Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-11-15

in any contingency, comes from a
! lingering sentiment OF disloyalty
| in the South" 81
In all the States lately in rebel
lion, except Tennessee, the rebels
have been fully restored to the
rights of the elective franchise"
and, even in our own State, under
a somewhat stringent suffrage law,
a large number of disloyal persons
are unavoidably allowed to vote.
Whether the time has come when
it is "proper and right" to confer
the ballot upon the colored man,
or whether that time is approach
ing at which that sacred right shall
accrue to him, are questions de-
handing your earnest considera-
ton and final decision.
The admirers and followers of
the President cannot, with any
show of consistency. oppose the
enfranchisement of the negro.
In an authorized and approved
statement of his opinions, made
public by his direction, long since
his accession to the Presidency,
he declares that if he were sin
Tennessee he would endeavCr to
introduce negro suffrage" He de-
clares that he would begin with
three classes of negroes to be ad-
mitted to vote at once, "Those
who had served in the army; those
who could read and write; and
those having property qualifca-
ton of 5000 or $3.50"
Thus, by a system not very
gradual, he desired to extend the
privilege to the entire race.
If what is termed the Radical
party in the Legislature shall agree
with the President and his follow
ers on the question of negro suf-
frage, it would seem that an excel
lent opportunity for agreement and
Cancellation on a veXed question
will be presented, and that the ne
gro may be enfranchised with una
nimity.
As for myself, while have con-
fessed to ideas of caste, resulting
from education and lifelong habits,
| am free to say that l desire to act
in harmony with the great body
of the loyal people of the Union.
l think we should not, without
great and controlling reasons, sew
er ourselves from that great ma
tional party whose wisdom and
courage saved the life of the ma
ton, and rescued the loyal people
of Tennessee from the hands of
the oppressor.
The franchise law, passed on
the Sd of May last, is not yet fully
in operation. Registers have
been appointed in all of the coun-
ties of the State, but many of
them have not completed their la
bors and made their reports.
AS fast as they have done SOL.
have ordered elections in compli-
ance with the provisions of the
law. | am happy to state that the
Registers have been generally
faithful and firm in the discharge
of their important duty.
Except in the city of Nashville,
the late special elections seem to
have been held substantially in ac-
cordance with the law. In this
city, l am informed that but few of
the Judges and Clerks of the munic-
ipal election, or of the successful can
didates for the principal offices,
complied with the law by taking
the important oath set forth in the
Sd section. 1t will be your duty
to provide remedy for similar vio-
lations of the law in the future.
You are fresh from your constit-
uents, and have had better oppor-
tunities than have had to observe
the operations of the law. AS
your session progresses, you will
learn still more of its workings
AS no future Legislature can act
upon this vital subject, it will be
your duty to perfect the law with
the utmost care. This law was
passed not from vindictiveor malev-
olent motives, but in selfdefence to
protect the loyal people from op-
preston and the State from misrule. |
The spirit and genius of repub-
lican institutions demand that ev-
cry citizen should be allowed to
vote who may do SO consistently
with the safety of the Govern
ment. If there be classes disfran-
chised by the present law, who
are worthy of the nrivilaua Won