The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-04

I. tnelr plans are practicable
I On The first Thursday in Dseembers eigl
gentlemen, claiming to be fhelnbers Of Cor
s gress from the State of Tennessee, asked Il
= clerk Of the House Of Representatives, WI
by the law of March Sd, 1865, is required |
= place on the roll OF members, the names
= all persons, who produce certificates unde
, the seal Of their State, sipwlng that the
I have been elected 70 Congress accOrding
> sfthe laws of the State tr7of the Unite
: States" to place their names on the roll.-
F? This he declined 70 do.
e On the floor Of the House, on the day
was organized the Hon. Horace Maynar
Intellectually sought to be heard, for th
: same purpose, but he was not recognized b
the clerk, and when he appealed to Hon
D | Thsddeus Stevens for the simple privileg
of being heard, he was merely treated wit
, the curt and sarcastic remark, 'flee cGHaO
recognize outsiders"
, Now, remember, that bIr. Maynari
had been received and recog aized as a mem
Der OF the 37th Congress from the State 0
Tennessee, and occupied that position unit
the Sd OF March, 1868, yet, ~ew he woui,
not be noticed. How az-oga2t and insult
ing, and yet Gov. Brownlow kes sides wifi
Thsddeus Stevens against Ht iPfesident3
Remember that in February and March
1865, the loyal people of the State had elect
ed and organized State Gevernment-hso
adopted amendments to thar Constitution
had been recognized by the Executive Pc
partment Of the United States; that this WIS
done before the war had closed. 1t wal
the voluntary act Of its people. The powell
of the State had been recognised and Fest-
ed in a Governor and Legislature Of onl
own election. For months they were in the
full and uninterrupted enjoyment of the
civil power Of the State. In Nay 1865, the
l koI ! 4. rsa--
see no longer IN insurrection and rebellion.
The same power that had proclaimed her
IN rebellion had relieved her. And in this
condition, the people suthorized under its
franchise law, to vote, at the regular cleo
ton IN August, 1866, had elected members
to Congress-quaiifed TO comply with the
laws Of the land-loyal and true to the
Government OF the United States daring the
great war.
And yet they are refused. They arere-
Jected. They are taunted with being o4t-
slders-although two Of them Col. Stokes and
Col Hawkins, had served for years with
distinction in the army Of the United States
Now who refuses them? Not the Presi-
dent-but Thaddeus Stevens and his friends
IN Congress. @ -
They say in their resolution in regard to
| tennessee, that they will admit it as one of
the United States on condition that it repu-
dates the rebel debt; emancipates their
slaves; clothe the freedmen y iih all the civ
il rights; disfranchise the rebels and render
them incapable Of holding Office; and agree
never to ask Congress or he State Legis-
iature for any compensation for their eman-
eipated slaves"
And a few of them demand as condition
that you enfrsnchise the negro. l think
myself if you are prepared to accept these
terms, and do accept them, that Represent
atives will be then permitted to take their
seats in Congress.
As for myself, shall refuse to accept the
conditions. | shall argue against them,
and vote against them. Others can do as
they think best. The poor privilege Of e
seat in Congress would never repay me for
such price paid for it.
! Why do they demand these terms Of us 4?
| The entranchisement of thenegro, now, is
neither for his good nor the good of the
country. The aVowed object Is disclosed by
the acknowledged leader Of the party, Mr..
| Stevens, who says:
"If the Southern States should grant the
| right Of suffrage to persons Of color, think
there would always be Union white men
enough in the South, aided by the blacks,
to divide the representation, and thus se-
cure RepubticGn aseendency
II is bold but true avswal, made by q
frank, but fearless mana man Of strong
convictions and indomitable will.
Those who wish to follow has lead can do
so. / viii not-no, never.
According to the plan proposed, the ne
groes must be clothed with political rights,
whether we desire it or not and the COnsti-
tuition amended, SO that it viii be SO oworded
that you will not be able Go recognize IN it
| its origins form. eFss 49, a 81
am opposed to all Of these amendments
of the Constitution, and agree with the
President that we had better 60 back to the
old land marks, and abide by the doctrines
| taught by the fathers.
