The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-03-09

franchise law, tnht NOulu posblpAy w uVuio
shadow Of pretext ! dent know what the
bill is, nor do | know anything about the
discussion; but | do know something about
the effect upon the country THAI this move
will have. Here you are, inviting cmigra-
ton to your State. You are poor. The ar
my has been here four years the country
has been laid waste we are all made poor.
What do We needR We have the best State
10 the Union. We have more natural advan-
tages than any State In the Union. We
have better water power, more minrrals.-
What we need Is labor and capital here
! (Applause.l We cannot develop its resources
without tlrse. We are all poor n need tue
assistance Of the Legislature 70 MD in this
great public good. At n juneturc when we
are relying upon the exercise Of wisdom and
craftsmanship, n faction Of The House OF the
General Assembly pursnes a course that must
il persisted In, result in the destruction OF
good order in society.
When the emigrant lands upon our shores
In New York, he is greeted by the news OF this
revolutionary movment Of the conduct OF
members Of a Legislative body so utterly nn-
| dignifed and unworthy Of men, that lie will
10 al probability seek other States for q
peaceful and preitabIe home.
Is it possible that members Of the Legisb
lature Of a State will seek to thwart the
will Of the majority What a lesson to the
| friends Of free institutional viii men of
sense bring capital 10 a State scourged by
such conducts Woo IA an 80
The present and future generations will
| feel the effects Of such 4 course. Our grand
| children will feel the influence. All portions
| of the community, all classes OF business men
must sniIer. We will lock up the thousands
and millions Of dollars that is within our
grasp, that a few days OF proper Legislation
would develop and secure. This Is all money
| We should stand by the Governor of the State,
and preserve II intact. II the measures ofthe
majority arc wrong, the minority will be vim
Gated by the people, and the majority will be
condemned. We cannot disregard a plain
duty 10 ourselves for mere party purposes
Trust all action 10 the censorship OF those
that sent forth their representa- ives to do
their duty.
| hope the members who have been refrac-
tory will excuse me for the suggestions that
it viii be better for You to stand to your posts
and vote against anything you believe 10 be
wrong. Such a course would honor the State.
But, gentlemen, this policy Of revolution
when ysu come to look ut It, is a dangerous
one. Gentlemen have said here that all Is
peace, and with q full knowledge that there
was a party that had bid defiance to the ma
jority and undertook TO stop the wheels Of
legislation. Mr.. Maynard stated the facts
when he said that the press was full OF sedi-
tons sentiments. see the papers in WASH
ington. They come from different places la
dened with seditiOus language and abuse OF
Union men and Union soldiers. 1t is all
wrong. As sure as the SIM rises and sets they
will never admit their members in Congress
until their papcrs exhibit a different tone
TApplaute.l The Legislature of the State Of
Georgia came square ont and gave one hun
dred and 6ny- two votes for the Vice PreSi-
dent OF the Southern COufederacy, who has
not been pardoned but Is on parole, and Her
schel V. johnson, who had been a Senator
in the Richmond Congress, for U. !. Senators
II is an insult to the Union men Of the nation.
Applause.1 These things have kept our
members out Of Congress. What all tbs
wrangling 10 your Legislature mar dove can
not tell. know that even Thsd stevens,
and others OF that school tina. II there was
nothing behind Tennessee, Tor members would
be admitted immediately. Arkansas Is IN
better condition than any ofthe Cotton States
but the other day, when they had started
n meeting much like the one here to day,
Ger. Sherman happened TO be passing through
the State, and he told them they were in a
bad business that they had better go houe
and 70 to work, and not Dc dabolihg In pol
itics. GApplRuse. TftqE
Your State Government some say Is the
most tyrAnicai usurpation in existence why,
did not majorties rule beiore2 have sery-
ed three terms in the Legislature. In 1880
there was a disunion convention 10 this city,
and Rhett and Yancey, and others were here,
and Gov. ShAtkey presided, but as soon as he
found ont The sentiments Of the meeting be
washed his hands Of 1t. The next Legisla-
ture came on and we attempted TO express
our sentiments on the question Of secession,
and that party bolted, with JO Guild at its
head. In 1855 they bolied in the Senate
Mniorities have ruled before. have heard
men denounce Andrew johnson in just rs Bit
ter terms as they denouce Gov. Brownlow.-
The Governor mny have erred in some things;
il so, what advantage is TO be gained by max
ing an everlasting war upon the Legislature
and Governor Of the State. But they say we
want the army away. Let me tell yoG Pres
ident Johnson aud Geuera, Grant will not
withdraw The army from any State until the
people Of the country demonstrate that they
are loyal and peaeeable. You can FIX the
time now rs we'll as yon can at any other
time. Whenever you get right tue army will
be withdrawn but not Till then. We judge
the tree by the fruit it bears. ! have heard
that the law complained Of Is the Franchise
law. Where Is the wrong. It docs not take
one cent out Of the pocket Of any citizen. In
the canvass Of 1865 for Congress lsaid II was
right, aud so help me God, | have seen moth.
ing since to change myviewofit. Applause.
What has this law dOno7 The man has dis
franehised himself lie did the work him.
self. He went awey from here and turned
his back upon the Government, and disfran-
chised himself, and all this Legislature has
done 10 10 declare that man has told the
truth. [Applauss1 Is not that right
Where Is the rebel to-day, that can come for
ward and say, a. an honest man, that
those who saved the country should not be
the men 2 The President has said that they
should take the back seats, and am for that.
| have been fooled once, and don't want 10
be again. The loyal people Of Tennessee
ought 10 control the Government, they are
entitled 10 do SOFT Is their right. They have
acted wisely In what they have done. Who