Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-16
Proclamation by the Governor.

eminent is again mperriled in the State of Ten
nessee. The events OF TIE last three weeks give
rise to serious apprehensoas that large portion of
our people have not sufficiently recovered from the
demoralizing effects of the late rebellion to enable
them to appreciate the blessings OF peace-that
their passions have not sufficiently cooled to enable
them to avoid a relapse into anarchy or military
rule
a small minority of twenty-one members of the
House Of Representatives, by faclious and revolu-
tionary proceedings have succeeded IN breaking up
the Legislature and paralyzng the State Govern
ment ] characterize this conduct as revolutionary
because il was volative of the spirit of the consti-
tation and laws, and arrested the machinery of the
State Government as efectually as if the same had
been done by force of arms.
They have been able, under the construction of
parliamentary law which prevailed in the Honse
10 reduce it below what was held TO be a 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 important measure of State policy was
proposed-a measure referred to, and u duty i'm
posed upon, this Legislature by the amended con-
Stituton-they either withdrew from their seats or
remained and refused to answer to their names
when called, the Speaker holding that member in
his seat refusing to answer, was not present so as
TO be counted as part ola quorum. After worry
ing the majority in this way for several weeks, and
after the consultations of the Convention Of the
22d February, they have publicly announced their
secession from the Legislature, through the news
papers, in document that will not fail to remind
its readers Of the address of the Legislature of
who transferred the State 10 the Southern Confed
eracy.
The preteXt for this legislative rebellion was n
proposition to discharge the duty imposed upon the
Legislature by the ninth section CT the schedu.c
TO the amended constitution, which provides for
"the Limitation of the elective franchise by this
Legislature. There was nothing new or startling
in this measure. From the earliest inception of the
idea of recognizing n State Government upou the
ruins of the rebellion the policy of DISTINGUISHING
those who had lately destroyed the State Govern
ment, and attempted to destroy the National Gov
eminent was deemed a necessity and was adopted
and rgdly executed. In the election held on the
22d Feb, 1863, upon the adoption of the amended
constitution, rebels were all DISTINGUISHED by an
cath which required every voter to swear that he
was 'an enemy of the so-callcd Confederate
States" The same course was pursued in the cleo
ton for Governor ana members of the General As
semhly, in March, 1869 The Military Governor
naturally believed that those who had wantonly
destroyed the Government were not the proper per-
sons to rebuild il, TO administer it when re-
established This policy aud principle of disfran-
ohisement was a feature Of the amended constitu-
tion approved by the qualified voters of the State
No subject has been more thoroughly discussed
this subject Of DISTINGUISHING the dsloyal Several
Of the seeding members were also members Of the
convention which adopted it into the schedule. and
sustained it before the people, and accepted Office
under il, and are therefore cstoppcd from DENYING
its binding force All Of them had been elected
under "A law or proclamation DISTINGUISHING rebels
The prctensc that the measure was sprung upon
them suddenly, is therefore most mnnlestly a sub
terfuge TO cover up the attempt ut Reorganization.
The resguing members appeal TO their const.tu-
cnts 10 sustain them, and most of them are an.
nounccd candidates for reelection TO the places
they have just made vacant under q. pledge, OF
course, again 10 withdraw from their seats and
again TO break up the Legislature. This dscloses
the whole plan OF the conspiracy. They ask their
constituents to approve their act and to send them
back to repeat it, This will place their consritu-
ents in the attitude of sorglnzcrs-commit them
10 n rebellion against the State Government and
render futile any attempt to IN HE vacancies by
writs OF election, rs the same routine would he re
peatcd, The danger to the State is therefore i'm
mncnt should the civil government fail, the
military authorities will take control of the State
and II is not likely thdt the General Government
will, at an carly day. permit people who will
have displayed such incamcity for selEgovcrnmcnt
10 attempt another State organiIliinn Nor is il
likely, If the effort Shull be permitted that the dit
ferent divisions of the State will agree upon A new
constitutions and disculd and separation NAV
follow.
II the plan of the seeding members. now so
manifested, is successful many OF the important
laws already passed, including those confcrrinl i'm
portant civil rights upon freedmen can never 90
into effect No appropriation bill can he passed
the Pcnlcntary, Lunalic Asylum AND other State
institutions must lie broken mp and abandoned; and
the interest aocruing on the debts of the State
ana all other excuses requiring an APPROPRIATION
mast remain unpaid, The credit of the State will
be destroyed and the bonds of the State already
appropriated must be deprecated, 50 ms to Gil of the
objects OF their Issuance. Emigmnts will shun a
State in such confusion and discrclit. and cpnital
will seek investment in more promising localities
and thus the brightest hopes Of the State VIII he
blightcd.
Even II the conSpiraors should fail of success
inctlcuahlc mischief has already been done 10 the
state Eight millions at her bonds nee soon 10
be thrown upon the market. The ruinous Gpure.
citation az her credit consequent upon a d.oruanzrl
condition of Stte, milicls deep injury. not only
upon the houdholtcls, but upon our works of in
torhal improvement dependent now upon a sale Of
our bonds To cnaulc them TO rc,iy, their opcra.
tons.