The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-06
MAJOR WILLIAM B. LEWaS,
(sES1os EEEBEg IRON D4FlDsos,)
THE FRANCHISE QUESTION.
Delivered in the House Of Representative,
February I'd, 1856.


Delivered in the House Of Representatives
February I'd, 1856.
Ma Lrwrs sAID-Mr. Speaker. IN Octo.
/ her last, ] pressntsd G bilI OF this subject
snd have intended 70 submit my views Il
the House On { ne general questions involved.
| The iee0leness OF my strength and voice
| precludes the possibility OF my speaking
/ and I have, therefore, reduced thsIa tC
/ writing, and with the consent Of the House
they viii nov be resd BY my friend Mr
| Poston, the member from Shelby. Leave
having been granted, Mr. Poston read as
follows.
| Nh. sPEAEER.-I venture to address the
| House upon this subject with great difH-
] dencc--a dilhdence which arises alike from
q consciousness Of my inability to discuss
| the qoestiou IS il deserves, ard from the
! profound sense Of its importance, with y#hieh
1 an penetrated The subject nov before
Us. and ths collateral questions which It in
PRODUCES, are indeed OF trnnscsndent inter
est; and language fails me to express the
deep solicituds which feel IN regard %
them. ! aEa convinced that upon wise and
Judicious legislation touching this great
matter Of the franchise privilege, depends
consequences for veal or wee, 70 the present
and future generations-consequen to
satisfactorily put an cad to cur troubles, or
TO increase and prolong them indefnisely-
consequences which are 10 cunsummateour
late unhappy civil wsr in a wholesome and
perfect peace, and lead Us again into the
path Of prosperity, OF 10 Involve US in agi-
tation snd biekerIng, If not, (which Heaven
ayertl into rsnewed bloodsned, sooner or
which are 10 strengthen
and secure the permsnency Of democratic
inst tutons, and the stability Of const;tu-
tioDal government, or to unnoor this people
OF the wild sss Of anarchy, or pass them be-
meath the yoke Of despotism consequence
which may jeopArdise the existence Of the
Union.
II any one thinks that this is en- e1sg-
gerEted estimate Of the importance OF this
subject, almost envy him, for when I OBJ
serve the temper in which II ia treat d By
some, ieel sadness, litt 3 snors of thst
which oysrcsme me. when i've years ago
rebellious hands were raised against tie
Government have 30 long lived under and
loved II they do not realize its importance
and think they can use it in political leger-
demsin, with impunity to the best interest
OF the country, they are simply unfit as
Legislators; il they are suffering passion to
sway them, ard put away their better Judy
ments in obedisnce to It's behesls, they are
something wo-se-they are evil counsehofs
ofthe Republic. One of the greatest men
whose words snd deeds have come down to
Us in history, and whose com prehensive
conceptions lighted up the pagan darkness
which surrounded him, addressing the
Senate OF Rome, said: can who deliberate
upon grave affairs should be moved neither
by hatred, affection, ager or sympathy.
Any one filled with these emotions can with
difficulty unrayel the truth: and no person
can, st the same time, serve his passions
4
that which obscures il ana you will be
strong, Let passion rule your Split and !
you will be powerless." These are wise |
and weighty words, and I beseech gentle |
men TO give them heed IN their action upon |
this matter. I ask them to discard feeling, |
and 10 ponder the past only to shun its er- /
rors, aCd not 10 find material from which TO /
perPetuete its heart burnings and strifes.
Mr.. Speaker. / SIN an old man. Il hiss !
been permitted 10 me 70 pass more than half |
a score OF years beyond the period ailoted |
by the Psalnist. I have done some service, !
humble, Esrhaps, but faithful 10 the coun- |
try. / am admoniahed that my remnant Of |
time is short, and feel that this feeble effort /
to do something towards harncni-ing nv /
countrymen, snd healing the horrid gashes 1
of this civil war, VIII be the last that nv |
strength is equal 70. I do not wish 10 gain, |
by these personal illusions, any fictitious |
consideration for the opinions I may give, |
or the reasons may offer for my course on /
this question, for l am not skilled in the |
phrases in which they might be set. But / /
can truly say, sir, that il / could see my |
country reunited, the authority Of the Gov |
ernment exercising its just snd benignsnt |
sway, my fellow citizens Of this STATE aud |
ofail the ststes manifssting spirit Of tole- |
ration and consultation towards each other, |
and peace and prosperity restored, / should |
see sight that might well reconcile an old |
man 10 die. And it is 20 promote these |
ends thatI speak to-day.
