Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-09-28
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.

negro party, have declared that the
right Of suffrage will be conferred
upon the freedmen Of Tennessee be-
fore the 2sth Of December next.
We have no doubt that it has been
decided that the Legislature, at its
next meeting, shall consummate this
nefarious radical scheme. Having
already established precedent that
a quorum may consist Of any num-
Der short Of that fixed by the Consti-
tuition, nothing is easier than to con-
fer the right of suffrage upon the
negro in the same illegal manner in
which the constitutional amendment
was spuriously ratified. But in what
ever manner it may be done, every
patriotic citizen will deeply regret it
not because the act will be valid,
but because it will add one more to
the endorsements in The way of
the final adjustment Of our political
troubles. The negro, frauduleutly
invested with right which he is not,
and never will be competent to exer-
else, will build upon it hopes and ex-
pectations of the most absurd and
extravagant character, and whenever
that right is revoked, he will foolish
ly construe it into a grievance, and
become disconnected and insubordi-
nate in proportion to the imaginary
loss.
The action Of the Tennessee Radi-
Gals is, every day, making more ap-
parent the necessity for the call of
Convention to organize a State gov
eminent upon the basis of the FEEDER
al Constitution and the original Bill
Of Rights. 1t has long been our be.
lief that such a step offers the only
security for the rights of the citizen,
and the peace and prosperity Of the
State. But, in the mighty struggle
now going on between the Executive
and Legislative departments of the
Federal Government, we have for
borne to urge the measure, fearing
that it might, in some way or other,
add to the difficulties which lie in
the way Of the President, and delay
the success of his plans for the res
toration Of the Union. But this con-
sideration may loose its Importance
in view of the rapid progress of Rad
icalism towards the enslavement Of
the former citizens of Tennessee, and
their subsection to the political power
Of their former slaves.
No one knows better than the Presi.
dent, the informal and revolutionary
character Of the present government
Of this State. He knows that the
only argument in favor of it, was a
real, or supposed military necessity;
and that necessity having ceased, no
one secs more clearly than he does,
the Importance Of reconforming the
government to the principles of pop
ular liberty. And since he has never
denied the broad doctrine, that gov
ernments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed, he
will not, even admitting he has the
power, interfere with such an exer-
else Of popular sovereignty as may
be necessary to secure popular rights.
The people of Tennessee have reach
ed that point in the progress of des-
potic Vaccinations, when they must
assert their right to be free, or quiet
ly submit to the will of the tyrants
who Cypress them-not by right
divine, nor by the sanction of the
Constitution, but by the temporary
authority conferred by the bayonet.
1t may be that there is conserva-
tism enough in the State to overthrow
the faction now in power, at the next
general election but is it safe to wait
a year, during which lawless knaves
are free to trample upon our dearest
rights, and to accumulate troubles
for the future, Of a character most
dangerous to our peace and prosper.
ity? This question, each one must
answer for himself, according to the
lights before him but if a conven
ton is the remedy to be relied upon
perhaps the sooner it is convened the
better. There is as much wisdom in
preventing, as in remedying wrongs,
; and it must be apparent to all that
the longer tyranny is tolerated, the
greater the reactive energy necessary
to overthrow it, and to obliterate its
footprints upon the sacred domain Of
popular liberty.