Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-02-15
Remarks Of Senator
Carrigan.

OSal Is OIL.
On a Bill to amend the Constitution
of the State, and to limit the
effective Franchise" also, to
allow all persons, black and
white, whoca read and write,
introduced by Senator Frazier,
of Knox.
Mr.. SPEAKER:-I desire to an
swer very briefly the remarks Of
the Senator from Knox, who has
spoken concerning his bill some
what out of order. ION motion
of Mr.. Senter, the Senate granted
Mr.. Carrigan leave to answer the
remarks of Senator Frazier.)
Mr.. Speaker, lam not as much
surprised at the bill offered by the
Senator from Knox, as / am at the
arguments he presents, in an ear
nest manner, in its behalf. / am
not disposed, Mr.. Speaker, to de-
ny him the privilege of advoca-
ting his "Pandora-Box" bill with
his characteristic zeal and enthusi-
asm, but do most solemnly pro-
test against his wholesale and dis
courteous allegations that, invari-
ably, mean men have crept into
office through the "crevices" Of
the Elective Franchise law. In the
name of the good God who rules
the universe, who in this Legisla-
ture is SO mean, SO rebellious, SO
disloyal, SO repulsive, SO STEPPED
in crime and infamy, that we hear
almost daily reverberating through
this capitol, the tocsin voice OF
danger, and a wonderful tone
warning the people against these
heroes and Catalines. A subject
of the English crown, if he were
here, and would listen to these
modern men upon the watchtow.
ers of the republic, would say that
madness and fanaticism reigns
triumphant, and terror has nu
checks upon our people.
Iwould ask who first became dis.
satisfied with this law, known as
the Elective Franchise Law?"-
| defy any member of this Senate
to show that any member belong.
ing to the conservative body of
this General Assembly ever first
raised an objection to the Franchise
Law. The Radicals made it; they
have howled it, and seem dis
satisfied with it, and distrust eve.
ry man as being disloyal who has
been elected under its provisions.
1t is a s'fire brand" in their own
camp. and a bloody ghost in their
slumbers. All the wisdom, the
intelligence, the patriotism, the
honor, the pride, and ingenuity of
the whole party has been assidu-
.ously put to work upon this Egyp.
tian lump of modern legislative
wisdom. The Constitution of the
State has no checks against this
wild and infatuated spirit, which
is daily seeking the destruction Of
the liberties of our people. As
an evidence of the rancos and in
herent elements of this unwise
and unpatriotic movement, the bill
now before us provides for an
amendment to the State Constitu-
ton. Has the Senate forgotten
that scarcely year ago, we adopt
ed an amendment to the Constitu-
ton of the State? Has the Sen
ate forgotten that the Constitution
says it is only subject to amend
ment once in every six years?
(Here the Speaker was in err
rupted by Senators Trimble,' Mel
son and others, but Senator Sen
ter remarked that he had obtained
leave for Mr.. Carrigan to rely to
the speech of the Senator from
Knox.)
Mr.. Chairman, | was attempt
ing to show how these men, in
their zeal and devotion to fanati-
cism, disregard the very Constitu-
ton they 50 much profess to rev.
erence. The fires of Moloch, or
the waters of the Ganges, We're
never more devotedly worshipped
than these "Rads" of political er-
udition profess to worship the
Constitution; but, unfortunately
for the peace and quietude of our
people, they fail to make their pro-
testations of devotion effective.
The Senator says he desires to
protect the State from disloyalty
by his bill. What l would ask, is
there here, in our impoverished
.oI J.o4o,,eod oo,,u{r., rpboro ,,,o