Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-02
A v1ND1CAT1oN.
Our Conservative Representatives 20 the
People OF Tennessee.
TRUTHFUL AND ELeoyESr PROTEST AGAINST RADICAL
DISHONESTY


a TRUTHFUL AND ELOQUENT PROTEST AGAINST RADICAL
DISHONESTY. ---..
10 the discharge of duty incumbent upon the
Representative to render an account of the trust
reposed in him by the body who have delegated
authority to him, We beg leave TO submit to the
people of Tennessee, and 70 orr immediate eonsti-
tuenis, the reasons which have controlled rs, as
members OF the present General Assembly of the
State in withdrawing from its deliberations. Re-
cognizing the serious character of the step We have
taken, we protest that the direct and immediate
consequences involve US, in common with the great
mass of the people Of the State and are, there
fore, pledge OF the rectitnde of the intentions
and motives which have governed us. From II no
special local or personal advantage, immediate or
prospective nurcs to U.S. or to any party section
with which we are identified. On the contrary we
Individually might derive advantage by pursuing
differe It course.
To do so, however, would be base betrayal of
our constituency, an abandonment Of right, sale
Of liberty and the overthrow of Republican insti-
tutions. To preserve these we have not hesitated
to take the step which has led 10 the present condi
ton of affairs in your General Assembly.
We pre.suppose. fellow-eAizens, that You have
not been inatentive to the state of affairs as they
exist or the events that have proceeded their pres
ent condition; and that you are aware that there
is now pending before the House Of Representa-
tives IA bill to amend the present franchise law"
passed June 5th 1865, the object of which is to
limit and les en- the number of qualified voters, as
ascertained by that law, and to lodge the control of
this most important political power in the hands Of
the Governor.
1t will be remembered by you, fellow citizens,
that under the schedae to the amended Constitu-
ton, adopted on the 22d Of February, 1885,
the qualification of voters and limitation of the
elective franchise was deposited so to speak, with
the first Legislature which has met since the
adoption thereof II is therefore claimed by some,
| and which many deny, that whatever law is passed
by this General Assembly, becomes constitutional
in its character, and cannot be modified save 10
the manner pointed out by the Constitution for its
amendment. In view, then, of the probable per-
manent character Of any law passed, or to be
passed by the General Assembly, it became our
solemn duty TO see that neither the rights of the
people were abridged, or the Constitution violated
Waving any expression just now as to the want of
fairness, justice and courtesy manifested by ma.
jority of the House Of Representatives. in their ac
ton to cut of debate, amendment or other pro-
ceeding Of the undersigned, to expose, perfect or
defeat the BILL by legitimate parliamentary steps,
proceed to state the merits of the issue as they
exist.
| Early in the session, the question Of the amend.
ment Of the existing franchise law was mooted and
| thc uHio W u Special COnmlttee,
who reported bill in lieu of all others which was
so adopted. Pending the consideration thereof
on its second reading, q new bill was introduced
and adopted in lea of the committees and this bill
passed Its second reading, and by vote of the
House was made the special order of the next day
Pending its third reading and under the operation
of the previous question, it was put upon its
passage. number of us felt it TO be our duty, as
your representatives to withdraw from the debe.
rations Of body which under the forms of the
law sought in our opinion, to make sale of the
citizen to usurp the sovereignty of the people, de-
stroy the Constitution, and change the form Of
your government We submit herewith the Bill DIS
It now reads:
lowing to the extreme length of the Bill we
onsit 1t from or columns.l
1t was sprung upon our deliberations, without
previous notice to the House, adopted and hurried
to its third reading. An examination of its pro-
visions, fellowsctizens will show you that the in
tention is to reduce the number of qualified voters
in the State" although the "disloyal" are now
prohibited from voting; and why should the num-
Der be reduced? Is it for the good Of the country,
or thai Office should become an inheritance2 It
will further show you that more political patron
age Is ereate and thus taxes are 10 be levied
and collected off of an impoverished people, 1t
will again show you that the object 10 not the
peace, harmony and prosperity Of our beloved State
but the continuance of discord, strife and trouble
and further, that it is to destroy the republican
form of our State government, in making the Gov
ernor of the State the arbiter and ruler of the bal
lot-box. No potentate ever sought greater power
than this coAfers and he who desires the overthrow
Of popular institutions could not be invested with
more fatal weapon.
We invite your attention, fellow-c citizens to the
fact that this bill has an alarming and dangerous
tendency to overthrow your Constitution and sub
vert your Government, and is equally revolutionary
with the proceedings taken in this Capitol ia
1861, when by military league this State was trans
tered to Government of the so-called Confederate
States And we dare to appeal 10 you, people Of
Tennessee who, with strong arm and stout heart |
in the field and by the freside, as exiles or
mourners by yonr desolate hearth-stones main
tanned through good and evil report your loyalty
to the Union upon the issue now made up between |
the undersigned and the members of the present
house OF Representatives supporters Of the pending
Franchise bill. And in doing SO, we distinctly and
boldly charge:
lst That the bill violates the constitution of the
State; that it lodges the control of the baot-box
in the hands Of the Governor when your constitu-
ton declares that all elections shall be free and
equal. Can this be so when the caprice of q |
single Individual debating instructions to eighty
odd petty commissioners, Is to determine the quail
fcation Of the voter, and their instructions taking
color from his prcjudces; or if bis commissioners
act without his instructions, or disregard them de-
termne the qualification by the amount of person. |
al profit and gain there may be in the transaction,
and denying to the loyal citizen the right of appeal
from the decision of this officer, who is under the
penalties for violation of the law. Pause, fellow
citizens and reflect upon the immense power this
confers upon single individual
We have lately seen the President of the United
States refuse TO receive even less power when ten
dered the control of the freedmen. No matter how
good or great the man may be, the Judgement of
such vast power in his hands is dangerous to con-
stitutonal liberty, and is at war with the whole
theory of Republican Government
I'd. The bill violates that great principle, to
maintain which our fathers of l77G pledged 'their
lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor" and
which gave birth 10 our glorious Union, viz that
representation should follow taxation.
Sd. The bill violates the pghted faith of the
United States, Of Abraham Lincoln, of President
johnson, Of Generals Grant and Sherman. In this |
that the action of the Congress of the United
States, Presidents Lincoln and johnson were au- |