Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-20
1tninn and Smeritan.
SUNDAY. NAY 20. 1866.
a GOOD ADDRESS.

Among the very few men who take so
ber and well-studied view of the condition
Of affairs in our State, is Mr.. Frazier, the
able Senator from Knox District He hal
recently issued an address to the people Of
Tennessee, replete with good sense and
wholesome advice. We copy the address
below, and bespeak for it an attentive peru
sal:
FELLOW CITIZENS 1t may be thought
20 be presumptuous in me 70 address you.
Having never had any political notoriety in
the State, you may well ask what claims
have upon your attention, that i should
presume 10 offer my advice, or give my
opinion. / have only 10 answer that have,
with you a common interest in the peace,
and welfare, and prosperity of the country;
and that ! feel that possibly ! may be able
TO give some words Of warning, or point out
some mode Of action that might have ten
dency TO promote these desirable objects
The subject that / desire to speak Of at
this time Of heated party strife, is the recent
enactment which has lately been enforced
upO.' 'Le country by the present majority
IN the Legislature, known .ha franchise
law" | am one Of this body, and during
the pendency of that bill before the Senate,
everted all my influence to prevent its pas
sage, believing as | did that it was not pro-
perly rejecting the will Of the majority of
the true and loyal men of the State and that
It was in direct violation of the Constitution
and subversive Of our republican form Of
government. 1t has, however, in despite Of
all remonstrancc, passed our body according
% all the prescribed rules laid down in the
Constitution, and is now the law Of the land,
and must so remain until it is pronounced
otherwise by the Supreme Court of the State,
or is repealed by the people. There is how
ever a deep and settled hostility 10 the ex-
ecution of this measure throughout the State,
not only by that class its provisions exclude
from the ballot-box, but amongst, perhaps
a large majority of those it will admit to its
privilege. This opposition should not de-
generate into disobedience and violent re-
sistance to its requirements. This will only
give a pretext to its advocates to enforce its
restrictions with greater severity, and afford
them an argument in favor Of more radical
measures.
The law, in all its provisions and aspects,
Is SO much at variance with all precedent,
and so great a departure from the principles
of repubicanism, and 50 repulsive to all the
more generous impulses Of the human heart,
that il cannot remain long on our statute
books. Its own present and most strenuous
sdyocates will become ashamed Of it and will
submit to its repeal, or will abandon it as
useless in a few years, if its opponents every
where will only remain quiet, and will not
attempt to resist it by violent means.
Ours is a government of constitutional
law, and although under the excitement of
passion or prejudice, and partly drill legis-
latiye bodies may be at times driven to enact
mwise and injurious ordinances, yet the
sober sense and calmer judgement Of the
real people will, in time, when the heated,
contest is passed, correct the wrong and re-
store the right. So it will be in this instance,
if the ardent and imprudent oppo'ers of this
measure do not stir up the people TO violent
resistance. Therefore, ! hope no opposition
will be made 10 the execution of the law
that is not in strict conformity TO law. In
COVE nment like Curs, there nj only two
modes by which We can lawfully get rid of
obnoxious or unconstitutional enactments.
The one is through the ballot box, and the
other Is by an appeal 10 the Supreme Court
Of the State Both these modes are within
your reach, and are peaceful and lawful.
But some will say this law is framed pur-
poscly 10 defeat resort TO the ballot box;
that il may be 50 administered that none
but the friends of the measure will be per-
mitted to vote; and therefore il should be
disregardcd and resisted But think this
is taking an exaggerated view of its provi-
si0ns The law with its restrictions, will
perhaps let in not less than sixty or seventy
thousand voters, and with this number of
freedmen we may confidently rely, if the
proper efforts are made to enforce all its
delormities before the people, that it will be
repealed by an overwhelming majority.
This law cannot, in any sensible construction
of the Constitution, be considered part of
that instrument las some of its friends con-
teud) Ii is only temporary provision
authorized by the schedule 10 meet tempo
rary emergency, and can, in no sense, be
deemed irrevocabie by the same power that
made it. We, therefore, have this mode Of
redress, and il we do our whole duty, and
avoid extreme and hasty resistance, there
Is no fear that this law will long disgrace
our statute books.
am aware that some of its provisions are
exceedingly repulsive TO the sensibilities of
the masses of the Union people, particularly
of my own portion of the State; and none
more so than the eth section, which, il is
believed, was intended 10 provide for the
NbAf VI Allt llABNb N'AhAfAN. N'hlN NAF "
those who are 20 much averse TO this pro-
vision, that whether the friends of negro
suffrage intended that this provision should
be so construed or not, it still remains 10 be
seen whether in the execution Of the law,
il viii be so insisted upon and carried out;
and that If IL is 50 construed that we will be
compelled to submit to it, A. resistance TO
It's requirements can affect no good and
might be the means of inhicting upon us the
calamity of n standing army of colored
troops Therefore, | hopc that the people
East Tennessee, whatever their opposition
NAV hc, will see the great necessity Of quiet
ly obeying the law, while It remains upon
the statute books, aud give no room for our
opponents and enemies abroad 20 charge ms
with disloyalty or disobedience.
Every public demonstration that we make
in opposition TO the ianaticism Of the Radical
party, both in our own State and in Congress,
should be strictly in obedience TO law, and
in peaceful and orderly way, so as to con-
vince them that we are determined to main
tain the dignity the law, let them be ever
so repugnant to our wish and will; and if it
Is the determination of that party TO force
upon Us Eegro suffrage with all its evils with
them be the wrong and folly, and not with
us.
FALSE CAINFs-INSTA ABILITY OF SAW