The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-06-03

to vote or participate n any way IN the
Government in which he lives, and he
at once becomes s useless and detected
slave. / am, Mr. Speaker, as much ID
favor Ofpunishing influential and con
scIOus traitors as any man upon this
floor but ] wish to do that, sir, mac
| cordance with the long established law
of our nation, and that, sir, is precisely
what we propose to do-in the bi,,l offer
ed by the majority Of your committee
1 am in favor of following the old land
marks of our illustriOus President and
able generals, believing it to be wise
at all times to follow the wisdom of the
nation. We have trusted those wise
and patriotic men, and they have safe
ly led Us through one Of the greatest or /
deals any nation on earth has ever
passed, and why then, sir, should we not
follow them, and allow them to shape
the policy by which we are TO be gov
erned in the reorganization Of State
government.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, l wish to ask gen
tlemen in favor Of the minority bill
whether they have divested themselves
Of all selfish motives, or Whether they
expect by disfranchising a large major
ity Of the people of Tennessee to Sc
cure to themselves the offices of the
State, or whether they honestly believe
the great interest of the country de-
mands i2 These are plain questions
Mr. Speaker, and hope to receive an
honest answer from every gentleman
on this floor and if we submit to what
an honest, patriotic heart dictates, we
may expect quite a different policy to
that proposed 10y the minority of your
committee.
Dir Speaker, when we come to ex-
anime the features of this bill offered
in lieu, by the minority Of your Com
mlttee, we ind It TO be batch of in
consistency it starts out with good
and great principle; that of the dec
iaratiOn of rights; which makes every
true heart thrill with JOY, it shows. sir,
that we have a government in which
all power Is inherent in the people, and
that all free governments are founded
on their authority, and instituted for
their peace, safety and happiness. This
Is indeed, Mr.. Speaker, glorious prin-
ciple, aud one in which every true
American reioices. But, bark; what do
we see in the very next liner Why, sir,
that they will deprive three fourihs OF
the people of that great and inalieuable
right, for at least FIVE years; at the ex-
pirat,Ou of which time they may, or
may not be restored to their rights of
freemen IN that government which |
they declare in their preamble, was in
stituted for their peace, prosperity and |
happiness. How inconsistent, how pre-
pOsterous, how vain, sir, for men to de-
clare in one breath that the people are
the source of Sll power in the govern !
mept, and in the next, that three
fourths of that people must, for the
safety of the country, be deprived Of
the liberty of participating in the slight
| est degree in that government insutu-
ted by them, and for them. Ol, con-
sistency, consistency, thou art a jewel,
Now, Mr.. Speaker, ! wish the gentle !
men 10 remember that one sentence,
| for it speaks volumes.
/ will now read for the benefit of the
House, section lst and ID of this bill,
which are as follows:
Be it enacted by the General Assem-
| bly Of the State of Tennessee, That
the following persons, to-wit: every
| free white man, q citizen of the United
| States. and publicly known to have en-
! tertained unconditional Union senti-
/ ments from the outbreak of this re-
! belliOn until the present time, and
| every free white young man, an inhabi-
| tant Of the State and a citizen Of the
/ T~--.A-a1 Of N Of
| twenty-one years since March the 4lh
| 1865. provided that he has not engaged
in armed rebellion against the United
States Government, and every free
white man Of lawful age coming from
another State and a citizen of the
United States, on proof Of loyalty to
the Government Of the United States,
and being g. citizen of the county
wherein he may offer his vote, six
| months preceding the day Of election,
and every free white man, a citizen OF
the State or of the United States, and
has been or may hereafter be honor
ably discharged from the service, and
every free white man who voted at the
Presidential election in November,
1864, or voted on February 22d, 1865
or March 4th, 1865, in this State, shall
be entitled TO exercise the privileges Of
| the elective franchise.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That
all other persons, except those men
toned In section lst of this act, are
hereby and henceforth excluded and
denied the privilege of exercising the
elective francise in this State for six
years from and after the passage OF
this act
Now, 1Ir. Speaker, who is to be ex-
cluded by the provisions Of this bill,
and who admitted to the ballot box2
Do we admit the best men who have
been in the rebel army 70 the exclu-
sion of the worst men, or do we admit
the worst men 10 the exclusion of the
best2 And how many do we exclude
, by this act. and in what proportion in
! ! in the different sections Of the State.
, | We exclude three fOurths of the entire
, population of the State. And forty
two or three counties who could 10,
D hold elections at either Of the time'
+ | mentioned In section first of this bill
! | in consequence Of being ovcrrua by
. | guerriIIas and bushwhackers, and N
I many other counties where election
+, were held. the worst rebels in the coun
, try voted while but few loyal men 70
! ted. from the fact that they feared ths
, their lives might pay the forfeit wher
o the protection that was then tner,
o | should be Withdrawn; hence yOu Sc
4 that the provisions of this bill are IN
. wise and unjust As | do not wish .
y consume time ] will hasten on, AM
o leave this part Of the subject TO he dis
\ posed Of by the very able end eloqueu
r gentlemen who are TO follow me-
e Now, Mr.. Speaker, is it policy for Y
is since the strong arm Of the governmeu
b. has crushed out the mighty rebellion
b. and established the supremacy Of ia
l. General Government over that Of th
d States, 10 come up here, sir, and ena'
e. laws that are in direct conflict with IA
as policy adopted and carried out by ia
is very power that has saved us, and ID
Je only power that can save Us ! al
,r aware. Mr Speaker, of the great PREF
N dice which exist in the minds Of man
al Of as. against these unfortunate peOpi
J. ( admit, Sir, that we have great csu'
e. TO be prejUdiced against them but, si
n no person on this floor has create
g. cause than myself, and no man b;
ll ! fought armed rebels longer an
a harder than I have but, SIR, who
G. responsible for ali this carnage al
%, ! b.oodshed2 Are the honest masses r
u spousibIe2 No, sir. The conscienuol
ty trsitorous leader is the man who h
III mbued his hands in the blood Of th
at great nation, and he alone should
le held responsible to God and Il