THE yEFOEs AND SPEECH OF THE 22D FEBRUARY,
1866.
1t IS with pleasure l say to you, my fell
low-eitizens, that l cordially approve OF the
Presidents course in refusing to give his
assent to the Frsedmen's Bureau bill, and
concur with the patriotic reasons assigned
| BY him in his message, why he would not
| give his assent to IL.
To nay mind the bill was full of faults.
1t seemed to me that there was no necessity
for the measurei that it substituted military
for civil jurisdiction as to all questions
arising. under it; that it abrogated the
trial by jury, without establishing any
liked rules Of law or evidence to govern the
tribunals createdi that it set aside the safe
guards whleh the wisdom of ages had es-
taollshed for the protection OF innocence;
that it provided for the support Of millions
| OF negroes whilst it made no provisions for
other ma hions of whites equally entitled to
the charity af the Governmental the Gov
ernment ls 10 resolve itself into a great
charitable institution; that It deprived own
| ers OF their lands without legal proceedings;
that it placed in the charge of agents the
interests Of four millions OF people, which
would have concentrated in their hands a
power dangerous TO liberty and destructive
OF political morality-snd that it would
! nave incurred an expense in its manage
nent OF many millions Of dollars-when
the treasury was already groaning under
the burdens upon it--for these reasons, and
many others, that suggest themselves upon
| reading the bill and the message, I give my
hearty assent to the veto.
The Civil Rights bill is equally objectiOna-
bic, and the clear, succinct, and imprissiye
argument Of the President, in his message,
demonstrates its unconstitutionality, and It's
defects on the score of mere policy.
30 long as the two races continue TO reside
IN our State, l cannot give my consent to
such law-I cannot agree that in some
classes of cases we shall net heVs the right
to discriminate in the punishment to be
inflicted. The sacredness which We throw
around our white women, must be guarded
and protected, and the negro who dares
violate her person, or attempts so TO do must
ate-such is the law now, and such it shall
ever remain, so long rs can raise my voice,
and have any influence in the legislation OF
the country.
This bill dsprives US of this power to dis
criminate.
Thank God, the President vetoed it, and
| If it should be passed over his head, let the
blame rest on whom it should belong.
1t also attempts, in the punishment Of
| parties, TO hold the Judges, Marshals, and
officers of each State responsible for their
ministerial acts, in obedience to the institu-
tiona and laws Of their States, sad deny
| the power OF Congress 10 do this. It cannot
make an official act, done under color Of
law, without criminal intent, and from
sense of public duty, crime.
And IN his speech Of the 22d Of February,
1866, Andrew johnson taught bis opponents
] that he would repel violence with violence,
that his convictions are sincere and earnest,
that he is not 10 be driven or brow beaten,
that he is to be treated respectfully, and
that be is a full grown statesman.
| l concur with Andrew johnson, when in
that frank, sensible, and manly speech, he
declared that:
"lf while the rebellion was going on the
| Constitution was rolled up as q piece Of
| parchment, if it was violated in some par
| tieulars 10 save the Government, this may
have then been some excuse 10 Justify II;
now that peace has come, now that the war
IS over, we want a written Constitution; and
the time has come 10 take the Constitution
down, unroll it, read aud understand its
/ provisions"
k.nd also in the firm belief that Charles
sumner and Thsddeus Stevens and others,
wfc are with them, in crowding measures
through Congress, which are designed 70
prevent the restoration Of the Union, are as
much opposed 10 the fundamental prinei-
pies Of the Government, and are as much
| laboring 70 prevent and destroy these prin-
ciples, as were the men who fought against
US IN tas recent Febslii0ny and although
their efforts will be futile, yet their agita-
tion IS detrimental 10 the beat interests Of
the country, and should be ediscountenanced
| BY all loyal men.
II the people Of the country would only
unite on this great platform which looks 70
the Union Of ell of the States, the protsc-
/ ton Of all Of its inhabitants, and the pay
ment Of The public debt, new impetus
would be given 70 the nation, and
.All the clouds which Ger our house hare lowered.
hooid - N he deep bosom of he ocsaa barisd."
Ny fellow citizens. let the dangers which
noS threaten our beloved country but pass
away let the clouds be rifted asander let