Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-03-21

In Address to the Union Feeble Of
Tennessee.


Tennessee was elected on the ith of March, 1855,
BY the unanimous vote of the Union people, on the
basis Of true LOYALTY to the Government of the United
States The clouds Of war, heavy and dark, then
brooded over the land. 1t was time of trial and
danger. The State, worn out with sufferings, was
impoyerished and ridged with graves. The loyal
men determined at the hazard of surrounding cir
custsnces To renew their relations to the Federal
Government, under which they had always enjoyed
protection. peace and marvellous prosperity. Their
great object was UNION RESTORATION, to be MAIN
tanned by UNION men. For wicked rebellion the
State had paid bitter price.
GOV. JeHSsoN's FRANCHISE LAW.
In order to secure such restoration, and to test
the true sentiments of the people Governor johnson
laid down as the proper qualifications for voters the
basis of strctest LOYALTY and friendship to the Gem
eral Government The elector was required not
merely to make an outward affirmation of loyalty
but solemnly to swear that at heart he reoiced at
rebel defeat and was IAN enemy to the so-oalled
Confederate States he prooed into the very recess
ses of the emotional nature.
His oath was Familiarity denominated by rebeldom
the damnastyn 1t meant what it said, that only
uncompromising friends OF the Government of the
United States should vote. On this platform the
present General Assembly was elected and met on
the Sd of April, 1885,
THE CONDITION OF THE STATE
The condition of the State was lamentable enough.
There was no money in the Treasury, and no reve-
nue. coming in Many of the counties were still un-
organized Only here and there throughout the
State the form of Court remained. A large in
debtedness had accumulated against railroads,
and even the interest during the rebellion was un
paid, the roads themselves were, of course in mill
tary possession, and the various companies, even if
they had been in actual possession, were unable to
run them. The Bank of Tennessee and the poor
childrens school money had been stolen and swept
| into the rebellion. The Penitentiary was covered
by claims of Indebtedness large enough to bring it
under the Sheriffs hammer. The noble charities of
the State the Lunatic and Blind Asylums had lived
| somehow-lived in spite of mans rage-had lived
because no good thing can die Poverty, nakedness
and distress, prayed like cormorant upon the
State. Add to all this frghtful carnival of crime
and an unconquered rebellion, and you have the
legislative situation of April, 1866.
WHAT THE LEGISLATURE has DONE.
The very first work that the Legislature address
ed itself to, was to produce harmony with the Fed
eral Government The amendment to the Consti-
tuition of the United States, prohibiting slavery
from existing within the national domain, pass
ed Already by the voluntary vote of the loyal
people our State Constitution had been amended in
this respect This, virtually, was settlement of the
labor question. The next effort to bring 'order out
of chaos" was the amendment of the criminal laws,
and the restoration of the courts The whole civil
our system of internal improvements was set again
its feet. One million Of dollars was appropria-
ted out of the revenue bill for common schools
The Bank of Tennessee put in liquidation, turn
ing the coin captured by the military author-
ties to the school fund. Concomitant with the res
toraton Of law and order, the Legislature, under
the schedule to the amended Constitution, was
charged with fixing" the qualifications of voters.
| The maintenance of the Government in the hands
of the tried friends of Unionism was the most
! avowed and prominent measure upon which the
| Legislature was elected Governor johnson had de-
clared, and his words were called golden" If
| there be but five thousand men in Tennessee loyal
to the Constitution loyal to freedom loyal to justice,
these true and faithful men should control the work
of restoration and reformation absolutely The
traitor has ceased to be citizen, and in joining the
rebellion has become public enemy Before these
repenting rebels be trusted let them bring forth
the fruits of repentance" In spirit of revenge,
but in the spirit Of safety for the good of rebels as
we'll Unionsts the act of the 9Th of June, 1865,
many degrees mlder than Governor Johnson's Test
! Oath, was made a part of the organic law Of the
State, with an express provision that the present
] General Assembly might alter and amend" if in
its opinion best. The Congressional elections were
ordered. Sedtion and treason began their old work.
Though the courts declared the law constitutional
/ the Governor was forced to issue "an address and
| two proclamation" to prevent revolutionary pro-
ceedings President johnson t,rice teegraphed that
! the law should be maintained. The arrest and in
dictment Of one or two prominent individuals next
| followed, backed by the CLEAN of General Thomas
bayonets; still twenty-seven counties failed re-
fused to obey its provisions. It required prophet
to read the future. The Legislature met according
| to adjournment in October. The House of Repre-
sentatives from which the original bill had emana-
ted took up the question anew, more in sorrow than
in anger but resolutely determined to do its duty,
and if the State passed into disloyal hands, their
skirts should be clear.
! THE LITTLE REBELLION.
Bills for the repeal of the Franchise Law were
early brought forward, and whispers rife about
| the Capitol that no new or amendatory law should
be passed AT length bill in lieu of all other bills
! on this subject was brought in by committee,
printed and lag for a0seks the table Of members
1t was then adopted by the House, and its passage
urged forward. Meantime another bill, more lib
erdL IN its provisions, substituted. Thirteen
hours discussion had, on the part of the minor
ty and tco hours the part of the friends Of the
! bill. The previous question was called Seditious
whispers had now broken into open threats Mem
bers of the minority took up their hats and canes
and left the Hail. while others sat still in their seats
and refused to vote. Invitations were sent to alb
sentng members to return, and falling their arrest
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 made that they would not
be part of quorum to aLLoU the passage Of the biU
The shadows of 81 fitted through the Capitol. Res
ignatons were handed in, and the act of secession
was calmly emphatically, and seditiously perform
ed and the House reduced below quorum.
These the simple unvarnished facts of the dit
tie rebellion" We have no point to argue with the
seeding members before the people of Tennessee
The FACT of their secession is stronger than any
gumeRt. Could there be better argument for the
elective franchise restricted to the friends of ORDER
than the secession of 1862 Betrayal of constituency
abandonment of right" sale of liberty" orsr-
Arow of republican Institutions" are strange words
to be heralded to the public as defense by men in
the act of aroing practical secession Is it mock
ing or idiotic laug hter ?
The immediate effects of all this upon the State
of Tennessee must be disastrous. Eight million
dollars worth of bonds for the benefit of our rail-
roads, are now upon the market. Will "Wall
street" be anxious to buy the bonds of disrupted
State Government? The convicts at the Penitenti-
airy are without food. No appropriation can be
made in absence Of quorum. The wheels of leg
islation are stopped, when the emigrant and the
capitalist are asking at the doors, permission to
open your river and your mines, and your school
houses, and your large pockets must find some fifty
thousand dollars for the expenses of this "lite re-
bellionW
We place the facts before the Union people of
Tennessee. They need no comments They blaze
in letters of fiery, consuming light. He who runs
may read. We have but one duty to perform, to
stand to the principles upon which elected.
" With malice to none and charity to ALL we hang
our banner on the outer wall, and inscrbe upon it,
UNCONDITIONAL UNION MEN SHALL RULE TEN
NEssEE."
Appended will be found copy of the Journal
exhibiting the condition of the House on the several
days. and the action of members and final with
drawal from the legislative body by manifesto on
the oath:
On Friday, February 10th, the Franchise Bill,
House bill No. 505) came up its third reading.