Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-05-03
30 In The Senatorial branch Of the Tennesses
Legislature the following DEBATE was recently had

sss- In the Senatorial branch Of the Tennessee
Legislature the following DEBATE was recently had
Senate bill mo. u introduced By Mr. PeArt was
taken up and pat on its second reading. This bill
q 20 repeal socuns gSs and SoS9 Of the Code OF the
State che rst Of which reads follows; "a negro,
nulaito, or person OF mixed blood, Descended from
negro OF Indian ancestors b tbs third generation
inclusive though ancestor ct each generation may
have been white person, eishsR bond or free IL in
capable Of being citizen In any ease except for
against each ether The author u this bin en-
dsaSored 10 urgo ths Stats 10 take action 81 once,
when q spirited debate easued, tn which Senator
Butler, Of johnson, opposed L. as premature step
towards regulating the status Of The negro.
The gentleman said, that coming from = district
with Tower slgYes than any In the StAtsa district
that has sent more soldiers 10 the Union army than
any other In the Ssate-a district vhinh has never
been questioned for its loyalty and devotion 10 the
United States Ooverunaeni, be felt Il aS duty know
lna as be did the sentiments Of his constituency
oppose its passage | had hoped that we woald pass
through thesesson without touching that saheU bat
aimee Il has come up, re must Taeet L. and dispose
Of IL In such a manner In cur best judgment will
be Cor the interest Of the State. In the last four
year, great revolution has taken place IN paelie
sentiment In this Stale the slavery question. The
negro has heeR made free not gradually, but. - h
were. in the twiRklng Of sn eye II has been a
graat shock 30 the peuRa aud Il Il not wise pFtl-
dent 10 progress too rapidly In aking the statue Of
The negro, Is the black man prepared 70 exercise
Inc daties conferred upon him hy that bin Is il
iuatee 70 the white man Il 1t for the best inter-
sts Of the negfol These are questions that should
he carefully weighed hy S0natofs upon taking this
great leap In elevaliHg The negro. This bill pro
poses 10 make witnesses Of che negro against white
men, and that d net the most Objectionable teatarc
Il makes them qualified voters, and tbs repeal Of
thoae sections in the Code win b so construed BY
The jurists and courts Of the State
Mr.. Pesrt asked leave % make remark which
was granted by the speaker. He did not understand
the kll 10 eonieE the elective franchise on The ne
gro, and he maintained thai Il did not invest him
Nieh that right
Mr.. Butler eontinaed--Ke have done enough for
The negro Cor the preaeat Ls. Us wait and see what
he will do for himself Let ~ see whether il Is
cursa ar hlaasingWe have bestowed upcn him
Tennessee + not prepared for this great stride In ell
eygtins the negro. She deas n0t expect q Of this
Legislature. The men of Che mountain district Who
have lst their families and perled their lives FOE
the Union viii Be- shocked BY this hAaty legislation
which sets up the lives Of white men 10 81 sworn
away By negroes They win n0a approve A. and
knowiHg thslF honest sentiments regarding this sub
jest esal Il my duty, IN justice 10 ny constituency
% raeord nay vote Agaiast she passage of the bill
Mr., HentaF thought would ba the best policy 30
refer the bill 10 the appropriate oOmmitlea Weare
jnst FeorganiEng the State, and 4 was . premature
subject % Introduce at tbs early day. lie tAongkt
& would be bstteF, both foF the hieais and aasaias
Of TIE blu, 70 refer Il T. the COMMITTEES On Freed
Mr. Trimh.s proposed 70 refer Il 70 Tie Ccmmi,tes
% TIE judiciary and desired 10 make law -
marks on the subject lie did Hnt think the Sena.
t1r ffoas Jokasga Mr. BatlsFl fllly eamu1ekaasasd
the esti II the bin Il certainly ia nal cE5nfar ne
right q voting 81 The Negro. aad the enly aaestoa
insolvsi was thai Of eeaElaa taaainaay asainzt
Ni.isa msa. u vas ahit doing simple iaaesoe % he