Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-14

Late T5-ouEles in tie Holse-R Remarks
Of Hon. " X. P5g0a, at Exchange
Building, IN Ftdl on that Point.
As a matter of general interest 10 the
public we publish below .lte remarks in
fuI, Of Hon. VIM, X. PaStau at EE-
change Hail Wednesday evening rela-
tive 10 the troubles ia the House which
caused the resignation Of large number
Of the conservative members. We have
already published s portion Of these re-
marks, but desire that our readers shall
have a full report. Alter q few prelimi-
nary remarks Mr.. P0stou said.
In order that those whom We have i'm
mediatelv represented for q brief period
in the House OF Representatives Of the
General Assembly Or the State Of Ten
nessee, may understand precisely the
status of affairs in that body, and the
reasons that impelled Us to the action we
have taken, I beg leave, in addition 10
the matters set forth in the " address TO
the people Of Tennessee" " submitted by
ourselves in conjunction with other re-
tiring members, n say that, prior to the
l5th day OF February, 1866, various dis
franchising bills had been introduced into
the House Of Representatives, of charac-
ter and tenor widely diverse, some Of ex-
visions more liberal ana just. One iu-
trOduced by the venerable aud highly es-
teemed senior member from Davidson,
the Hon. William B. Lewis, the lifelong
friend and intimate privy counsellor OF
the Hero Of the Hermitage - the
tried and Unfinching friend of the
Union in its darkest hours, and a
member Of the present Legislature Of
Tennessee, based upon the provisions Of
the amnesty proclamation of President
johnson: others introduced by eNtUe-
nIsts Of the Radical faction, ultra and
exclusive 10 the last degree. These va
rious bills had been referred 10 a special
committee, with instructions 10 report
upon them, or to report a bill in lieu.
This special committee had reported "A bill
much more stringent in its provisions
than the present franchise law, which
had without discussion. been adopted In
lieu Of all others, and was lying on the
table of the House awaiting action.
On the 18th Of February the franchise
bill reported by the Committee and
adopted in lieu 0f all others, was called
up for artiOn in the House, and then. for
the first time, the representative from
Bedford and Rutherford offered in lien
the present most extraordinary, unjust
and iniOuit0us Bil. This bill is more
stringent far in its provisions than the
franchise law now in force annuls al the I
certificates Of registration heretofore &
issued, excluding from the right Of regis I.
trstion and Of suffrage many persons en- /
titled thereto under the existing law, and .
in addition thereto. cOnfeTrng upon the
Governor Of the state the power Of APP
pointing for each county in the State .
commissioner of registration, who is
made the exclusive judge of the qualifi-
cation Of applicants ana the weight Of
testimony introduced tOestahlish LOYALTY,
and empowered 10 call in rebutting testi-
mOny % disprOve that loyalty. From
the decision of this commissioner there
can be 10 appeal.
The bill is the creation Of the Score
tary Of State, A J. Fletcher, was by
him introduced into the caucus Of the
majority, was by him argued aud urged
at length, all amendments or alterations
thereto refused by him, and that major
ity instructed finally, in substance, that
the bill must BE- passed ia fs present
form. It came 10 the House In the hand
writing Of its author. COtempOrane.
0usly with the action Of the Secretary OF
State appeared ln the columns of the
Knoxville Wing, the organ and gener-
ally Acknowledged property Of the Gov
ernOr of the State, an editorial from
which We Gull the following eZtraur-
binary significant paragraph:
IF the people ever aid plant theln-
selves firmly on any platform, IL is on
the platform now occupied by the So
called radicals or faction constituting
the majority in the present Congress.
