The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-05-06

ll-u prop 7rty IN slaves IN the Stafe
was uever Questioned Laws reEula-
I ting and controlling the Institution
Were passed at different times by the
I Legis.lture they were bought and
s1.t, the subject Of levy and sale, by
execution, for the payment Of debts,
and upon the death Of the owner they
descended and vested in his heirs The
msster had the right to indict punish
I II sut that did not extend 20 life or
{ Eub-DDcCndidonal submission on the
I part Of the slave to the will Of the
master was the doctrine euuuciated by
. the Supreme Court Of Tennessee Such
was the status Of slavery until the re-
oe--Ou was luaugIrated Upon the
/ occupation Of Tennessee by the Fed
eraI forces, msuy Of the slaves fled to
Z their lines for freedom. and the officers
were forbid by law from returning
them to their owners-hence the insti-
tuition became greatly demoralized.
the disci pilne necessary for their con
troll and government could not be
enforced, and they ceased 70 beOf much
value.
BY the rebellion, the State laws were
suspended, the courts Of the country
were closed, the Governor fed taking
the archives of the State with him, the
/ officers Of the State Government re-
fused TO act, and the laws could not be
enforced, private rights were totally
I disregsrded, while robberies, murder,
aud high crimes were daily occurrences
throughout the State, until men stood
appalled, at the consequences growing
OJt of the rebellion The Gulf States,
Influenced end controlled by the action
OF her politicians had passed ordin-
ances Of secession in violation Of the
constitution of the United States and
e1daavored to throw Oft their allegi-
ancs 10 the Government For their
protection and security it was necessa~
~ that Tennessee and the other border
[ 5 atss should be carried into the re-
/ bellIon with them, and in an evil hour,
! the people w0oed and maddeued TO
I frenzy, voted in favor OF q separation
/ fron the Federal Government, in direct
violation Of the constitution Of the
! United states
The consequence Of that action there
! Is now 70 be seen in every county,
dismal anarchy voverspreading the land.
In this condition of things the loyal
I men of the country believed they had
. a right to remedy the evils under arti-
Gle the lst " declaration of rights. sec
non lst Of the constitution Of the
Sta ts Of Tennessee which are as iol~
lows
That all power lie Inherent ia the
people lnd al. free governments are
formed on Jhrir authority end iusJliu-
ted for their peace, safety and hsppi~
ness For the enhancement Of these
ends. they have 40 ali times an indie
I feast b.e right 90 alter, reform or ab0i~
. isu the government in such manner as
they may think proper
/ According % the provision OF this
I section. the people have the night TO
make such changes in the Constitution
Ht4la State Gs the necessities OF the
/ t.nles may demand, provided that tsose
changes DO not conflict with the Con-
7 -,ut.au OF the United Statoe which Is
/ the Da-a mount ay Cftle nd
/ Under Obs, section OF the bIu OF rights
/ "a convention was called by the pe0pie
/ % meet 81 Nashville on the 18th Of
/ Janusryr 1863. Primary meetings were
/ held I'm majority or the counties
I and delegates were chosen 90
/ that convention, an} more than FIVE
/ hundred Of the people met IN conven.
/ tIJn ~ Nashville, and the amendments
! aforesaid were submitted to the people
o. the Stata for their action, on 22d OF
! February, 1868. also propo itiOn To
elect q Governor and Legisiatrrs, ly
which tl- powers Of the State could be-
1 v.talizad, e1d the funct on5 Of the Gov,
/ erument restored to their original sta
7 tls The loyal men of the State hold
mo the doctrine that the status OF the
za+.e IN the Federal Union could no
bs broken up or changed, that q ] tIjt
/ was necessary TO vltalze the State was
% 81. the offices Of the State which had
/ been abandoned by their former in
( cumtents. and start the machinery o.
government On the 22i of Feb
. ruagv. 1865, an election was
held 10 81 minority Of the counties, anc
IN every county not held by the public
enemies OF the country votes were cas
on tine propositions submitted, snd 4
Urge majority of the votes cast on tina
E.g were Iu favor of the adoption @
. the amendments proposed AZ sppeaT
4, ed .rom tine proclamation of the Mill
, slrv Governor Of the State. An cleo
ton for Governor and for members o
7 the Legislature was held on the tlh o
March thereafter The power eEeI
, c,sed By the people under this sectol
is not without precedent Tue const
p tuition of the State OF Michigan wa
= adopted 10y q convention formed b
L / members rs chosen IN primary NEE
/ iugs and submitted 70 the people an
3 met ths approval Of the Senate Of ID
- Ua.tsd SlaleE, and she was Sdmjtte
rs q State in the Union.
G. The genius Of the Anglo Saxon rae
was ex-upIiiei in this move Of the pc,
u.s Wherever they have existed IS
b nation their efforts have ever been {
- have laws and O. constitution for the
government and protection OF life, II
!. eEty and property. And can It be iC
p moment believed that the people {
% the State bad not the right to meet
q convention and submit propositions
3. Je voted for by them which would CIV
;. I protection TO life, liberty and property
These amendments having bee
adopted by the people Of the State
I.ra,sses on the 22l OF Februar
.z 1865. they havo become q part of Oh
csustItu. on Of tine state, and SLAYER
8r involuntary sGryiJude within u
-- limits OF the State ceased TO exist q.
"a cent az a uuuisumauJ for crime. tn
~ s1sekles which had 30 long bound tf
= slave and his ancestors fell from hi
and he stood iJr.L as freeman eui
tied TO al tine rights and privileges
q free uer=ons Of color lie can no 10,
d ger be bought and sold husband an
.r wife. parent aud child, can no long
:. be separated by the wal Of the maste
Cyius, sho father has q natural rigl
.a 30 .he care aut custody 9th chIidre
e. the petitioner. and o. such had Z
B" riElg 10 the gsUgts Of Tennessee,
Q nresant the petition IN their beha
d AGAINST any ono who held them ln Gu
b, t74y. BY tie laws OF Iennessee, eour
Is are opened Co freed negroes TO sue an
s. be- sued. for the collection OF debts,
= tbs redress Of injuries They have Oh
same nrht 10 the protection OF u
s laws, as white men
70 Ry saa..ou g<I5 Of the Code Of Tel
60 n.5see o Legto, mu.at.o, Indian
} person Of mixed blood, dsscend'
.s IRON Ee-ro or Indian ancestors TO Il
81 third generation, inclusive, though OF
Us tar-s-5r Of each generation may ha'
Ji been white person. whether bond
y free. is incapable Of being a witness
'e any cause, evil or criminal, except I
g or ara1n-. each other. aud Ia th
Of cause, t.e motion of the petitioner
= attorney 70 introduce Cyrus Winsto
Z. .le regasa.i tstter Of the petitioners
o. a witness, refused, be being neg
la aad Che defendant white man
e. The petitioners viii be dlscharg'
.7 sud set sc liberty, free from the cusi
j dr Of the defendant, ". +. Jones,
~ any psra0n claiming the right to tneI
70 and permitted 20 % hence, as free p,
Pr sons of color. A decree will be ent
- ed 10 pursuance Of the principle Of Il
.- -..-rE1- and the defendant, IL