The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-08-30
FoR SHERIFF,
S. E. GRIFFITH.
sshjsct to the decision of nominating Convention
FOR SHERIFF
"PrOScrlptIOR."

The abingdon FirgiHiGn, an intensely dis
loyal paper during the war and now rs a mat
ter Of course strongly Conservative, applauds
the action Of its Tennessee allies, who have
discharged the freedmen in their employ who
voted the Republican ticket in the recent
election. We admire the honesty Of our CO.
temporary, whilst we detest and abhor the
prineiplesN and motives by which it is actuated
ia endorsing and advocating policy, that will
compel the colored man to vote for the resto-
ration Of his thralldom, or Starre. The
Hrgiaian does not hesitate to say, that this
prescription is right, and gives the strongest
intimation, that when nm election comes off
in the Old Dominion under the reconstruc-
tion act Of Congress for the formation of q
new constitution, in which the colored man
win vote, that the rebels and conservative
Of that State will either control his vote or
compel him to seek a more congeniAl cline
10 obtain a living. And unless the arm of
federal power is ]interposed they will do So
The manumitted thousands Of the once proud
and noble Ss ssaper ]tyrdanis Commonwes lth
are openly threatened with death in its most
horrible phase, If they do not unite with
their old masters in bidding defiance to the
just requirements Of the. loyal millions of the
nation, who paid IS a ransom for their liber-
ties almost countless treasures If gold and
Ave hundred thousand precious liyes. With
the exception of Tennessee, the future Of the
colorsd race Of the South, under the present
administration is n nigh: of Cimmerian dark
ness, for unfortunately the perhdious John
sou can measurably thwart the legislation Of
Congress. We have reason to believe that
upon the assembling Of the National Legis-
~lature, n law will be enacted coniscating the
property of those in our State, who have dis
charged colored men for their political opin-
ions, and we hope the Presidents hands will
be 80 completely tied that this law will not
be a supplement to the many other miserable
failures that have been made in this direction.
Gov. Brownlow fayors and will recommend
this enactment, and something is to be done,
If anything can DO inferred from the fact tha'
agents Of the Freedmen's Bureau are instruct
Cd 10 make a report Of all those who have
discharged the colored mae for voting in OPP
position TO their wishes. We hope to see
this bill introduced by one Of our Congress-
men, and should any one of them refuse to
vote for it, let him be marked and forever laid
on the shelf. The colored man has been true
20 US, and we must be true to him. We are
ungratefpl, il we stand idly by and see him
prescribed for exercising a free mans right,
and provide no remedy for his wrongs. Let
us assure the colored race, who when the
steel Of the Confederate soldiery we're driving
Union men to their hiding places, or amid
dangers dire and suferings untold into the
FEDERAL lines, opened to them their cabin
doors, fed them upon their scanty fare and
piloted them through gloomy forests and
over rugged mountains; let us assure
the colored race, who with the dAuntless
courage Of Spartan heroes rushed TO the
deadly brerch Of war and rescued from trail
tors hands the trailing banner Of our country
that freedom ia the prize Of their unsurpass-
ed gallnntry, the reward Of their tolls and
auferings, the result oftbe triumph Of loyal
y over treason, and in the enjoyment Of the
rights, privileges and blessings Of that free
dom they will be protected.