The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-05-07
ne Elective Franchise

a resolution, ~ are gratihea % STATS
. ,iop,ed by the Senate, Friday re-
IN The Judiciary Committee to
--,,srs 3 bin on the subject OF the cleo
go f.-chise and fixing the quAhhel-
tion Of voters
This is the most important question
~, ubi.b the legislature has to act
I-a5u the proper disposition OF It de-
lends in s great degree the ia'ui'
1-5sperisy sud harmony OF the peop'e
n Tennessee The State was drssoo' .
s5isto the rebellion by secession ieA'
ora and a maiority Of her ci'aen''
previously devoted Union men, As y
war progressed, became bitter enem'
If the Federal Government lnos'
did MT Join the rebel armies, but re-
rr.snsd At home, we're generally NOR
hostile than the soldiers in the helo
Thew lostno opportunity to talk agains'
,he government, where and when Il
was safe 10 do SO, and although msns
of them have seen the error OF theii
vsvaDd repented, yet the great majori
90 # less demonstrstive, are not
vet safe and uusty citizens. Then
,,slf,e is no. the less enTenom-
ed because they have directed Il
into other channels. Instead OF DC
nuuciations Of the Federal Government
we heaA from them now denunciauon'
Of the amendment Of the State ConYen
ton abolishing slavery They declare
the convention which proposed, anc
the vote Of the people which accepted
and ratified it, an imposture ana
fsrce-that there has really been M
amendment TO the constitution, and
that Tennessee Is today in fact, and i
law a slave State. FoTgetful OF tn
set that they in 1861, voted away tn
rights and liberties of their felloW-cli
Gems Of Tennessee, and embroiled ther
in q bloody war, in which thousands {
v,luable lives and millions OF propert
were sacrificed, they assume an ar
virtuous indignation, and demand
know by what authority the loyal me
orthe State assumed 10 vote away the
,,ronertv in slaves. The demoniac spl
a. Of slavery, which prompted them
rebellion. has not been exercised irol
the.r breasts. Ii still in flames an
blinds them. it is impelling them no
toa crusade against the amendment
the constitution, and all who suppo
II lis their determination, if Permi
I'D 70 re kindlo in our midst Il
srouldering fires Of slavery agitatlo
almost every day We hear OF utteranc
r-o1n this class Of citizens, little lie
than rank treason. So bold and ms
lent are some Of them, one Of our ju'
diary found it necessary recently aft
living a decision contrary to the
views to reprove and warn them.
These men have all piaced ther
selves in the position Of alien enemi
oour State and Federal Government
They have no more rights, under o
constitution and laws, than such p'
soas. and the Legislature Of Tenn'
sse. At it's present session, should rec.
nice Ibis fact and act upon it i
righ. Of suffrage and Of holding Oh
should be denied these men by i
except upon conditions which will ]
leonard the interests Of the State a
b.r loyal citizens II this be not do
va shall have them not only mischii
oulv aritating the slavery questi
bgt electiug their creatures 70 "a
tons Of honor and profit, and, in eff,
becoming again our rulers. 1t d
not become loyal men to be mes
mauthed ia speaking Of these enem
,f our free institutions; nor doe:
become loyal legislators to hesit
about depriying them Of their power
lo harm in the future. If they dc
like the laws loyal Legislature n
provide for their government, let to
depart hence. At any rate, until q
"bri1g forth fruits meet for rept
snce," let them have no part nor
In conducting the affairs Of Tonnes