Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-04

law, more restrictive IL demanded, and 90
framed as TO place in the hands Of the Gov
crnor tina power to exclude evesy man who
will not vote the ticket favored by him.
They have another bill pcading, making
the State assume the payment Of all the
losses Of the Union men, By giving the
bonds of the State, payable in thirty years
with sir per cent interest, which 1t Is esti-
mated will create debt from twenty to fifty
millions Of dollars, and without any of the
guards and restrictions which are so neccs-
sary to protect the interests Of the State
against fraudulent claimants.
The adoption Of these two measures, If
carried into effect, will not only deprive you
of your most valued constitutional rights,
but must make your State bankrupt.
Other measures, Of a most pernicious char
acter, are pending before that body, which
cannot point out in such an address as this,
which will invove expenditures to an amount
heretofore unknown in this State, and a
taxation never dreamed Of by any of her
citizens.
The Government of Tennessee, az admin
istered by the present incumbents, is the
most detestable oligarchy of modern times,
and conducted without the least regard to
the cardinal principles upon which our free
institutions were originally based.
It's organization took place in time of war,
intended, no donbt honestly, to give aid to
the United States in the great struggle for
existence, and viii therefore furnish some
excuse for the Irregularities in getting it up,
and for its acts during the war; but that
any citizen, thus selected, after the war has
ended, should still persist in their usurpa-
lions, sticking TO the places assigned them,
and legislating against the known wishes of
such majority Of the people, exhibits an
ambition for office, a selfshness and hardi-
hood not often met with in civilized commu-
mites. To misrepresent any people, know
ingly, has been, heretofore, always consid-
cred degradation to which no man, having
proper self-respect, would submit Correct
principles, selfrespect, duty to the people as
well as themselves, should have induced
them, at the close of the war, to have sur
rendered their usurped, ill-gotten power, to
the people to whom it belonged, which would
have been followed by peace; harmony and
prosperity at home,
If such course could NOW be adopted,
and the act Of Acknowledgement repealed I;
and conciliatory course practiced by those
now in power, the State would be as peace
full and orderly rs at any other period in our
history. 1t is not to be expected that the
citizens will quietly submit to Re governed,
even wisely and justly by such a minority,
especially If obtained from military authori-
ty without their consent or getting control
of the State by legislative tricks and con-
trivances.
The acts Of our State Government say to
the world, that nineteen twentieths of our
people are traitors to their country, unfit for
selfgovernmer.t, and must be subjected to
that by the sword. 1t would seem but just
and proper that those who entertain such
sentiments, should abandon such traitorous
neighbors, and seek a home with more &C.
NAL spirits among the Yankees.
To be thus deprived Of the invaluable
right Of selfgovernment; to have such I'M
just burthens imposed on us, by men who
are not our representatives, would seem to
demand of us prompt and speedy action for
our own relief, as we'll as the suitable pun
ishment of those who have dared to usurp
. our rights. But the contest now going on
at Washington, between the President and
Congress, for the restoration of the States
and the rights of the people, and which
must be soon settled, as | confidently be-
lieve, in behalf of the latter, renders it pru-
dent, in my judgment, for us to be calm,
quiet and orderly, bearing and forbearing
much, so as to enable us to give efficient aid
to the President in his effort to preserve the
government as it was made by the great and
good men who framed our Constitution, aud
and to put down the infamous radical Con.
gress, who labor, day and night, to change
the constitution and overthrow the govern
ment transmitted to us by our venerated
/, ancestors. Changes, or alterations in the
constitution, by such fanatcal, unprincipled
par,izans as Stephens, Phillips, Brownlow,
&c, can result in no good to the people. /
prefer trusting my destiny and that of my
children to the pure and patriotic institutions
of Washington and his associates. We may,
however, do something, in the midst of
these troubles, to preserve the honor and in
tegrity of thd State from the ruthless hands
now controlling it. Each county can in
struct those claiming to represent them, and
demand compliance with the instructions
or a resignation. The right of instruction
has ever been held sacred in republican
government. IF they fail to obey ins,ruc-
tons, we can repudiate all they do, and the
time will soon come when appropriate pun
ishment can be imposed on the miserable
tools of party and faction. They may learn
lesson from the fate Of Haman, who cree
ted gallows for Mordecai, and washanged on
his own gallows; or from the fate of the
inventor of the gullotine, who was among