The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-03-30
PROCLAMATION BY THE GOV
ERNOR'

1t is my painful duty 10 announce that civ
ii government is again imperiled in the State
Of Tennessee. The events Of the Last three
weeks give rise to serious apprehensions that
a large portion OF our people have not suiIi-
cicently recovered from the demoralizing ef-
fects OF the late rebellion TO enable them to
appreciate tie blessings Of peace-that their
passions have not sufficiently cooled TO enable
them TO avoid . relapse into anarchy or mill
tary rule
A smnn minority Of twenty-one members
Of the House Of Representatives, by f%acIions
and revolutionary proceedings, have succeed
ed IN breaking up the Legislature and par
i~alyEing the State Government. | character
re this conduct as revolutionary, because IL
was yiolative Of the spirit Of the Ocnstitu-
ton and laws, and arrested the machinery OF
the State Government rs e~fTeetually as il the
SAINT had been done by force Of arms.
They have been able, under the eonstruc-
ton OF parliamentary law which prevailed
In the House, to reduce Il below what was
held to be II quorum for the Transaction Of
business, and the great body Of the members
Of both Houses have gone to their homes,
and legislation has entirely ceased.
When an importsn nj measure Of Stale poll
icy was proposed-a measure referred to, aud
u duty imposed upon this Legislature by the
amended ConstitutiOn-they either Withdrew
from their seats or remained and refused TO
answer TO their names when called, the speak
err holding that a member in bis seat, refusing
to answer, was not present 10 as to be eoun.
ted IS part OF a quorum. Amer worrying
the majority in this way for several weeks,
and after the consultations Of the Conyen-
tion Of the 22d February, they have public.
ly announced their ~seeeifion from the Legisla-
ture, through the newspapers, 10 a document
that will not tail TO remind It's readers Of the
address Of the Legislature Of 1861, who trAns-
ferred the State TO The Southern Cohfedemcy.
The PretsEs for this legislative rebellion
was a proposition TO discharged the duty
imposed upon the Legislature by ihs ninth
section Of the schedule TO the amended Con-
slituiion, which provides for " the limitation
Of the elective franchise by this Legislature
There was nothing new or startling 10 this
measure. Prom The earliest ibseptiOa Of the
idea Of recognizing a State Government, up
on the ruins Of the rebellion, the policy Of
disfanehiBing those VINO bad htely destroy
ed the State Governmpn., nad attempted 10
destroy the National Government was deem
ed AneceSslty, and was adopted and rigldIy
executed. 10 the election held on the 22d
Fsbp 1865, upon the adoption Of the
amended Constitution, rebels were al dis
ffanchised by an oath which frquired every
voter TO 1Wear that he was an enemy Of the
so-ealled Confederate States The same
course was pursued 10 ibe election Tor Cover
nor and members 81 the General Assembly,
10 March. 1865. Ths Military Governor nat
nFally believed that those who had wan 2
ionlJ dslfoytd the 0sffrHpent were sos tn
proper psrtons-to rebuild 4, or 70 administes
u uhsn reettablished. This policy and
Dfineipls Of diiffauehiisment was q feature
Of TIE suspdsd csassliutou apprevsd By