Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-01
The Enemies OF the Constitutional
Amendments are The Advocates OF
Secession.


Secession.
The opponents of the measures of Constitutional
amendments and State reorganization determined
upon by the Convention of the 9th of January, and
now set before the people, have not perhaps fully
considered the attitude Of open hostility to the Fed
crl Government which they occupy Practically
! II Is nm affirmation of tho worst acts of Gov llarrl.
and his Legislature, Its an open ayowal of soces-
sion, The Convention proposed to declare Harris
robelllous acts 'ncs Of treason and usurpaIon I'M
constitutional null aud void, and he who refuses tc
vote for this proposition of the Convention, oryotos
against H. negatively a0lrms, endorses approves aud
sanctions, the infamous Bargain and Sales of May
6, 1861, Let us briefly review the propositions OF
the Convention which have stood for several days
past INCUR columns, to be known and read of all
men, The third section of the Schedule says
See, B. "Ihe Declaration of Independence and orli,
nance dissOng The Federal relations between the State
Of Tennessee aud the United States of America passed
and promulgated by the Legislature of Tennessee the
9th day May, 1861, by which tho State was declared
separated from the Federal Union, and all laws aud or
dmanccs by which Tennessee became a member of the
United States annued and abrogated, in like man
ner an act of treason and usurpaton unconstitutional
| null and void
Here is plain, clear issue presented, Itdecares
the act OF secession passed by the rebel Legislature
Of Tennessee San act of treason and usurpation UNI
constitutional null and void The man who votes
for this proposition declares his adhesion to the
Union cause. The man who votes against it, or re.
fuses to vote for it, certainly is in favor of letting
! the infamous Declaration and Ordinance stand on
she statute book of Tennessee, He is now practi
c@robel, whatever he may have been hitherto. But
the s'epe Schedule contains another section;
Sec 2 The Convention Agreement and Military
League oheed into by the Commissioners of the State
OF tennessee ,und the Commissioners of the socaed
Confederate Sttes made May 8, 1861, and the same
Jay ratified and confirmed by the Legislature
void
Here is direct and unequivoca issue presented
to the people, lie Who votes for this proposition
votes to declare Harris Military League treason.
able, null and void. He who votes against it, OF
refuses to vote for it, beyond all question sanctions
and endorses Harris Military League The black
act on record in the State archieves and he refuses
to repeal it, He opplauds and approves the villain.
Gus conspiracy of Elilliard, of Alabama and OF
Henry, Totten and Barrow, made May 6, 1861, Who
is so bold ms to stand up in Tennessee at this day and
avow himself tho friend and advocate of treason
and rebellion But the Schedule declares again;
Sec 4, No statute of limitations shall be held to ope
rate from and after the 9th day of May, 1861 until such
time hereafter the Legislature may prescribe nor shall
any writ OF error be refused abate in any cause
suit decided since the 9th of May 1861 and prior to this
time, by of any lapse of time And in nil actions
he hrnu ght in
the courts in this State by attachment levied upon the
perty Of the defendant the shall have power to pro
coed to Judgment and collection of the same upon con
tracts without personal service of process upon the de-
ehdaht unuI the Legislature may see fit to change the
law IN such cases
He who votes against the proposition, or refuses
to vote for it, negatively declares that he is opposed
to loyal men obtaining redress for wrongs and iniu-
ries done their persons and property by rebel Ten
nesseeans now in the Confederate army. Who
dares say this in Tennessee, at this hour Who will
dare affirm, even by his silence that Harris and his
minions did right in sequestraing the property of
loyal citizens, or combining them in prisons He
will be bold man indeed who shall venture to &C.
cupy this position. The Schedule again declares,
Sec. g. All laws, ordinances and resolutions as well as
all acts done IN pursuance thereof under the authority
pendence OF the state Of Tennessee, after the 9th
day of May 1851 were unconstitutional, null and void
from the beginning Poridcd, That this section shall
not he so construed as to affect any judicial decisions made
by the State Courts held at times differing from those
provided by law prior to May 9th 1851 said judicial de-
csions being made pursuant to the laws of the State of
Tennessee enacted previous to said date and between par
ties present in Court and litigating their rights.
He who votes against this proposition or refuses
to vote for it, virtually afrms the legality and au-
thority of Harris usurpation and thereby places
himself in open hostility to the Federal Govern
mcpt. The Schedule again declares
See. g. All laws, ordinances and resolutions of the
usurped State government passed after the 9th day
of May, lSGl prOydi~g for the issuance of State bonds
also all notes of the Bank of Tennessee or any of lis
branches, issued on after the said 9th day Of Nav
1861 aud all debts created contracted in the name of
the State by said authority unconstitutional null and
void aud no Legislature shall hereafter have the power
to pass any act authorizing the payment of said bonds or
debts, providing for the redemption of said notes
He who votes for this section, votes to repudiate
the reasonable contracts of Harris and his myrmi
dons He who votes against it, or refuses to vote for
it. declares himself in favor of adding many mil
lions TO the debt of the State, declares himself in
favor of furnishing the Tennessee renegades with
Iunus 10 wage war against the ederal Government;
declares himself in favor Of taking the people to pay
all the debts, liabilities and contracts incurred BY
rebels in the prosecution of one of the most wicked
wars ever known.
In fine to be silent when such issues are present
ed directly involving the validity of secession, is to
be guilty Of fragrant treason. He that not for u.s.
at crisis like the present is beyond all controversy
againstus. He believes Tennessee is out of the
Union, and worse than that i. in favor of keeping
her out and sustaining the traitors who have ruined
hcr--NdshriHe Times.