Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1865-02-10
TENNESSEE,

TENNESSEE,
Tennessee will have the honor Of being the
third state TO throw off its letters. The cleo
ton takes place on the 22d of February, when
the amendments to the constitution will be rat
flied. and slavery will be as dead as it is now in
Maryland and Missouri. The convention at
which the amendments were adopted was not
called for this specific purpose; but when it
assembled, 50 intense was the desire to put the
state in the way of deliverance without delay,
all opposition was gracefully yielded and with
out single dissenting voice two amendments
we're adopted, one aholishing and prohibiting
slavery throughout the state, the other prohib-
lting the Legislature from hereafter making any
law to recognize the right of property in man.
| The convention considered supplementary
| amendment TO the effect that persons of Indian
and African descent to the third generation
shall be prevented from exercising any of the
rights OF citizenship. The proposition was de-
feated by large majority, leaving all questions
of suffrage to be determined by general law
at the meeting of the Legislature. Horace May
nard, who carried great influence in the con-
vention, said he had voted against arming the
negroes. and might not be q good Judge but
when he went out to the battle field, and saw
them lying with Others who had fallen in the
same cause he could not see much difference
in color. Mr. Hood of Chattanooga, who had
stood by the old government from the begin
ming, made gallant speech in favor of EXTEND
ing the right of suffrage to negroes who had
fought in the war;
"Let the loyal colored vote" he said "coun-
terbelance the disoyal white vote, Just as the
hr;p oil oil 4 Il -.
AIDES in front OF Nashville, on the 10Th and 10th
of December. / never was pro-slavery man,
for she who is now an angel in heaven, although
she was born in Georgia, taught me that slave
ry was a crime against God. believe the
bloody war through which we are now pasaing
is entailed on US as punishment for the great
crime of slavery. Gentlemen tell us that the
negro has not brains enough to vote right. Do
not forget that he has brains enough to fight
> right. But you give him his liberty in return
for fighting. Where did you get his liberty to
give him 1t never was yours to give. You
robbed him Of it when it was his by natural
right; and then make virtue of giving it back. .
You have only restored stolen property.
Preachers nave prostiuted the pulpit BY raving
about and declaring slavery divine institution.
They have been the apostles of hell, and |
thank God that this can be said in the capital
of Tennessee. Friends have told me / would
ruin myself by taking this position. l accept
+, ed it. l was told the same thing three years
ago, when l opposed the rebellion. Time
, works wonders. Some say, 'Wait-all will
, come right after awhile But it is better to
,, plant ones self on right principle and defend
it at the beginning If the position will be
right ten years hence, it is right now, and he
, is a coward who believes so and will not defend
it. | speak only oil negro soldiers, and perhaps
] would not have allowed that before the battle
of Nashville But when | saw two black brig
AIDES, of Woods division, charge the rebel en-
: trenchment, and strew the ground thickly
with their bodies that one might walk upon
them when | saw white soldiers bearing off
wounded soldiers from the field, thought he
who could fight so well would be safe custo-
J dian of the ballot box"
, When the business of the convention was
completed there was infinite rejoicing over the
accomplishment of so grand and benefcent
, work. Gov. Johnson, vice president elect, was
, among those who congratulated the convention
, on the results, and urged its members TO con-
tinue their good work until the ODD of Febru-
airy, when they would celebrate the last obse-
quies of slavery in Tennessee. He closed an
eloquent and powerful speech as follows;
LET US try to comprehend the times in
which we live, and the great principles at work.
There is breaking up OF old combinations, and
men are coming together by their natural affin-
tiles. Old parties are disintegrating, and new
ideas thrown out among men Of mind form the
base of new parties. Here is the great contest
of philanthropy, Of sound reason, of humanity,
whose foundation is the christian religion--a
bow of promise, whose base rests upon the no.
rizon and whose span arches the universe In
the midst of the darkness which has been rest
ing on the land for three years--a darkness
deeper than that of the dark ages-from YOU,
sitting in the midst of carnage and of death,
has gone forth light to illuminate the world
and teach mankind that you can be free feel
that God smiles on what you have done, and
that it meets the appreciation of the hosts that
surround him. Oh, how it contrasts with the
shrieks and cries and wailings which the insti-
tuition OF slavery BIAS brought on the land I!
Look along the battle fields of Tennessee-at
the new made graves. Witness your country
men perishing in battle. See even the God
dess of Liberty struggling through desola,ion
and carnage, and almost driven from our bor-
ders Might not say with the poet
"Oh, bloodiest picture in the book of time :"
And yet out of all this gloomy scene beams
light to illuminate the world"