The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-09

ssnbiy. Lieutenant Governor Kelly
presides over the Senate
on the 18Th the vote for Goveruoi
was declared as follow Aggregate vote
Of the State, five thousand eight nun
dred and eighty-One, all but eight Of
which were for Walker. In 1859 the
aggregate vote was about fourteen
thousand. On Wednesday Provisional
Governor Marvin delivered a message
to the two Houses in joint convention,
at the conclusion OF which G0Fsrner
Walker vas sworn in and delivered his
inaugural address. He began with al
lusions to the expressions Of opinion by
leading men before and during the
war, and then took up the negro ques-
ton thus.
Much has been said Of late about
the importation Of white labor from
Germany, Ireland, Italy and other coun-
tries, and with proper limitations and
restrictions | am in favor of it; but let
us always remember that we have a la
boring class of our own which IS entitled
totLe preference. 1t is not sufficient TO
say that white labor is che&per. 1
trust we are not yet so far degraded as
to consult interest slone. But interest
alone would dictate that it is better 10
give these people employment ard en-
able them 70 support themselves than
have them remain upon our hands as o
pauper race; for here they are, and
here, for veal or woe, they are obliged
TO stag. We must remember that these
black people are natives Of this coun-
try and have q pre-emption right to be
the recipients Of whatever fayors we
may have TO bestow. We must protect
them, if not against the competition,
at any rate against the exacticns OF
white immigrants They will expect
our black iAborers to do a. much work
in this climate as they have been accus-
toned to see white ones perform in
more northern attitudes. We know
that they cannot do it. They never
did il for US as slaves, and the expert
ence of the last six months shows that
they will do no better as freedmen
Our fathers of 1888 knew that it takes
five black men to do the work of three
white ones, and consequently in adjust
ing the apportionment Of taxes upon
the basis of the labor and industry Of
the country, eleven Of the thirteen
states Of the old confederation recon.
mended that every Eve blacks be count
edsas only three. The same rule was
afterwards adopted in the Constitution
Of 1857, in regard to representation
But l fear those who may may migrate
hither from Europe or elsewhere will
be unmindful of this fact We ought
not to forget it, and between foreign
and black labor we ought always 70
give the preference TO the latter when
we can possibly make it avsilable-
And if we can offer sufficient induce
ments, / am inclined TO think that the
black man, IS 3 field lsborer in our
climate will prove more efficient than
the imported white.
''We ought TO encourage our eolored
people to virtue and industry, by all
the means in our power. We ought to
protect them IN all their rights, both OF
person and property, as fully as we do
the whites.
This is the view taken by our re-
cent State Convention. After recog.
nizing the fact that they are free, and
declaring that slavery shall never here.
after exist in this State, they proceed
to open 10 them all thecourts Of justice,
and admit them as witnesses IN all Grim
inal proceedings founded upon an injury
to a colored person, and IN all cases
affecting the rights snd remedies OF q
colored person.
II trust, gentlemen, that this action
meets your appreciation, aud tnat YOU
will take great care, not only not to
discriminate in your legislation against
the colored race, cut that YOU will 50
shape your enactments as TO promote
their welfare and happiness to the
fullest possible extent. q
considering their ignorance and
liability to be imposed upon, l think it
would be well for yon 70 provide that
they shall be bound by no contract
70 labor unless the same be reduced TO
writing and acknowledged before some
judicial officer; that a speedy remedy De
given them 10 collect their wsges, and
mat they recover damages when dis
missed without good cause. And on the
other hand, considering how essential
it Is TO the successful cultivation of our
great staples, that those who engage as
laborers should remain throughout the
whole period of service contracted for,
| recommend that a violation, without
good cause, of any contract once fairly
entered into, either by black or white
laborers, be made a misdemeanor, and
punishable with such penalties as viii
prevent the evil"
He thus recites what Florida had
done:
Thus far our people have manifested
their loyalty and desire to return to
the Union, by doing ali that the Gov
eminent was understood 20 desire.
They have taken the oath prescribed in
the proclamation OF the PRESIDENT to
support the Constitution of the United
States. and the union of the States there
under, and 70 abide by and faithfully
support sill laws and proclsmations
which have been made curing the ex.
isting rebellion with reference 70 the
emancipation Of slaves They have
held an election, under the proclaim
ton of the Provisional Governor, for
members Of a State convention That
convention has annulled the ordinance
of secession. IL has repudisted all
debts contracted by the State since the
date OF secession. Ii has declared that
all those who were slaves are now free
II has opened to them all the courts
Ii has admitted them az witnesses in all
cases in which they are Interested And
in short, they have left nothing undone
which they understood the Govern
ment to desire.
ave have the endorsement of the
Government itself upon the action Of
cur convention, that they have done
all that could have been desired, and
in the right spirit"
The Governor then urged the rstif.
cation Of the Constitutional Amend
ment; but objects to negro suffrage,
and added;
aft Congress shall unexpectedly re.
fuse 10 admit cur Senators and hepre-
~sentatives because We have not allowed
negro suffrage, we must then, without
manifeshngsny undue impaiienee, wait
until Congress shall think better of the
matter. rhe justice of our cause, the
influence Of me President and the
good sense and patriotism Of the nation
cannot fail 10 give ~ orr representa-
ton in the end
"Of course We could never aecede 10
the demand Tor negro suffrage, should
il be made.
We have manifested that our 10y
atty and desire 10 renew our relations
with the Uuion are SO great that 70 do
so we are willing 70 yield everything
but our honor and eonsciences. We
have all lost mueh-many Of US our ali
-al but cur honor Let Us preserve
that though W. lose everything else
We have been able 10 give an honest
and conscientious consent 10 sH that
has been done but each one of US
knows that we could not give an hon
est on a conscientious assent 10 negro
suffrage