Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-13
The Teuuessee I,eei.Iaturc,


The Chattanooga Gazette, whose editor is
a. member Of fhe present Legislature, and,
therefore, speaks knowingly, says of that
body:
since the elections of the old members it
has been in session several months; humid
reds Of thousands have been expended, and
the people are as vet unable 70 Tsee' the
benefit to be derived from these expendi-
lures. A vast deal of valuable time-7no,
not valuable, but expensiye-has been
wasted in efforts, BY studied system Of pro-
scriptive legislation, to humiliate and de-
grade a majority Of the white citizens of
Tennessee. The object of this sort of "un-
friendly legislation is 10 secure the loaves
and fishes OF office for the benefit of a select
squad of politicians who cannot hope for
success in a. fair and square fight before the
masses In the spring law to "limit the
elective franchise" was passed; but it has
been found impracticable of execution, and
Inadequate for the purposes for which it was
adopted and now we have a declaration by
VIM. G. Brownlow-the Tycoon of the ring
that more stringent law is demanded,
and will be rushed through this session. II
other words, notwithstanding the fact that
INo-tii1fklsr VI tie cesscs -die siVs etrai"h-
chisea. tie Radicals cannot carry tie State,
and il is necessary TO disfranchise two
thirds Of the remaining third When this
is accomplished, none will be permitted, to
vote but those who hate law and order, and
worship at the shrine of Sumner and Brown
low.
Can more stringent law be passed We
believe not. II Is true they hsye a majority
- IL 60
the Legislature similar to that now in the
Nati@a Legislature. Mr. Arnell will
doubtless re-eeho the cant of Sumner, aud
Brownlow will initiate the profanity of Ste
vens bat we believe that majority, when
the issue is fairly made up, will sustain the
President against his fierce enemies at the
North and his hypocIitical friends in Ten
nessee. But however this may be, more
proscriptve law must be defeated, n.ls
How canit be done2 While the colored
testimony bill was under oonsideration-and
when Il was about to be killed beyond resur-
rection-a number of Radicals jumped
through the windows and reduced the House
below 4 quorum and when the ayes and noes
were called Oh that occasion, it was found
that sufficient number were not present to
transact any business. 1t was thus that the
negro testimony bill was saved. Not sim
gle Conservative member left his seat Only
Radicals climbed through the windows and
cooned il 10 the portico Now, if they were
justified in these proceedings TO secure the
rights of the negro, viii not the Conserve
tiyes be justified in pursuing similar course
70 prevent abe degradation Of white men ?
Although the Conservatives are in minor
ity, they have the power to reduce the House
or Senate below quorum at any time.
Ii is to hs hoped that the session will be-
brief-but we must confess that the grounds
on which to base this hope are slender in
deed.
II we would not paralyze the commerce Of
the State, the State tax on our merchants
must be reduced. Ii is impossible to build
up cities If the wholesale dealer is 80 burden
ed with taxes as to be unable to compete
with the dealers of other cities. The dealers
of Chattanooga are paying four, per c Mt.
for State and County purposes. Is 1t to he
expected that this expensive taxation viii
not dishearsen the merehant-emasculate his
energies, and finally drive him to, a place
where his profits are not taken by the tax
gatherer? ..f.f.s. ..sf..s "a
disposed of also. On the 10th TIE Negro
testimony Dill cohes W iVi No"Si"oi -
twill BECOME a law, and then there will no
longer be az excuse Cor Che <coutinuance OF
the Freedmen's Bureau,
Ii will be necessary 10 re-district the State,
dating from 1862. More or less 'sectional
feeling may be engendered in the discussion
Of the details ofthe new apportionnnent Bib.
-Four weeks viii be sufficient 10 dispose o.
all necessary legislation. Every day oven
that time viii be most inexcusable prohigacy
and fraught with many evil consequences.