Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-09
Proclamation by the Governor,


eminent is again imperred in the State of Ten
nessee. The events Of the las, three weeks give
rise to serious apprehensons that large portion Of
our people have not sufficiently recovered from the
demoralzing effects of the late rebellion to enable
them to appreciate the blessings of paace-that
their passions have not sufficiently cooled to enable
them to avoid relapse into anarchy or military
rule.
small minority of twenty-one members of the
House of Representatives, by factious and revolu-
tonary proceedings, have succeeded in breaking up
the Legislature and paralyzing the Safe Govern
mcnt. ! characterize this conduct rs revolutionary,
because it was vioave of the spirit of the consti-
ta,ion and laws and arrested the machinery of the
State Government as efIectually 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 held 10 be 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 duty i'm
posed upon, this Legislature by the amended con-
stitution-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 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 1861
who transferred the State TO the Southern Confed-
eracy.
The preext for this legislative rebellion was n
proposition to discharge the duty imposed upon the
! Legislature by the ninth section of the schedule
to the amended constitution, which provides for
1.-THE limitation OF tue elective franchise by this
/ Legislature. There was nothing new or startling
in this measure. From the earliest inception of the
idea of recognizing a 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 a necessity, and was adopted
and rigidly executed In the election held on the
/ 22d Feb, 1865, upon the adoption of the amended
constitution, rebels were all DISTINGUISHED by an
oath which required every voter to swear that he
was 'an enemy of the so-caed Confederate
States The same course was pursued in the elcc-
ton for Governor, ant members of the General AS
scmbly, in March, 1865. The Military Governor
naturally believed that those who had wantOny
destroyed the Government were not the proper per.
sons to rebuild it, or TO administer il when re.
established. This policy aud principle of disfran-
,hisemcnt was feature OF the amended constitu
ton approved by the qualified votes Of the State
No SUBJECT mas Dttu more thoroughly ulSCu>SeC
aud understood by all classes for the last year. thar
this subject of DISTINGUISHING the disloyal. Severa
of the seeding members were also members of tht
convention which adopted it into the schedule, ant
sustained it before the people, and accepted Office
under il, aud are therefore esopped from denying
its binding force. All of them had been electeC
under a law or proclamation DISTINGUISHING rebels
: The pretense that the measure was sprung upoI
them suddenly is therefore most manesly a sub
off NJ ion
= The rcsiguiug members appeal to their constitu
cnts to sustain them, and most of them are an
nounccd MS candidates for reelection TO the place
, they have Just made vacant under pledge o
course, no lin 10 with lnw from their seats, alC
again TO break up the Legislature. This disclose
the whole plan of the conspiracy. They ask thei
constituents to approve their act and to send then
back TO repeat il. This will place their constitu
ents in the attitude of diSorganzers-coWmit then
to n rebellion against the State Government, anC
render futile any attempt to fill the vacancies by
wrs of election, rs the same routine would be re
, peated. The danger to the State is therefore i'm
mincnt. Should the civil government fail, tn
military authorities will take control of the State
and it is not likely that the General Governmen
: will, at m early day. permit people who will
have DISPLAYED such inCapaCity for seli-gOyernmen
to attempt another State organization. Nor is |
likely if the effort shuid be permitted, that the dif
icrent divisions Of the State will agree upon new
constitution, and dscord and separation ma.
follow
If the plan Of the seeding members, now 81
I manifested, is successful, many OF the importan
, laws already passed, including those comforting i'm
portant civil rights upon freedmen can never Z,
into effect. No appropriation bill can be passed
the Pcnitentiary, Lunatic Asylum and other Stat
institutions must be broken up and abandoned; anC
the interest nccruing ON the debts of the Stat
and all other expenses requiring an appropriation
must remain unpaid The credit of the State vii
be destroyed, aud the bonds of the State aread.
appropriated must he deprecated son to fail of thu
! objects of their issuance. Emigrants will shun {
State in such confusion and discredit and capita
will seek investment in more promising localities
and thus the brightest hopes OF the State will b
blighlcl.
Even IL The consprators should fail Of success
ncllcuable mischief has already been done to thu
State Eight millions of her bonds are soon &c