The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-08
THE TENNESSEE DELEGATION

The question of admission of the Ten.
nessee delegation was brought before
Congress on Monday in joint resolu.
ton reported in the House by Mr.. Bling.
ham from the Joint Commute on Re-
construction. The resolution provides
as follows
THAT whereas, the people of Tennes.
see have made known to the Congress
OF the United States their desire that the
constitutional relations heretofore ex-
listing between them and the United
States may be fully established, and
did, on the 22d day of February, 1885, by
large popular vote, adopt and ratify a
Constitution OF the government repub-
lican in form, and not inconsistent with
the Constitution and laws of the United
States. and state government has been
organized under the provisions thereof
which said provisions, and the laws
passed in pursuance thereof, proclaim
and denote loyalty to the Union; and
whereas, the people of Tennessee are
found to be in a condition to exercise the
functions ola State within this Union,
and can only exercise the same by the
consent ofth law-making power of the
United States, therefore the State of
Tennessee is hereby declared to be one
OF the United States of America, on
equal footing with the other states, upon
the express condition that the people of
Tennessee will maintain and enforce in
good faith their existing Constitution
ana laws, excluding those who have
been engaged in rebellion against the
United States from the exercise of the
elective enfranchise for the respective
periods of time therein provided
for, and shall exclude the same
persons for the like respective periods
OF time from eligibility to Office; and the
state of Tennessee shall never assume or
pay any debt or obligation contracted or
incurred in aid of the late rebellion:
nor shall said state ever, in any manner,
claim from the United States, or make
any allowance or compensation for
slaves emancipated or liberated in any
way whatever, which condition shall be
ratified by the Legislature of T ennessee.
or the people thereof, as the Legislature
may direct, before this act shall take
effect"
Messrs. Washburne and Boutwell, an
nounced their dissent from the resolu-
ton on the ground that it does not afford
sufficient guarantees of fidelity to the
Union and of protection to the freed
men. Messrs. Rogers and Order sub.
mitted minority report declaring Ten.
nessee already in the Union, and direct
ing that her representatives be sworn
in. Both reports were ordered to be
printed. Accompanying the majority
resolution was report of the testimony
taken by the committee in relation to
the condition of Tennessee. The testi.
mony of Major General Thomas, Gen.
eral Hatcher, General Fisk and other
officers, and of d. II. Patterson, Senator
elect, was taken by the Committee.
They all concur in tho existence of
great deal of disloyalty in Middle and
West Tennessee. East Tennessee ia
thoroughly loyal. General Thomas said
that if protected and encouraged by the |
presence of a small Union force. the |
loyal sentiment will obtain ascendency
in the state in year or two, but he |
does not think that it would be safe at |
this time to remove the troops, to with. |
iraw martial law, or restore the writ of |
tdbeOs corpus.