Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-30
"THE CRISIS IN TENNESSEE"


The New York Neps, of the 22d, has an article
on 'rhe crisis in Tennessee or the dead lock in
the Legislature, in which the points are clearly
stated and ably argued. 1t is gratifying to us to
perceive that outsiders view in its true light, the
infamous attempt of the Tennessee radicals to crush
out the last spark Of liberty, and extend TO their
sympathics in the struggle for selfpreservation.-
In the great national struggle for consolidation,
the one hand, and constitutional liberty, on the
other tho despotisn Of the civil government in this
State, is overlooked even by those whose position
and influence might he successfully exerted for its
abatement, ifao. Tor its entire overthrow. The lib
ery and equality Of the negro is the all-absorbng
topic of the day. whilst the best citizens Of Tennes
see are denied both, by contemplate clique of pet
~ tyrants who owe their power to accident and the
disposition to abuse il, to their own inherent mean
ness Yet, the attempt by peaceable means, TO
throw off yoke so CALLING to proud spirited men,
and subversive of the great principles of political
liberty the tyrants plea for still greater oppres
sion and the pretext for foul and false charges of
continued hostility to the government
The seeding members of the Legislature, in a
hopeless minority, saw that law was about to be
ennced which would, virtually, make Brownlow
the only voter in the State, and the untramelled
despot of once free people. What were they to
do? Sly still and the in.qniiy consummatcd? see
nipe-tenths of the people enslaved by handful of
men who had already won enough of infamy and
the undeing scorn of the good and just of all clas-
ses2 Brovnlov and his strikers answer, yes but,
fortunately for the best interests the State such
was neither the theory the practice Of the
sentative few who averted once, and will again,
the tratorons blow aimed AT the rights and liberties
Of the great body Of the people. That the minority
shall rule, Is not only the fundamental idea of the
government but it is so deeply engrafted upon the
minds and hearts Of the people, that it can not be
eradicated by the puuy arm OF tyranny born of
malignity, nurtured by avarice and guided by be-
sotted ignorance. But the disfranchisei people of
Tennessee have misgvngs of the future If
they can find no remedy for existing and threaten
ed evils in the restored sanity, or improved morals
of the dominant cliqe, the young men now vergng
upon the age of twenty-one nre numerous enough
and patriotic enough to hur the tyrants from pow
er at the general election. But, without relying
upon this reserve force, there are already enough
registered voters in the State to accomplish this
end; and it is knowledge of this fact that sugges
ted the franchise bill which disrupted the Legis-
lature and suspended its vitality
The cry Of disloyalty will not much longer serve
as pretext for enslavng people who have hon.
estly complied with all the conditions exacted; who
are yielding prompt and willing obedience to law
and give jealous support to the Consultation and
the Union. These the only true tests of loyalty
and fortunate would it be for the country, if every
radical in it could show similar record, and would
act upon the same principles that guide the hated
and oppressed rebels. For one, we would no, ex-
change the CONSEQUENCES of having acted honestly
in the past, and of being honest. now, in our pro-
LESSONS of allegiance for the Scared and scared
science of every radical in the State High positi-
ons that entail contempt because contemptibly fill
ed, and salaries garnered at the expense Of principle
and political justice, may satisfy the ambition OF
those who look upon Office and money as synonyms
Of honor and virtue but he is the to be honored
aud trusted in these times, who fought bravely for
the cause he believed to be righteous, and, wher
beaten, Is honest in his submission TO inevitable
fate rs he had been Conscientious in his resistance
Such men may, ror awhile, lie revied and op
pressed, but there is power in enlightened pub
lie sentiment which will eventually set then
free and wipe off the foul aspersons hurled at then
by sordd selfshness and malignant hate. So vii
it he, and the day is not dstant-no radical legis
lation can long defer it. So confident are we o
this result that we can almost laugh AZ the anti'
tricks of our rulers intoxicated by nhaling the ex
hiliating gas of Il little b. ief authority, who vii
soon learn that armed rebellion against those il
authority, Is less crime than insidious Treason
against The Constitution and the rights guaranteed
by it to the States and the people