We 20 with that faction Of radicals, we
approve their principles and policy and
live or die, siRk or swim survive or per
ish, We risk our life, our fortune aIid
sacred honor on board Of that ship.n
This BILL thus fathened, and thus her
slded, being offered in lieu Of the Come
mittse bill. the motion was made, as Is
customary with ali measures Of grave
importance, 10 postpone It's considers
ton. and have the bill printed for the
information Of the members. This mo-
ton was voted down, and tie " previous
question called and ordered upon the
motion 10 adopt in lieu. Under this APP
plicati0n Of the parliamentary bayO-
aet, the bill was ADOPTED In lien Of the
Committee bill, Instantly puI upon i!s
second reading, the previous question
again called and ordered, and the bill
passed upon its second reading.
It was then made tbe "0r'ier Of Tho
day % for the succeeding day, friday.
This summary method Of proceeding
with a measure so important in its
character and grave IN its consequences,
from both friends and foes Of the meas
ure that the leaders Of the radical fac-
ton, three in number, openly on the
floor OF the House pledged themselves
that when the bill should be called on
the morrow, it Should he open for lm-
limited discussion and amendment
on Friday morning the bill was again
called, Mr.. Steele, Of Marshall, permit
ted to make an argument in opposition
4. D. 90 4 4 q
ton, aud Nh. Elliott, 0f Rutherford.
the friend of a franchise bill, but the
opponent Of this particular bill, 10 fol-
low in an argument Of half or three
quarters Of an hour IN opposition to the
bill, when Mr. HaistOn. of Marion. .
lone Of the radical majority, rose and
proclaimed 70 the House thar he held
himself bound by the pledges Of no
man, leader or otherwise, called FOR the
previous question thus again shut
ting OFF discussion or amendment
question he was sustained by the
vote Of almost the entire radical ma
iority, including the very members
who had, upon the floor OF the House,
80 solemnly pledged themselves to an
open and free discussion Of the measure
The conservative minority, finding
themselves cut OFF fr0M al Opp0r-
tunity Of either showing up the enorm-
ties Of the bill calculated and designed 10
disfranchise three-fOurths Of the people
Of Tennessee, or 10 amend il IN any OF lis
rnonstrOus features, retired from the
House I'm numbers sufficient 20 reduce the
House below quorum, and thas defeat
the passage Of the bill, The apreFiOus
question q feature Of parliamentary
proceeding Instituted in the British Par
lament, for excluding discussion upon
questions Of delicacy involving persons
IA high positions, and continued In use ia
this country TO cut OF Wranging upon
important questions, was thus prostituted
to base partizan uses Ia the effort 10
strangle debate on vital question, a
question involving directly the dearest
right Of more than one hundred thous-
and freedmen, and indirectly the peace,
harmony aud lihertV 81 ile squire 'pOpa-
istioR II tennessee. 4 parliamentary
trick Ia ltself, it could only be met,
and lr1s properly and succcsJiAty
met BY parlfOmfif0Hg trick.
A careful examination Of the Dill thus
defeated viii disclose the fal3oWipg fea-
UuTes, abhOuent IN the last degree 10
every rlghty-thinkiHg mind:
lEt. II limits the elective franchise IN
the State Of Tennessee to less than J0,-
600 men-37, 900 in East Tennessee, and
At1- tlldu Id,vfl 4l AlpOut ana Mcat Atu /
nessee o,Hbined, thus giging 10 East
Tennessee three representatives. iR the
state Legislature to one IN Middle and
West Tennessee combined.
I'd. II gives, or viii give, under the
proposed revision and appOrIionment Of
Congressional fepresentati 20 the State
1i Tennessee, one representative Ia the
congress Of the United Staies-inslead Of
eight as now,
sd. y gives TO the Governor Of theState,
through his appointed Commissioners OF
beglsuation, the absolute power OF de-
elolng, ana this without appeal, who
shall be the qualified voters ia the State.
Without specifying other upespstitu-
nonRk and Obnoxious feafurea - leave
Il 70 an lntslig6nt gonstit1enSv - ds4er-t
mine whether such 3 bill 'wsfe not pror-
arly deiealsd by any resort short III Ils,vs-
ical foEee, Ihs m0rs readily do we make