The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-08-12

4 t@AsttnAa
# we were TO judge By the outgivings
Of the extreme radicals of the North,
We would come 10 the conclusion that
the delegation elected to Congress from
Tennessee stand but q gerry slim chance
Of admission 70 their seats. There is a
decided-we may say, oTerwbelning-
majority Of radicals in both branches,
and if they coincide with Wendell
Phillips, the Faneuil Hall leaders, Mr..
Chsse, and others, they will reject all
members, from T~e0lganised States which
have not conferred the elective fran.
chise upon negroes. It is true that the
question Of franchise ia left 70 the
States, and that Congress has no more
to do with it than the man in the moon
-and il il true, also, that President
johnson, in all Of bis proclamations
appointing Provisional Governors for
States recently in rebellion, recognizes
the binding authority Of the constitu-
ton on this subject-but what are
laws and constitutions, now, if they
stand in the way of those who have the
power to disregard them The mem
bers elect from Tennessee are Just
IS much entitled to their seats in
Congress as those from Massa-
chusetts. But, it is proposed TO estab-
lish for the former tests outside of the
Constitution and laws,-tests coneocted
in party meetings and convention
tests which dare not be applied to the
Senators and Representatives of any
State north Of mason and Dixon's Line.
The question is, if tn Sc tests are re-
ally made, ought the State Of Tennes
see 70 submit to them? For our part,
We answer promptly and decidedly,
Gssuredynot The people of TENNESSEE,
through much tr~ibulation and suffer
ing, have reorganized their State, under
the Constitution Of the United States
and it would be degrading to submit
to any terms for the admission o.
their members to Congress not i'm
posed by the Constitution and law
made in pursuance thereof. II would
be far better for her to send her repre-
s~entatives TO Washington, and let then
in her name demand their seats. If re
fused, let them return home, and issuI
a dignifed appeal to the people of tia
United States, setting forth the facts
and invoking their interference for tn
preservation of the Constitution, an,
to prevent the General Government
from being converted into q despotism
Upon this appeal, the whole question
would be transferred to the Northern
masses. It would be fully and abl
debated in the press, and on th
; hustings; aud who can doubt the n
suit ? The base partisans VIII
l have gotten possession Of the M
; tional Legislature, would be driven i
I disgrace from the positions they occJ
Ply, and u rights thoroughly vindica
9 ed. Tennessee should be in no hurr
q to be heard on The floor OF Congress
& she should make no sacrifice Of homo
and principle at Che footstoOl of usu
9 patton and oppressiOu-she can afor
I to wait. Her ultimate triumph viii
only the greater.
n In the meantime let her faithful
and honorably discharge all her duti'
e aud obligations as q member Of Il
Union-pay her proportion of the pu
lie taxes; furnish soldiers when Gale
upon for them; and place her free nj
gro population, as far as she is able
!. do so, on the road to prosperity an
happiness, protected in their rights
:. person and property as other citizen
The result cannot be otherwise tbs
> beneficial Within less than two yea
. we shall see an entire revoluti on
J public sentiment, North, which vi
amply repay her for all sacrifices.