The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-28
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NASHVILLE UNION PRINTING CO.,
PUBLISHERS.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY IS, 1866.


In the discharge Of a duty incumbent
upon the Representative 10 render an &C
count Of the trust repOsed in him by the
BODY who have delegated authority to him,
we beg leave to submit to the people Of Ten
nessee, and to our immediate constituents,
the reasons which have controlled MS, as
members Of the present General Assembly
OF the State, in Withdrawing from lis delib-
erstiOns. Recognizing the serious charac-
ter Of the step we have taken, we protest
that the direct and immediate consequences
involve Us, in common with the great mass
of the people Of the State, and are there
fore pledge Of the rectitude Of the inten-
tions and motives which have governed US.
From it no special, local or personal adyan-
tage, immediate or prospective, inures to US,
or to any party or section with which we
are identified. On the contrary, we indi-
yidually might derive advantage by pur-
suing a different course.
70 do go, howeFe would be base be-
trayal Of our constituency, an abandonment
of right, sale Of liberty, and the overthrow
Of Republican institutions. To preserve
these we have not hesitated to take the
step which has led TO the present condition
of affairs in your General ASSEMBLY.
We presuppose, feilow-citizens, that you
have not been inattentiYe to the state Of af-
fairs ss they exist, or the events that have
vou are aware that there is now pending
before the House Of Representatives: "a
bill to amend the present franchise Law" !"
passed June 9th, 1865, the object Of which
Is TO limit and lessen the number Of quail
fed voters, as ascertained by that law; and
to lodge the control of this most important
political power in the hands of the Gov
ernor. II twill be remembered by you, .el-
low citizens, that under the schedule 70 the
amended Constitution, adopted on the 22d'
February, 1865, that the question of the
"qualificRtion of voters and limitation OF the
elective franchise" was deposited, so to
speak, with the fret Legislature which has
met since the adoption thereof tits there
fore claimed by some, and which many deny,
that whatever law is passed by this General
Assembly, becomes constitutional in its
character, and cannot be modified save IN
the manner pointed out by the Constitution
for its amendment. In view, then, Of the
probable permanent character of any law
passed, or to be passed by this General As
sembly, it became our solemn duty 10 see
that neither the rights Of the people were
abridged, or the Constitution violated.
Waving any expression just now as to the
want OF fairness, justice, and courtesy,
manifested by the majority of the House Of
! Representatives in their action TO cut of
debate, amendment or other proceeding Of
the undersigned, TO expose, perfect or de-
feat the bill, by legitimate parliamentary
steps, we proceed 10 state the merits of the
issue as they exist.
Early in the session the question Of the
amendment of the existing franchise law
was mooted, and the bills thereon referred
| to a special committee, who reported a bill
in lieG Of all others, which was so adopted.
| Pending the consideration thereof, on its
second reading, new bill was introduced
anu adopted in lieu of the committees, and
| this bill passed its second reading, and by
vote Of the House was made the special or
! der Of the next day. Pending its third
reading, and under the operation Of the
previous question, it was put upon its pas
| sage. A number of us felt it to be our duty,
s. your representatives., TO withdraw from
/ the deliberations of body which, under
the forms of law sought, in our opinion, 70
make sale Of the liberties Of the citizen, to
usurp the sovereignty OF the people, de-
| stroy the constitution, and change the form
! Of your government. We submit herewith
| the Bill as 1t now reads: