The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-11-16

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dent cann.t with any show of consistency
oppose the enfranehispment of the negro.
Ia an. authorized and approved abatement
Of bis opinions, made pubIic by lis discre-
ton, long sinee bis aseendencY 20 The Presi-
dspey Ae debates that if he were ,;in Tens
neSsee he would endeayor TO introduce negro
suffrage He declares that he wo, ID begin
with three classes Of negroes tO be admitted
to vote at once. Those who had served in
the army; those who could read and write
and those having property qualification OF
$500 or S25OP f 81 IS th--g-f
Thus hy A.system not very gradual, he de-
sired to extend the privilege to the entire
race. ,-.... ......... ....,
II what Is termed the Radical party in the
Legislature shall agree with the President
and his followers on the question Of negro
suffrage, 1t would seem that IN excellent OPP
poFtunity for agreement and c06tillation on
II vexed. question will be presented, and that
the negro may 6e enfFanchised with una.
nimity.
cAs for myself, while have confessed TO
those Uf cnste, resulting from education and
lifelong habits, am free 70 say that desire
to act IN harmony with the great body Of the
loyal people Of the Union. s.
! think that'we should not, without great
and cotrolling reasons, sever ourselves from
that great national party whose wisdom and
courage saved the life OF the nation, and res
cued the loyal people Of Tennessee from the
hands OF the OppresgOr. -N#Ht
The franchise Law, passed on the Sd Of
May last, 10 not yet fully in operation. Reg
listers have been appointed in pl Of the csun-
ties IN the State but many Of them have not
completed their labOrs and made their re-
ports. .sr.
AS fast rs they have done 90, 7 have or
dsred electiOns in compliance with the pro-
visions Of tue law.
| am happy To state that the Registers
have been generally faithfdl .snd firm in the
discharge Of their important duty. s'-
Except in the city Of Nashville, the late
special elections aeeTn to have been held sub
stantially in accordance with the law. frs
In this city, I'm informed that but few Of
the Judges and Clerks OF election, and none
of the successful candidates, complied with
the law by taking the inn ortabt oath set
forth in the 81 section. II will be your duty
TO provide remedy for similar violations Of
the law 10 the future. o.. r.t .aa1s r-f
You are fresh from your constituents, and
have had better opportunities than have
had to observe the o. eratons Of the law.
As your session prog e1ses, you will learn
still more of its workings. As no future
Legislature cat at upon this vital subject, il
will he your duty to perfect the law with the
utmost care. .H' -fea lal
Thislaw was not passed from vindictive or
malevolent motives, but IN self defence to
protect the loyal people from oppression and
the State from misrule. 'sr.''"s;
The spirit and genius OF republican institu-
tions demand that every CItizrn should be Hl-
lowed to vote who may do so consistently
With the safety of the government II there
be classes dislranchised by the present. hfw,
whomre worthy OF tie privilege, you should
restore them; and ii there be classes eniran-
chised who ARE unworthy, ,On shOuldiresLrict
them. II you are satisfied that 10 process Of
time the disfranchised class will become
good citizens by learning to respect loyalty,
you may fix limit to the operations 1f the
law by naming some day IN the future when
its restrictions shall wholly or partially cease.
AT all events you stouh, befOre your innl
Adjournment, see II possible, that the lwSis
such as 10 need no further amendments.
rnE THREATENED STATE REvoLuTIos.
have already alluded, with pleasure to
the general disposition Of the masses OF our
people to pursue their peaceful ayocations,
aud but for the sad experience OF 1861,
should feel no apprehension that they ceuld
he again betrayed into revolutionary move
ments. But, as what has happened once
may, from similar circumstances, orcnr again,
il is niy duty to call your attention to the
fact that dislOyhl newspapers, together with
unpriucipled and designing stump sp akers,
have b. en- unlifiug in their fhT,s to set on
fOOt 4 scheme Of State revolution These
speakers and writers urge and predict the
overthrow Of the State GoyernmeDt, and
some uf them have fixed n limit, 10 days or
weeks, to its existence. declaring that the
work shall be done" Many OF the delegates
returning from the great political conspiTngy
which assembled at Philadelphih on the l4lh
Of August last, declared publicly, and a. e..
cret meetings OF their c,iqnes, thal they bad
seen aud eOnversed with the President, aud
agreed with him upon Programne Tor the
overthrow Of the State GO,ernH ent. AZ
Knoxville these sRit tors w're, TOR Tune,
out-spoken, aud apparently determined. Az
Nashville similar characters called COnYen-
tiOn 40 meet there for the ayOwed purpose OF
Initiating n revolution. ther because the
peoplp of the State did not fJmpa hize with
tue inOFeme ". Ut OcthuaF. NV hN'FN -
displeasure of the nation, they finally gave it
the appearance Of y common political gather
ing. Il 10 true these men are mot the hght-
ing men of the rebellion. They are, for the
most part, those who, after encouraging he
strife, shirked AIl danger, 10 order to look AZ
ter their pecunirry interests. And such
would doubtless be their course again u
they could succeed in involving the people 10
war. The present rherished design Of these
men is, by force, to prevent the enforcement
OF the eIisting Franchise law, 50 as 20 Sc
cure fop themselves the control Ofithe Suite
Governmeu, al the ensuing August elections
as tney declare that they are sustained 10
their designs BY the acting President OF the
United states, and 10 ! have reason to appre-
bend that this batter deels ratioa is true, call
upvn you TO provide for any emerRency that
NAV arise. SO far as my duties may be In
tolyed, | do not intend TO hmely surrender
10 an llegiiimafe Stale governmrnt, no mat
ter by whose encouragement n may be sf on
foot. But as the arms Of the State dilnp-
peartd from the Capitol during the rebellion,
and there 10 no military organization any
whtre 10 the State, and no funds, provided
by erpfeu eaactmsht !or the dsisuce Of the
iSwfal ahthoritiesgI eall ayooF aueuIion TO
thiS STATE on Affairs, and 10 the present. midi.
tia laws, psd invoke yohr 'pfohpt and fsar-
.feSs aetfoh. r feeommeBd that y0a autho-
fffe the enIistulent of a ~ fegimenit Of
loyal militia 70 Be armedf and beld as mi