Before alluding to the immediate question |
before the House, it will not be Improbable |
10 briefly advert 10 the course Of events |
which has deyolvea tha present duty on US. |
1 do not mean review OF the causes or the |
p.oFress OF the war, but such glance st the |
more recent situation Of the country as may |
serve to assist our judgments upon this issue. |
The war, sir, has been in many respects TN |
exempted, ss well ia the numbers Of men /
engaged, the number OF lives sacrificed, ana |
the amount Of treasure expended, as II the |
greatness Of the stake contsnded for, and the |
vslor displayed on its memorable delds oi 1
eonaict. Il Wss grOun6-sweN OF the ener- !
gies Of the greatest people, viewed either in /
s martial or civic light, known to history. |
But what hsvs we seen in the last eight |
poaths7 A z ander sight, ! think, than a.! I
the exhibitions Of wsrlIke power. We have |
sean the heart Of this people, throbbing high |
with excitement, temper down into rh tim /
and regularity, ard vast armies equal 70 the /
Persian host, melt away into the mass Of /
peaceful citissns- We have seen passion yield /
to reason and resistercs TO law and order give |
plsce 10 obedience TO authority. These are /
indeed triumphs; but there is smother TO be /
government IS IS capable to retrieve the 1
damages OF a civil conyulsion IS were the 1
neople to recover from the passions which /
produced il. i is OF the nature Of civil |
xars to unsette political institutions, aud /
frequently they leave lasting impressions-
sometimes good ahd sometimes III. twas /
our boast, before tie war, taat our form Of
government was FerhEps IS nearly perieef /
"a human wisdom could devise, and ] see |
no reason to change the opinion upon which |
II Wa founded. The great question now Tor |
those entrusted with its managemen', Is 70
determine whether the uuse N y oetace-
ments which this beautif0! fsbric may have
received during the war, shall become per
nanent features-Whether our system sbsI
undergo rsdicslly organic slieysroas-or
whether II shall be restored and remain, IN
form and essence. what 1t wss--the mod J
of eeruine republican liberty. We who
act ip these ha Is, snd ia the legislative ss-
s.-ablis. throughout the country ,Gre charged
WITH the bieh duty OF deciding whether our
iustitutiort are adequate 20 the emergency,
or whether they shall Be amended 10 q1lst
q pucrile lear OF & future var, or satisfy the
vin6icuve spirit OF q Rsrty, OF 70 eaapody n
the organic law Of the land the dos mas Of a
creed. lt IS = be determined, even q We
do rot change the letter, whether We shall
faa ksz
rroscriptive measures. which shall praeti- /
cally annul It's grants q individual hoerty' I
and thus SOW The seeds Of fuure struggles
10 regain it. or leave freedom extingnlsheu
ip the folds Of a virtual despotism. Nesre
!, ssv whether these irnQvations are neces- |
ss-v, or whether We can safely trust thc |
ssbe- sense and inuato attachment Of this |
neeple 60 law, order, snd gcvernment, snd 4
permit the genius cf our free institutions 1
Io rescue them from the destruction which /
the usr hiss wrought. These are the great
issil-s involved in this question, saa for my |
self I have no difficulty in answering them. !
an, cDposed 10 all lceislstion doubtful in
its constitutionslitv. OF dangerous IN its
tendsney, OF which seeks, under any p'es
text. 60 alter the true and proper relalio1s
Of the States 70 thc general government or
those Of individuals. either 20 The general
OF state governments. ] am io- preserving l
thai marked and distinguishing feature q
our Institutions, which assures the personal
and political Tighss Of the citizen. while i
sccures ;he strength and unity al the gov
erumerts under the Feiersi head. Ny OBJ
servsiions ard study Of Feeries snd govern
rnras tesch ne that lsithsr Of these great
ends csn Be attaineas or poFClsr liberty be
r-eserved. II we venture to depart from
ihsse great prineiples- Tie scoEegs st re-
rpbiirsn governments have prophetied thst
- rnr.ia noi sustain the trisl 10 which
oY-, hsr hosn subjected. 7 hope believe
itean. 7, Al iessb CAP isna ne eana g help
= realiting iheir gloomy pTeaietions.
ave fstfh that Il the men who are -e'e3
| 4. aar.iir5stsr th5s government WI be v4se.
- isnpcse s sue rest-airi ppon taelr pss-
s,ons, i has thr virtue % sarylvs anhs5ua-
Cd The fearful orde44 thieaSn Nnt-A as
s.-.s,s Or,- si,,tv e ret % overturn Ct up
IN. Il Is amply 70 retgrn- 1his, ssss Is "a
/ hev q ny pressed course q aeilal 81 -.
I srfiest. Sor srn 7 : stckier eltSes ~
Ii