The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-12
TENNESSEE.
The Passage Of the Franchise Bil---speeeh from
Gov. BrOWnlow.
NASHVILLE, Friday, May 4.

NASHVILLE, Friday, May 4.
Last night the Radical members OF
both branches of the Legislature repair
ed to the residence of the Secretary OF
the State, to exchange congratulations
over the passage Of the Franchise Bill
Gov. Brownlow was loudly called for.
He appeared, and spoke as follows:
I" I am in no condition, physically, for
speaking as you are aware, and as l
know it is principles that you look for,
I shall define my position unmistake
ably, without any effort at oratory.
The passage of the Franchise Bill by the
Senate, to-day, is doubtless the cause
of your assembling here. I congratu
late you and the country on the passage
of that measure, by more than two
thirds vote, in the Senate. The law
imposes upon me the responsible task
of Commissioning men for each county,
to register voters and carry out the
provisions of the law. l shall endeav-
or to select men who are unquestionably
loyal, determined, brave and incorrup-
tible, for I may not disguise the fact
that Nashville and Memphis will not
scruple to raise large sums of money to
bride the registering officers. But a
short time since | was visited by a
Tennessee officer in an Arkansas rebel
regiment, who told me that the rebels
had no right to complain of the Fran
chise Bill; that he submitted cheerfully,
and it was within his personal knowl
edge that, if the confederates achieved
their independence, it was their purpose
to disfranchise every Union man i'll the
t. =. II = o
DISTINGUISHING rebels being a radical
measure, inaugarated by Sumner and
Stephens, at Washington. 1t is the
time-honored doctrine and practice of
the fathers of the Revolution, who, at
the close of the eventful struggle, dis
franchised the Tories of that day, who
answer to the rebels of our day. Loud
cheering. My recollection of the his
tory of those times is that both signed
bills DISTINGUISHING tories. The same
was done, if mistake not, by the Leg
islatures of Virginia and North Carolina,
and even South Carolina. Upon this
platform, however, for the first time
since the rebellion was begun, we have
all got Observation-Disclosures, Conserva-
tives, Copperheads, weakened Union
men and rebels We Radicals are all
for the Franchise Law the other classes
named are all for johnson. 1t is not to
be presumed that any would be for
johnson who are not for his doctrines,
and we know that he inaugurated the
doctrine in Tennessee of DISTINGUISHING
rebels. Among his last utterances be-
fore he left here, some thirteen months
ago, he declared that if there were but
five thousand loyal men in Tennessee
they should CONTROL the State and all
the time that this measure has been
pending, he has been represented, by
those who have had frequent interviews
with him, as wanting the Legislature
to hurry up the Franchise law. We
are, therefore, upon his platform, and
hope to present not only five thousand,
but ten times five thousand, loyal Union
men to govern the State. Let us, then,
one and all, keep our stand upon the
Presidents platform Of governing the
State with loyal men, making treason
odious and furnishing traitors. Upon
this platform / took my stand long
since, and here still stand, and upon
this l intend to fight it out, not only
all Summer, but if it takes up the re-
mainder of my natural life. In this I
am encouraged, knowing that all good
and true men at home stand by me, and
all good and true men abroad, including
the most talented, patriotic and loyal
Congress which ever assembled in
Warrington. loud cheers. One word
to the large number of the members of
the Legislature who surround me and
am done. Your action, in the loyal
States, is looked to with as deep an in
terest as the action of Congress. You
have acted noble part in expellino
from your body the boilers, disorgani-
sers and rebels. Follow up the good
work you have commenced, BY the pas
sage of all necessary measures, and You
will have the approval of your consti-
tuents, of all good men abroad, and of
your own conscience"
The Governor then retired amid loud
cheering. Speeches were made by va
nous others present, and the meeting
did not break up until midnight.