Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-30

back 10 repeat II This will place their constitu-
ents in the attitude Of diserganizers--commt them
to q rebellion against the State Government, and
render futile any attempt TO ill the vacancies by
writs Of election, rs the same routine would be re
peated. The danger to the State is therefore inn
minent. Should the civil government fail, the
military authorities will take control Of the State
and it Is not likely that the General Government
will, at an early day, permit people who will
have displayed such incapacity for sefgovernment
to attempt another State organization. Nor is II
likely, If the effort shuld be permitted that the DIFF
erent divisions Of the State will agree upon new
constitution, and dscoid and separation may
follow.
If the plan of the seeding members, now so
manifested, is successful, many of the important
laws already passed, including those comforting i'm
portant civil rights upon freedmen can never go
into effect No appropriation bill can be passed
the Penitentiary, Lunatic Asylum aud other State
institutions must be broken up and abandoned; and
the interest accruiug on the debts of the State
must remain unpaid. The credit of the State will
be destroyed, and the bonds of the State already
appropriated must be deprecated to fail Of the
objects OF their issuance. Emigrants will shun O
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
blighted.
| Even If the consprators should fail Of success,
incalcuable mischief has already been done to the
State. Eight millions of her bonds are soon To
be thrown upon the market. The ruinous depre-
citation Of her credit consequent upon disorganized
condition of State, infcts deep injury, not only
upon the bondholders, but upon our works of in
ternal Improvement, dependent now upon sale Of
our bonds 10 enable them to revive their OPERA
lions.
Our political prospects, too, are severely injured.
| r. a. L.
our representation in the council of the nation.
Our Senators and Representatives are in Washing
ton asking admission to seats in Congress. That
| body Is watching all our movements with q view
of determining whether we have an established
government or not and whether those Senators
have been sent there by a Government capable Of
maintaining its existence and authority. They
may now conclude that our people are not in a
temper for lf-government. Certainly the oppon-
ents of our representation will be furnished by our
present condition with an argument against our ad-
mission.
Nor is the moral effect upon the reputation of
our State and people less to be deplored. large
portion of our people, just out of rebellion, are pro-
Tossing reconstructed loyalty, while portion of
their representatives display not only rebellioas
spirit but disregard for the solemn obligations of
legislators and are unmindful of THAT dignity and
sense of honor which should always characterize
the statesman.
But aside from the injury to the moral, political
and financial character of the State and the danger
of dissolution the actual loss to the State treasury
is immense Nearly a month has already been
lost by the Legislature from business. Another
month must transpire before the vacant seats can
be filled by election, and then some days must
elapse before the members appear in their seats.
Estimating the expense to the Legislature at $3.50
per day, and loss of seventy days from business,
and total loss of $45, 500 is the result even if
the consprators should succeed further in their
designs. The loyal people of the State will not
fail to hold the guilty parties and their advisers
responsible for this worse than useles expenditure.
1t be may that the constituents of the resigning
members may re-elect them or others pledged to q
like course, and thereby render this proclamation
useless but the responsibility shall be upon them.
The constitution requires that "when vacancies
happen in either House, the Governor, for the time
being, shall issue wrts of election to fill said va
cancies.' Therefore,
The following representatives having in public
printed address announced their withdrawal from
the General Assembly, thereby leaving their seats
vacant, viz:
y; b LEWIS " Repi from rom D s sS:,,,
4. II. GARRETT. Req. ' from Owe Oyer i1nn'''
ASA FAULKNER, Rep. from Warren.
A. A. FREEMAN. Rep. from Haywood,
i +. THOMAS Rem from Cntfee Gru nd and