The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-03-23
PROCLAMATION By THE GOV
ERNOR'

weeks give rise TO serious approximations ulat
a large portion Of our people have not SUM
c~icently recovered from tie demoraliEiRg ef
fects ofthe late rebellion TO enable them to
appreciate the blessings Of peace-that their
~paSsions have not sufficiently cooled to enable
them 10 avoid n relapse into anarchy or MILL
tary rule
small minority of twenty.one members
of The House. Of Representatives,, by t%actions
aud revolutionary proceedings, have succeed
cd in breaking up the Legislature and par
~ialysiag the State Government, l character
&c this conduct as revolutionary, because 1t
was violative Of the spirit Of the OcnStltu-
ton and laws, and arrested the machinery OF
the State Government as efectu ally as II the
same had been done by force Of arms,
They have been able, under the coustruc-
ton Of parliAhe ntary law which prevailed
10 the House, TO reduce II below Whist was
held to be q quorum for the transaction OF
business, and the great body of the members
of both Houses have gone to their homes,
and legislation has entirely ceased.
When an importPnt measure IT State pol.
icy was proposed-a measure referred to, aud
u duty imposed upon this Legislature by the
amended Constitution-they either withdrew
| frcm their seats or remained and refused TO
answer to their names when called, thespeak-
er holding that q member in his seat, refusing
TO answer, was not present so as to be coun-
ted as part Of q quorum. Afler wor rying
the majority In this way for several weeks,
and after the consultations Of the Conyen-
ton Of the 22d February, they have public
" announced their secession from the Legisla-
ture, through the newspapers, in a document
that will not fail to remind Its readers Of the
address of the Legislature Of 1861 who trans-
ferrea the State to the Southern Confederacy.
The prete1t for this legislative rebellion
was a proposition 10 discharged the duty
imposed upon the Legislature By the ninth
section of the schedule TO the amended Con-
stitution, which provides for " the limitation
of tine elective franchise by this Legislature
There was nothing new or startling in this
measure. From the earliest Inception Of the
idea of recognizing a State Government, up
on the ruins of the rebellion, the policy of
DISTINGUISHING those who had lately Destroy
ed the State Government, and attempted TO
destroy the National Government was deem-
ed a necessity, and was adopted and rigidly
executed. In the election held on the I'D
Feb, 1865, upon the adoption Of the
amended Constitution, rebels were all dis
franchised by an oath which required every
voter to swear that he was q an enemy of the
so-called Confederate States" The same
course was pursued in the election for Cover
nor and members of tho General Assembly,
in March, 1865. The Military Governor nat
urally believed that those who had wan =
tonly detrOyed the Government were mot tue
proper persons to rebuild it, or to administer
it when re-established. This policy and
principle Of Acknowledgement was n feature
Of the amended Constitution approved by
the qualified voters Of the State. No subject
has been more ~thronghly discussed and nn-
derstood by all classes for the last year, than
this subject of DISTINGUISHING the dlSloyal.
Several Of the seeding members Of the
convention which adopted il into the sched-
ule, and sustained 1t before the people, and
accepted Office under II, and. are therefore es-
topped from denying itG binding force. All
Of them had been elected under a law Of
proclamation disfranchising rebels. The
pretense that the measure was sprung upor
them suddenly, is therefore manifestly q sub
terfuge to cover up the attempt at ~disOrgan-
i~Eation.
The resiguing members appeal to their con.
stituents to sustain them, are announced al
candidates for reelection to the places they
have Just made vacant under u pledge, of
course, again to withdraw from their seats
and again to break up the Legislature. This
discloses the whole plan Of the conspiracy
They ask their constituents 10 approve their
act, and TO send them back to repeat Il. THIS
will place their constituents 10 the attitude Q
%disorganihers commit them to q rebellion
against the State Government, and render
futile any attempt 10 fill the vacancies by
by writs Of election, as the same routine
would 90 repeated. The danger to the State
Is therefore imminent. Should the civil gov
eminent fail, the military authorities will
| take control Of the State, and II is not like
" that the General Government will, at an
early day, permit u people who win have dis.
played such incapaCity for selEgovernment to
attempt another State organization. Nor is
II likely, if the effort should be permitted,
that the different divisions Of the State will
agree upon a new constitution, and discord
and a separation may follow.
IL the plan Of the seeding members, now
so manifested, is successful, many Of the i'm.
portant laws already passed, including those
comforting important civil rights upon freed
men can never 90 into effect. No appropria-
ton bill can be passed the PeRitentlary,
Lunatic Asylum and other State institutions
must be broken up and abandoned and the
interest acruing on the debts Of the State
and all other expense requiring an appro'
priation must remain unpaid The credit oil
the State will be destroyed, and the bonds OIL
the State already appropriated must be de
preciated, so as 70 fail Of the objects OF their
issuance. Emigrants will abun a State in
such confusion and discredit, and capital will
seek Investment in more promising localities,
and thus the brightest hopes OF the State
will be bligtted.
Even II the eonsplrators should fail Of sue.
cess inealeulable mischief has already been
done to the State. Eight millions Of her
bonds are soon 10 he thrown upon the mar
ket. The %runious depreciation Of her credit
consequent upon a disorghniEed condition oil
the State, inaiets a deep injury, not only mp
on the bondholders, but upon our works oil
internal improvement, dependent now upon
a sale Of our bonds to enable to revive their
operations. NrffHH rf
Our political prospects too, are severely
injured. BY the acts Of A febe lioVs popula-
ton we have cost our representation in the
eouneil Of the nation. Our SENATOR and
Representatives. are in Washington asking ad.
mission 10 seats In Congress. That body Il
watching all our movements with a view o.
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