Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-04


larging the rights and privileges Of one elias.
and curtailing thoee Of another not by the
use Of harsh and reproachful language; no,
by excluding them from the ballot-box; moi
by your tyranny and ression-drivina
hundreds of the best men into exile-but by
libcrt~ and magnanimity, such rs was dis
played by the President In his proclama alton,
And exercise Of the pardoning power--suct
as were extended by Gen. Grant at the 6na
surrender Of the Confederate forces.
OPPRESSION NEVER RBcoScrLEs.
A discontented, oppressed people were new.
er reconciled to q goyerpment characterized
by cruelty, inhumanity or injuries. Need
direct your attention 10 Ireland under the
iron rule of Englsnd2 For hundreds Of
years, whenever a reasonable prospect Of sue
cess has presented itself, she bas struggled
for Independence. England, pursuing diff
ferent policy with Scotland, compromised
with the bold Highlanders, and gave them
the benefit of just and liberal government
Had the same policy been extended To Ire
land, history would never have recorded the
sacrifice of Eria'5 bravest men and purest
patriots In .he numerous aud disastrous re-
bellions which have desolated that fair island.
Had liberal system of legislation been
guaranteed to the American colonies, the
Revolution would, in oil probability, have
never taken place.
Witness the conduct of Russia towards
Poland. that of Austria to the Hungariaus.
Not year elapses that we do not hear Of
rebsllions, Instructions the massacrees and
murders of those oppressed people for no
other reason than claiming the right to
which they are honorably entitled by the
laws of nations and of God. Will you drive
your Southern brethren, by your oppression
and injustice to similar efforts to secure the
rights and privileges to which they are en-
titled by your Constitution and the laws Of
God and manP AL history teaches us the
folly, the absurdity of attempting to recon.
cile an oppressed and discontented people by
harshness and injustice.
WHY DIsrRANcHIsE THE PEOPLE.
What advantage can our State derive from
the disfranchisement Of nine-tenths Of her
citizens, and l may add with truth her best
citi$ens2 Can II in any way advance the
industrial interests Of the State We can
not say that the agricultural, manufacturing
or commercial interests will be promoted by
Il. If our material interests are not benefit
ed, will II give us credit and standing among
the NATIONS Of the world, to tell them by our
acts that nine-tenths of our citizens are TAFT
ors, unworthy to exercise the great right of
self-government and only fit to he governed
by the sword. II these things be true, we
are led to enquire why such unjust laws are
urged2
II does not become me TO suggest by what
motives the members of this or Of the other
House may be actuated, but I may, with
state what is believed by the peo-
pie at large, without either affirmation or
denial Of the correctness Of their conclu-
sions.
WHAT THE PEOPLE THINK
The great masses of this State are firmly
convinced that the men now holding Office,
(which were secured by an oyer display Of
loyalty are determined to re-
tsin their places in defiance Of the wishes Of
the people, by the exclusion of nine-tenths
of their fellow -citizens from the ballot-box ;
thus reserving solely to themselves that most
sacred of all rights secured In the Federal
and State Consultation, and Without . free
exercise Of which no free Government can
permanently exist.
Is this the kind Of republican Govern
ment which Andrew Johnson desires to re-
establish in the South2
No President OF the United States was
ever more devoted to the rights of the peo-
pie, than the present incumbent though be
may have yielded TO many Irregularities and
disputed points of the constitutional law, to
give efficiency and success to the war waged
for the preservation Of the Government
Yet when be ends his army specessful, the
peace of the country restored, you will not
find him yielding the great popular right Of
self-government, at the bidding of fanatics
and mad men, of unprinciplcd Office holders
and Office seekers.
WARNING From HBroBY.
The persistace in such an effort to over
ride the will Of the people, by such op-
preston and in Justice, may yet bring
some of our Franchise philanthropists and
philosophers, our 6re-side patriots
riotism and all the Offices, not to the block
ms in other countries, but 10 residence in
Fort Warren or the Capitol and make them
ss ciamorSas iot s .ne Sars,".o honn ."r
its suspension.
II you should succeed In hxing th's odi-
Gus law upon the people, It may be wen ior
YOU 10 inquire whether it will accomplish the
purposes for which II is designed.
The elections are controlled by the enlight
ened and dislnterested pubic opinion N our
counties, and viii oyerwhelm any candidate
that would urge ns ehio,ceuent. any iaw
in direct violation Of the public will and
good sense Of the people, cannot 20 eniqrcea,
except by the sword.
Any effort that may be made TO elest Or
keep in othce men whose only qualihcations
are Helr partisan prefeiicpons or over ofn-
cioys Loyalty, viii be deieated-not oy force
or violence-but by the stern repr0bation Of