The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-07-15

auguration OF law aud order-that patriotic /
people would leave me, like my predecessors |
Of other days, with little to do but to witness
snd encourage the cultivation Of the soil,
the pursuits Of commerce and the arts, ana
the redress Of grievances by the courts.
But am panied to announce my serious
apprehensions that q different order OF
things Is soon TO be encountered. The har-
anguea Of aspiring politicians denouncing
the termination OF slavery, the establish
ment OF free State Constitution, and the
very existence Of the Government over
which am called TO preside, as unconstitu-
uooal, spurious, and usurpstion-the con-
duct OF numerous county officers ! . evading
OF falling TO perform their duties, the hold
ing Of numerous local elections in defiance
Of law and the instalment into Office OF dis
franchised rebels, proclaim too plainly 10 be
misunderstood, that the spirit Of rebellion
and nGlliheation sill exists and must be met
and defeated,
In order that all who desire msy under
stand the basis and true foundation Of the
present Constitution aud Government Of
Tennessee, propose, in a few plain words,
70 show its validity and eorst tutionality.
The Constitution Of the United States de-
ciares that 4" the United States shall guarau-
tee 20 every STA e IN this Union q republican
/ form Of government" The government Of
Tenne see was usurpsd by military des-
/ polish, resulting in anarchy snd a reign Of
terror. Our noble and glorious national
/ Government determined, at the cost Of many
thousand lives and many millions Of money,
TO perform It's duty By guaranteeing to US
free government. Both military and civil
measures had 70 be brought into requieition.
The military performed It's duty in blood on
/ the field OF battle. But itsppOinted o eivil-
& len. IN the person OF the present honored
| Chief Magistrate Of the nation, to carry 0Ot
such civil policy as was found necessary 10
| execute in good faith its gusrantv to the
People After over three years Of patient
toll his iabors resulted in the establishment
OF the Government now in power, which is
20 hefeey denounced. Il IS his workman
ship-the fruit of his mind, acting under
national authority, and proudly pFoclsimed
by him "the supreme law Of tue state Of
/ Tennessee, and nom his heart be econ
graduated the people on the happy result"
Does any suppose he will net stand by it
aud maintain it with the force Of the ma
tiOnr Strange to say there are those who,
not UNDERMINING the mau or his duty, de
clare that be will not sustain il, but Will set
It aside aud not allow the Legislature 70
meet again. IL msy be some relief to the
friends Of the new Government TO be assur-
ed that most Of those who TO claim to repre-
AeAtN NAtS - IaAANAAAB al men III W Det uOHtb-
ty he never had any confidence. The Pres
ident will sustain mis- model scheme Of re-
constructing the government OF the rebel
l'oui States, and that with Just so much
force, applied in just such manner as may
necessary.
When the nation entered upon its task o.
furnishing the people Of Tennessee with
republican form Of Government, it had {
right to present just such particular form 0
free Government as was most adapted 10th,
condition Of the people; and TO choose tn,
means Of setting the Government on foot
| II 1t had chosen the Constitution of Ken
, lucky or Of Maine it is difficult TO see wha
objection could have been made on C0nsai
e tatieDal Grounds. But in Difference to tn
tastes and habits OF our people it chose GU
i. own Constitution, Invested only Of that fea
l ture which hsd caused all our sufferings
2 and proceeded TO present US with our owl
abandoned chip OF state, clothed in its an
J cieut rigging. Il is not for us TO say ther
}, were Irregularities in the mode or time G
: setting the State Government in motion. ]
was for the Astionsl power in perfofmin
q its guarantee to choose Tor itself the name
ana the time Of discharging its duty.
chose to revive the State GOvernmeu
@ through the loyal people Ofthe Siate-thos
, who had not proved themselves unworthy
free Government. il prescribed through il
agent its own plan Of operations, and had
v right TO do 50. The state Government
thus the gift Of the nation, and is eertainl
a compliance with the obligation 10 tn
l. Constitution To guarantee 10 US Republ
:, can form Of Government
, With this general statement might cor
q clude, but reel called upon to meet specif
n cally, the complaints of those who affect
be aggrieved.
