Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-27

sTEFE NEXT CASE
Hardly had the Legislature finished its |
consideration of the subject of negro testi-
mony. before a member Of the House pro-
posed bill upon the subject Of SUI
frage. That member had signalized his
devotion to the interests Of the people BY
most continuous snd powerful effort 70 dis
franchise everybody in the State who would
not vote his sentiments Evidently CON
WINGED that this course " would not pay,T ne
magranirnously comes forward with prop
osition 10 confer the right Of voting upoE
eus,s5ody, women, babies and all. In this
he affords a good illustration Of the old
proverb that all opposing extremes are
but slenderiy separated. The step from
one to the other is a remarkably short
one, and is generally inevitable. The
reason lies upon the surface and can be seen
by the most obiuse. Extremes usually lead
to such fatal results that those who pursue
them reach such absurd and dangerous posi-
tions, that they can see no other escape than
getting as far away from them as possible.
The fact is presented every day to the COM
mon observation, and occurs wherever ex-
treme viewsupon any subject takes possession
of the human mind A gentleman, for ex-
ample, incapable Of dealing with the practl-
caIities Of life, but steadily pursuing some
phantom Of his individual brain, will think
to-day that the good of society requires the
utmost restrictions upon popular sufierage IN
conducting public affairs. But seeing the in
justice and absurdity Of thisline of action he
will on tomorrow 'goin" as madly for suffrage
strictly and thoroughly universal. There
are some persons, accidentally placed in the
position Of Legislators for the people of this
State, whose minds are precisely Of this
stamp. II is a sort of disease compounded
Of quality commonly called genius and
idocy. The unfortunate victims of this dis
ease are more to be pitied than blamed.
Hence, we have not the slightest disposition
to abuse, or upbraid, or otherwise contribute
TO the witches hell-broth represented by the
mind of that person who is designated in
our Legislative reports as ARSELL.
Bot Il Is time that those facultieswhich God
hss decreed shall predominant in the control
Of human affairs should be aroused and as
serted. Werefer TO those temperate, just, sober,
reasoning faculties that have been success
fully invoked throughout all time, to ex-
| tricate individuals and nations from dangers
and difficulties. Cannot majority of the
members of the Tennessee Senate and Ten
nessee House Of Representatives summe
enough of true wisdom, and if not from their
own endowments, borrow enough, TO con-
slider calmly, dispassionately, and saga
ciously the requirements of the times
What do they expect TO accomplish by per
petuating, or making more stringent the
laws disfranchiaing "more than two
thirds Of the white men" Of Tennessee
Can they cast the horoscope of the
grand future Of their God-fayored State
| in all its splendid development, and see
any advantage to accrue from the subyersion
Of public liberty Do they expect for all
time to come, that they and their immediate
posterity are to be the exclusive heirs Of the
power and the talent the courage and the
patriotism of Tennessee Are they merely
living for themselves and for four dollars PEI
day, postage stamps, stationery and mileag'
addedg Can they not rise to the dignity o
treating great questions in dignifed man
ner? There is no danger, but both honol
and safety in this course. We mean public
safety, for there is no other sort ofdanger that
we know Of The Governor is unneces-
sarily alarmed when he apprehends
violence either 10 himself or the members
| of the Legislature in the absence Of military
authority. If the rebels" had not been
earnest and honest in their submission to
the constitution and laws of the country
they would most probably have shown il in
different way than in going to peaceful
occupations. But this is in parentbesis.
five had it in our power we would oblit-
crate all past disaereeable records in the
State, and meet ON the elevated ground OF
mutual peace and forgiveness. We would
not transmit to our children the bitter
ness of past strife. We would bring
the so-called "loyalist" and the So
called "rebel" to an interchange OF
greetings, and averting all eyes from the
past, turn earnestly and hopefully to the fu-
ture. In this way all that is lost can be re-
trieved--all that is to be hoped for can be
realized. We would restore Tennessee, at
least, to the high road to social peace and
material prosperity. We submit If such a
contamination is not most devoutly to be
wished? IL il is not worthy the united effort
Of all her people whether occupying the
public or the private station?