Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-15

Indebtedness Adi 70 tAAbNEA 70 VI NIX I III
= der the Sheriff's hammer. The noblt
l charities of the State, the Lunatic and
Blind Asyiums, mad lived somehow
D lived in spite Of mans rage-had lived
because no good thing can die! Poverty,
) n~akedness and distress, preyed like q
2 corm0Tant upon the State. Add to all
! this q frightful carnival pf crime, and an
unconquered rebellion, and you have the
legislative situation of April, 1865.
WHAT THE LEGIsLATURE HAS DONE.
The very first work the Legislature adj
dressed itself to, was to produce har'
mony with the Federal Government
The amendment 10 the Constitution OI
the United States, prohibiting slavery
from existing within the national do
main, was passed, Already by The vol
untary vote Of the loyal people, Qur sgate
Constitution had been amended in this
respect. This, virtually, was a settle
ment Of the labor question. The neXt
effort to bring "order out Of chaos" wa
the amendment Of the criminal laws
and the restoration of the courts. Fhs
whole civil machinery had collapsed.
On the most liberal scale our system OF
internal Improvements was set again III
its feet. One million Of dollars was ap-
proBriated out Of the c bill for
common schO6ls. The Hank Of TepnGs-
see was put In liquidation, turning over
the coin captured by the military au-
thorities to the school fund. ConcOmi-
ntWitb the restoration 0flaw and order,
the Legislature, under the schedule 10 the
amended Constitution was charged with
" fixing" the qualification of voters.
The maintenance OF the Government in
the hands of the tried friends of the
Union was the most avowed and promi-
pent measure upon which the Legisla-
tuTe was elected. Governor Johnson
had declared, and mis- words were called
{" goldeu +" of there be but 5000 men in
Tennessee, loyal to the Constitution,
loyal to freedom, loyal to justice, these
true ard faithful men should control the
work of restoration ana reformation alb
sOlutely. The traitor has ceased to be a
citizen, and in joining the rebellion he
has become 6 PEhlie enemy. BEFORE
these repenting rebels can be trusted let
them bring forth the fruits Of repen-
tence.H In no spirit Of TeFeHge, but IL
the spirit of safety, for the good Of rebels
SIS well as UniOnists. the vet of the 9Th Of
June, 1915, many degrees allqeF taap
Governor JohnsOn's test oath, was made
a part of the organic law Of the
that the present 6snenl assembly
might " alter and amend, " if, in its opin-
ion, best. The congressional elections
were UElsr5d. Ssditi0p and treason be-
gan their old work. Though the courts
declared the law "eonstitGtioual,'' the
Governor was forced 10 i>sUe San ad-
dress and two proclamations," to pre-
vent revolutionary proceedings. Presi-
dent Johnson tlCice telegraphed that the
law should be maintained. The arrest
and indictment of one or two prominent
individuals next followed, backed by the
gieam OF Gen, Thomas bayOnets still
twenty-seyen counties failed or refused
70 obey its provisions. It required no
prophet to read the future. The Legis-
lature net according u adjournment in
October. The House of REPRESENTATIVES,
from which the original bill had ema-
mated, lookup the question anew, MORE in
/ sorrow than in anger, but resol1telv de-
ternined 70 do its duly, II if the State
passed into dislOyal hands, their skirts
I should be clear.
TIE LITTLE REBELLION.
Bills for the repeal Of the Franchise
Law were early brought forward, and
whispers were rife about the Capitol that
no new amendatOTy law should be
passed. At length u bill in lieu Of all
bLlAtA 9iAl5 vi Ills GAAJtGA Wa AlpttEAlL III
by a committee, printed, and lay for
weeks upon the table of members. II was
then adopted by the House, and its pas
sage urged forward. Meantime, another
bill, more liberal in its provisions was
substituted. Thirteen hours discussion
was had on the part of the minority, and
two hours on the Part-Of the friends Of
the bill. The previous question was
called. SeditiOus whispers had now bro
ken into open threats. Members Of the
minority took up their hats and canes
and left the hall, while others sat still in
their seats and refused to vote. Invita-
tons were sent 10 ~absenting members to
return, and, that failing, their ar
rest was ordered. On appearing,
they were released, and the Franchise
bill again called up. Members Of the
minority again absented themselves, and
open and positive avOwals were made
that they would not be q part OF q quo
rum TO Ghoa0 the passage Of the biz.
The shadows of 'GI fitted through the
capitol. designations were handed in,
and he act OF secession was calmly, en-
phatieally and seditiOusly performed,
and the House reduced below a quorum.
These are simple, u~nvaTnished facts of
the little rebellion" We have no point
to argue with the seeding members,
before the people of TennesSes. The fact
OF their secession Is stronger than any
argument. Gould there be . better argn-
ment for the elective franchise confined
to the friends Of order than the secession
Of '66H Betrayal Of constituency, "aban-
Comment of right ''sale Of liberty"
overthrow of republican institutions,
are strange words to be heralded to the
public, as defense by men in the act Of
avOwing practical secession! Is it mock
ing or idiotic laughter
The immediate effects of all this upon
the State Of tennessee must be disas-
trous. Eight million dollars worth of
bonds for the benefit Of our railroads are
now upon the market. Will ssWall
street" be anxious TO buy the bonds of a
disrupted State Government? The con-
victs at the penitentiaTy are without
food. No appropriation can be made in
the absence Of a quorum. The wheels of
Liquidation are stopped, when the emf |
grant and the capitalist are asking at the 4
doors permission to open your rivers and
your mines and your schOOl-houses, and
your large pockets must find some fifty
thousand dollars for the expense of this |
"lttle rebellionln
We place the facts before the Union
people of Tennessee. They've no com
ments. They blaze in letters of fiery, con-
summing light. He who runs MAY read.
We have but a duty to perform, 10
Stdnc 70 ne principles upon which we
were elected. With malice to none and
charity oall' We hang eur banner on
the outer wall, and inscFibe upon it
"UNCoNDTTIoNAL UN1oN MEN SHALL
RULE TgNNEssERP
Appended viii be found a copy of the
Journal exhibiting the condition Of the
House on the several days, and the action
Of members and final withdrawal from
the legislative body by a manifesto on
the oath:
On Friday, February 10th, the Fran
ehise bill House bill No. 5O5). came M
on its third reading. The precious 0aes-
ton was moved and carried. Ayes al
noes, "a.
h vote was then taken on the pas
sage OF the bill on its third reading. with
the following result; Ayes, -; noes. I0.
Present and not voting were Nfessrs.
Brittle, Garrett, Marable, Nicks and
Simmons.
A call Of the House was then moved
which showed the following members
were absent: MesErs. Barton, Brandon.
Bledsoe, Faulkner, Garrett, Hood, Mara
bic, Nieks, OrdWay, Scales, Simmons.
Steele, Warren Williams, Willis and
Wynne-l6.
SATURDAY, Feb. l8-HOuse bill No.
sos was again taken up, and q vote taken
on its passage, with the following result
AYES, 42 noes, ii.
Present and not voting, Messrs. Hood
and Willis.
In the afternoon, a call of the House
moved, when the followingmembers
were found to be absent without leave
Messrs. Brandon, Elliott, Garrett, Hood,
Ordway, Scales, Simmons, Steele,
Walker, Of Shelby, aud WYDne.
MONDAY, Feb. IA call OF the House
was again moved, when the following
members were proved to be absent with