It IS said the Convention Of Janusry lei
o was self-cOnstitutsd and irresponsible, an
assumed to amend the Constitution. III
Convention was the initistory means chose
= by the National Administration, through i
"a civil agent. The people Of Tennessee he
no right to pre=cribeto the General Govern
J. ment what should be its frat step toward
+ Republican form Of Government for The Stat
The Convention consisted OF over five hun
u bred delegates; if il had been but 1--WE ,
one, or if6Ov. johnson himself had sat q ow
in his Office and drawn up form of cove n
ment. and by authority oithe nation had Or,
claimed it 10 the people it would have bee
. all the samoa nat,onal act
- It is said the amendment and acbedu
e were sub nittsd to onlya part Of the peopl
+ and was therefore par isl and unfair.
d Il may well be 9ues iJned whether III
v National authority was under any Copstitt
4 tional obi galion 10 submit it to a vote 4. al
- its Business be ng 10 place over Us q repul
iiean form Ct Government, cho sing fise
the mesns aud the channel OF transnitiir
e II to Us. IL vas submitted to- VT, OF iii
y loyal psoi lc. And why submit IL TO ~
D. disloyal who were in arms ard in the scI
/. hghtn to destr y The nation itself. m
g. his, toe, was q national acs in wrieb N
;, we strictly enutled 10 lake no part.
Again, . Is said that the State Uoveru ne-
= was ,'Tced upon tue peopl Cerla nly.
u was forced up~n The rebellitus mai,rif,,
is n stste. So was the authority of IN
ie United States Tor ca upon them, and at m
point Of the boyenet agd jus 30 he potjo
II lad right 70 force u on hem g republica
lorm OF Government, ior not ling Ina fn,r
y Was recognized by Them.
" The next cause OF q, mpIaint. and ,t.
e Which IS nov endang ring tha pesce of An
slate, $ that no Lesi6iatureIhas passed en-
Il ih Governor Try ny 10 en-orce can act
i'm tbs Elective FIR nchise." Ss1iouss AN
d. alarming as tSe qusst,oa is, Their are
( Two q s. of persoas wac object 10 1. Viz
. Rebels nnt tao e who want rebel VIE
y Loyal mes are never heard 10 complain I
II IL.
" Il is raid this law is unc ,ps,itnti,,.
?. This Is iml o'sibie, So tho law is arr of m
u Constitution itsoli.
.e The Federal Government. by its acor,
4 Governor johnson, through The Congo, :,
4 sud the ratification % the people, cooferr.
. upon the first General Assembly thai al, mi
IL convene, the power 20 limit the ouah6cs
q ton Of voters. The qualification of vote,
10 prescribed by the c. institutions. The cor
vention proposed that the Ler.slatp,
4 might amend the Consultation in ms ma,
T. t'eular, aud the people ratified the probos
i, ton. Thus The power OF amendnest w,
y delegated 10 the Legislature, which be,an,
ie while acting upoa this subject, TO an istent
IN Hnd purposes, Constitutional Copventinr
The power OF the Convention 10 delags,
10 this authority was legitimate ana hey'.n
II question, by being the choten instrurn,.r
OF the Federal Cove -nment, whose autborii
d was supreme.
ie Finally, it is said The law Is harsh -,
a wanting in maenanimity. By law an
crime Ct the disfranchised is treas,n o.
The punishment death aud coufscat,en !
~ poperly. A this is waived ana n il s.s
TO be cruel 10 refuse them the privileges /,
IL 40 ing Tor 'ew years. MagnsniIni.T 70
Is quires thnt they shoaid 20 10 The ballet h.
=, and with cody hands deposit tbcir ngllo,.
sad by force Of number seine the reiens
the governments they have tried 10 d,.t-s
elevate sheir bailled leaders 10 poyver-,.
new Their Prosecutions OF Union men. an