Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-07-27
NOT EASILY ANSWERED.


settle in Tennessee, requests us to
inform him whom and how our polii-
zeal tsoubles in this State, are to be
adjusted upon the basis of harmony
End freedom. We acknowledge our
inoompetency to answer question
which embraces in its scope the
whole theory of free government,
constitutional Law, the complications
growing out Of supposed military
nsosssity and the ability Of our con.
.tsmptible tyrants to prolong their
rule BY means Of the agencies al
ready employed. .s'7s.s o71 %
But, however difkcult of solution
The problem may Be, there are few
who have not seriously considered
n, with the hope of finding some
feasible way out Of the labarynth Of
despotic acts in which the rights and
liberties Of the people are most dan
gerously entangled. That solution
of TIE question will DO found, in the
course Of few months, there can
be NO doubt, unless il be true, that
the people are willing slaves to a
handful Of masters, or that the Fed
iersl Goternment will intervene to
prevent peaceable adjustment Of
domestic troubles. This last sup
position, however, can not be enter
tanned, nov that Tennessee ia State
in the Union, and the first would he
an insult to the gallant men who
have won for their State reputa.
ton, second to none, for all that is
brave, generous and patriotic. Then,
however great the difficulties inter
posed by the 6endish agents Of q
miniature despotism, they must give
way before the firm, concentrated
action of such people, Whenever il
itis apparent that tho time for action
has come. 49,, 81. e. a...
ls The remedy for existing evils is,
even now, in the hands of the courts
and if applied, promptly, the consti-
"HH
tuition can be indicated, at once,
and the rights Of the people restored
Unless he is willing to sacrifice char.
acter, conscience and justice upon
the altar of party, no competent
Judge will hesitate to decide that nc
man can be lawfully deprived of hi
rights and privileges without beint
first tried and convicted. This prin
ciple is engrafted upon ahe Consti
tuition Of the United States, ant
even were it otherwise declared, il
the organic law of this State, ever,
honest and faithful Judge woul'
still be bound by oath, to uphol'
this principle, as vital to the right
of the citizen--as an indispensable
security for all that man holds mos
dear under a government of consti
.utional limitations. And since i
can not be denied that disfranchise
'ment Is punishment without tria
and conviction, and is also er POI
facto, in il operation, no conscien
.ious Judge cap decide it to be 9th
erwise than unconstitutional, and
therefore, nugatory. Were the PEG
pie reinstated in their rights by sue
righteous decision, of Courts O
competent jurisdiction, our politica
troubles would speedily give place :
reign of justice and peace, attend
cd by that prosperity and progress
which are the sure concomitants O
Boou government.
But, should the Courts prove a
corrupt as the Governor and Lcgis
lature, there is yet one other mod
of redress sanctioned by, at least
the forms of law, and that mode i
the ballot-box. II, under the regis
try law, enough of conservative yo
tiers can be enrolled to hurl the rad
iral tyrants from power, the govern
mcnt can gradually be elevated to it
former standard of well regulate,
liberty. But whether such a numbe
of voters can be secured, must de
pend upon the zeal and frmnes
with which the privileged few pres
their claims upon Brownlow's Com
missioners. The mysterious disap
pearance of the poll books. in sew
eral counties, and the vicious char
ter Of most of Brownlow's appoin
tees indicate very clearly, that de.
perate effort will DO made to limit tn
right Of suffrage to those only VIII
viii exercise it for the purpose {
prolonging the rule of heartles
senseless and unprincipled clique
AL l,,,.lass ayar., man y,bn x,ataJ