Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-31

of Union members Of the Legislature, on
the 9th Of January, 1866, the following
memorials were read and considered, and
unanimously approved and adopted.
\. LOWERING, Chairman pro tenn.
EDWARD MAYNARD, Chairman.
MEMORIAL TO THE COMMITTEE ON RECON
STBUCTION.
NASHVILLE Tenn, Jan. 9, 1866
To the Honorable Congressional Committee Re-
construction:
The undersigned. constituting a large
majority Of the State Central Committee of
the Union party of Tennessee, being all
who could be present, beg leave to cOmmu-
nicate to you their views Of the present
political and social condition of their State
and their antcipatons as to future results
from hat condition.
The vast powers conferred upon you, so
vitally affecting ourselves and our posterity,
we feel to be a sufficient warrant for this
liberty on our part
Our statistics show that in the spring of
1861, about 10000 Of the voters Of Tennes-
see made up their minds to adhere TO the
flag of their country in spite of the tornado
of treason that swept the State and carried
IT INTO the vortex Of rebellion. They con-
Atitutcd less than onc-third of the voting
population OF the State, and far less of its
wealth and political influence. Surrounded
on all sides by rebel population; suffering
every conceivable outrage in person and
property; hanged on the gallows: shot by
an inturiate soldicry; cast into many pri-
eoHs: mercilcssly cOnscrptcd, and hunted
like wild beasts and murdered in our places
of Concealment; our numbers have been
reduced but the survivors of US have kept
the vows made upon the altar Of patriotism
five years ago. More than twenty five
thousand of our numbers leaving their
homes and families to be pillaged and
abused Atraveling through mountains or
swamps by night and hiding in thickets
by day 10 evade pursuing and murderOus
enemy, escaped to the Federal lines, and
without bounty or other inducements, en-
rolled themselves as Union soldiers. They
have returned to their homes from a gallant
and bloody service to find, in many in
stances their houses in ashes, their property
gone. and their families abused insulted
and outraged. And it must be added, that
in many instances these victorious heroes
of the national cause are not permitted to
remain at their homes in peace, or, if per-
mitted, they are crippled in business and
politically and socially out-lawed.
The designs ofthe great secession majority
of Tennessee may have been changed by
the events of the war, and 50 may have
been their opinions of their own strength
and Of the strength Of the Government, but
unless your mcmoriaIists greatly misunder-
stand them, their sentiments, sympathies
and passions remain unchanged They
welcome peace because they are disabled
from making war; they submit because
they can no longer resist; they accept re
suits they cannot reject, and profess loyalty
because they have 4 halter around their
nccks. They recognise the abolition Of
slavery because they see 1t before them as
fact. but they say it was accomplished by
gross violations Of the Constitution-that
the negro is free only in fact but not in law
or OF right
Less than a year ago the Provisional
Governor, representing the military power
OF the President, and recognizing the right
Of the loyal people togOvern the State, set
on foot a civil government founded upon
the basis OF the loyal population-his
tayoritc policy. The plan Of a popular con-
ventiOn and 4 submission to a popular vote
Of the loyal people was adopted, and the
former Constitution and laws were restored
without the institution of slavery. Whether
we regard 1t as our former State Govern
ment restored, or as new Government
given TO Us by the power OF the nation Is
immateraL as 1t has been compelled at
every step to lean upon the strong arm OF
the national authority for support. The
action OF the convention was submitted TO
the votes Of the loyal people and by means
of the strong will Of the Military Governor
and 4 rigid test oath, and because the cleo
ton was not recognized by the disloyal, it
was nearly unanimously adopted, securing
over 10000 votes, many Of the Union men
being in the rebel lines at the time
Under the Government thus adopted. and
by means OF the same test oath, a Governor
and Legislature were elected. by i general
ticket, on the Sd Of March last. The lcgis-
lature assembled in April, and proceeded to
inaugurate the Governor elect, and to elect
state Objects 10 tSIdbl>n Il revenue. to