileges Of q citizen, and cannot
complain. We must have quiet and
I.psase.s Men laast yield thsis pa adiOes
and opinions to the good Of tho State
A policy or this kind vii throw .
sufseient guard around he ballot box
none but loyal men, who desire the
peacs.of TIE country, vilEfegiAssr. Nc
coabinstiea CA be formed BIZ which
those opposed 70 The restoration q
/ peace and order. can get ecnirsl Of he
government Of the State The oondi
tons are such that no truly loyal mar
ean object 70, and il i : platform on
which all men who deaire the prosper
isy Of the State can stand.
GAINESVILLE, March 81, 1865.
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