The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-08-18

or repeating, all these laws previously
passed, and limiting the right of suf.
frage 10 those only who we're over forty
years of age, or who were worth over
hIty thousand dollars, or to the owners
OF one thousand dollars in Government
bonds or, on the other hand, they
should deprive All who were worth over
i've thousand dollars Of the right of
suffrage. Admit the principle that all
power centres IN the General Govern
ment throw over the Constitution BY
ceasing to be governed by its provisions
| and limitations and you organize anar-
cny IN its place. Then class and sec
tional legislation viii at ones com
menee, which can only end in ciEilWar
and that civil war of sections against
each other, and without a motive to
preserve q central government which
q y no longer re Ipect, each will aim to
possess its treasure, and all unite in its
destruction. Then viii come the day
against which we were warned by
Washington in his farewell address,
and to provide against which he and his
co patriots established the barrier Of
the Constitution Of the Unitsa States.
Discuss collateral issues ss Ne may,
these are the Questions before the |
American people, for all others are in |
significant in comparison Let them |
be pressed upon the consideration of /
every rejecting mind Shall the gov
ernment Of our fathers and the Consti-
tuition Of our fathers be maintained, /
and strictly lived up TO, or shall new
doctrines and new philosophy take
their place2 It is well that the people
are calmly weighing these propositions;
it Is well that We are at last having an
era of reason in this country, q time
when party lines are broken aRd the
people are a unit, aiming to sustain the
President Of the United States in his
efforts to re-establish the supreme law
of the Constitution all over the land
let US do this; 50 long as.he aims to
maintain our institutions, and reunite
the States on this solid basis, so long
may we defy domestic treasoa and for
eign interference. And let those men,
or that set Of men, beware how they set
up new and untried doctrines against
the progress Of this work.
Yet we daily hear that there are men
elected to the next Congress who pro-
pose to do this; who propose if the
StRte Of Tennessee, for instance, sends
its duly elected members Of Congress,
% take their seats, they are not to be
permitted to dos 50, if the Constitution
OF the State of Tennessee contains any
thing not approved by a majority of {
those who are BY the Clerk Of the I
House Of Representatives recognized :
IS its members
If the people of Tennessee, in con-
Yention assembled, saw ct not 10 en-
franchise any but men of their own
blood and race, they are to be deprived
of the right of representation in the Z
Congress of the United States until a
hey alter and amend their Constitu-
ion to suit the theories Of q majority e
IF that Congress Is this the true
course to make loyal States Is this
iOnest dealing on the part Of the domi-
lant party in Congress2 Let US see The
State of New York does not allow ne Il
yroes the unrestricted right of suffrage, ]
ret these men expect the represents Il
ives Of the State of New York TO re- n
use to allow the representatives of the =
,late of Tennessee their seats in the =,
congress Of the United States unless,
nd until, the people of Tennessee do I
how negroes the unqualified rights Of :,
uffrage. We will not ask if such &C Il
ion on the part Of Congress would be b
onstitutional-we viii only ask if it is 81
oaestf Would It not be much more "
lst and honorable 10 admit the repre-
Of these returning States
lto the Congress of the Union, and =
hen in free and open discussion to
alrnly and constitutionally settle the e.
tatus Of the cOlored races, thus giving t.
hose States who have the largest in a
srest in the question q voice in its set
lement2 b