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

II is my painful duty to announce that civil gov
eminent is again imperriled in the State of Ten
nessee. The events of the last three weeks give
rise to serious apprehensons 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 n relapse into anarchy or military
rule.
a small minority Of twenty-one members of the
House Of Representatives, by factious and revolu-
tionary proceedings have succeeded in breaking up
the Legislature and paralyzing the State Govern
ment. | characterize this conduct as revolutionary,
because 1t was voative Of the spirit Of the consti-
taton and laws, and arrested the machinery of the
State Government as effectuay as il the same had
been done by force of arms.
They have been able, under the construction of
parliamentary law which prevailed in the Honse
to 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 q duty i'm
posed upon, this Legislature by the amended con-
stituon--they either withdrew from their seats or
remained and refused to answer to their names
when called, the Speaker holding that member in
his scat refusing TO answer, not present SO as
TO be counted as part Of quorum. After worry
ing the majority in this way for several weeks, and
after the consultations of the Convention of the
32d 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 1851
who transferred the State to the Southern Confed
eracy.
The pretext for this legislative rebellion was
proposition TO discharge the duty imposed upon the
Legislature by the ninth section of the schedule
TO the amended constitution, which provides fol
"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 State Government, upon 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 Il necessity, and was adopted
and rigidly executed. In the election held on tn,
22d Feb, 1855, upon the adoption of the amended
constitution rebels were all DISTINGUISHED By al
oath which required every voter TO swear that ht
was ian enemy of tho so-caled Confederate
States" The same course was pursued in the elec
ton for Governor, and members of the General As
sembly in March, 1865. The Military Governor
naturally believed that those who had wantonl,
destroyed the Government were not the proper per
sons to rebuild il, or to administer il when re
established. This policy and principle of dsfran
chisement was feature of the amended constitu
tion approved 10y the qualified voters of the State
No subject has been more thoroughly discusset
and understood by all classes for the last year. thar
this subject of DISTINGUISHING the disloya Severa
Of the seeding members were also members of tn
convention which adopted it into the schedule, an,
sustained it before the people, and accepted ofiic
under il, aud are therefore estopped from denying
its binding force. All of them bad been eecteC
under law or proclamation DISTINGUISHING rebels
The pretense that the measure was sprung upoI
them suddenly, is therefore most maniiestly n sub
terfnge to cover up the attempt at Reorganization
The resiguing members appeal to their constitu
ents TO sustain lhem and most of them are an
nounced ms candidates for reelection to the place
they have just made vacant under pledge, O
course, again 10 withdraw from their seats an
again TO break up the Legislature This disclose
tue whole plan of the conspiracy. They ask thei
constituents to approve their act, mud To send then