Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-07-23
The AdminrIon OF Tenneasee.


sage, by the House Of Representatives, Of
joint Resolution restoring Tennessee to
her relations in the Union. Upon no the
atrical boards has there been more laugh
able farce than the farce the Republicans
Ia the lower House of Congress have played
in regard to the admission Of Tennessee.
When Congress assembled, President JoHN-
SON told that body that the Southern States
had complied with every requisition that
could either reasonably or rightfully be
made upon them preparatory to their re-
sumption of all their rights in the Union.
They had abolished slavery and made such
provision, through State legislation, as
would guarantee to the Negroes the pro-
lection Of life and property and impartial
Justice in the courts. In all things, save in
the matter of political and social privileges,
they were put upon an equality with the
Whites. So far as it could be done by Con-
stitutional amendments and Legislative
enactments, the most ample precaution
against secession and against the payment
of the Confederate debt was taken. These
things were done In full Legislatures and
in full Conventions. Seargeants-at-arms
had not to run down members with which
to constitute quorums. With alacrity and
unexpected cheerfulness it was done. New
ertheless, the Radicals In Congress protest.
cd this action Hs insihcere, prompted by an
unseemly anxiety to get into Congress.
There was sort of exception made In be-
halt of Tennessee. The Members and SEN
ators sent up to Congress from that State
were conceded to be 'loyal.n In reality
the relations of that State with the Union
were not interrupted much more than
were the relations of Kentucky; and yet
up to this time, since the meeting of CoH-
gress In December last, Tennessee has been
denied representation. Tennessee is so 'loy-
al" that therein they have dlsfranchised
about four-fifths of their electors. Every
thing that could be done to bring the Ne
gro up to an equality with the White man,
excepting making voter out of him, had
BY the language of action, Congress said
that all this was insufficient. One thing
lackest thou yet, You must declare, by the
ratification ofa Constitutional Amendment
specifying that all the Negroes born in the
United States are citizens thereof, and that
you wiz make no State law to abridge
their "privileges and immunities" as such
1citizens of the United States"
To the people of Tennessee this amend
ment was not submitted. Gov. BRowNLow
convened Rump Legislature-a Legis-
lAtdre to which forty out Of eighty-five
counties elected no Representatives, and in
those counties in which elections were held
scarcely one out Of every five electors was
allowed to vote. Even members that had
been thus elected had to be run down and
dragged in to make a quorum. Despite
this, when vote was taken on ratifica-
ton Of the amendment in the House, q
quorum did not vote. The amendment,
therefore, is wantingin valid and cordial
ratification. Notwithstanding, the Repub-
licans Of the. lower House Of Congress
thereupon iwith precipitation adopted a
''whereas,r setting forth that ithe State Of
Tennessee has IN good faith ratified the arti-1
Gle Of amendment to the Constitution Of
the United States, proposed BY the Thirty
Ninth Congressto the Legislatures Of the
several States, and has also shown to the
satisfaction of Congress, by a proper
spirit Of obedience in the body Of her peo-
Die, her return to her due allegiance TO the
Government, laws and authority Of the
United States" ,g,.. s.l,f,, "a,
This marvellous "good faith y this unpre-
cedehted exhibition Of "a proper spirit Of
obedience in the body Of her, people" So
cured the adoption of this joint resolution,
athat the State of Tennessee Is hereby re-
stored to her former proper practical rela-
tion 10 the Union, and is again entitled to
be represented by Senators and Represen-
tatives In Congress, duly elected and quail
fed, upon their taking the oaths Of Office re-
duIred by existing laws" ~ I,''i. ~. ~
Itfs unmistakable, that had the people. of
Tennessee had an opportunity to pass upon
this Constitutional amendment II would not
have been ratified, even If It can now be
rightfally claimed that it has been ratified
by the Tennessee Legislature. % 6fod
F1ff 1901