Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-07
Last Act fn the Negro Drama-A Rieh
scene al the CaDffoI

Last Act in the Negro Drama-A Rich
Scene at the Capitol.
Yesterday will be day long to be re-
membered as vitality affecting the political
moral and social interests of the State Of
Tennessee. The remark Of Elwood Fisher,
made some years since, to the effect that in
in attempting to free the negro white men
themselves would become enslayed, found
practical illustration in the proceedings at
the capitol on yesterday evening. Those
present will never forget the scene, nor the
time when a subject Of such molnentous
interest was decided. II had been known
that the final vote on the franchise bill
would be taken in the afternoon and
large number Of persons we're present who
had no connection with the Legislature
When the previous question was called
the interest became absorbing, though the
fate 0fthe bill was virtually a foregone con-
clusion. Considerable elboWing and button
holeing had been going on for some time
by outsiders and pretty high pressure had
been brought 10 bear. When the ayes and
noes were call, noses had been counted by
the majority. As the roll was called much
interest was exhibited in each response of
aye and no, and members would look at
each other az each vote was recorded.
When thirty votes had been counted AFR
matively the Radicals felt sure of their triss
umph, and smiles and whispers were eE-
changed between the members.
The galleries were crowded with negroes,
while all the vacant seats in the House
were filled with spectators ladies and gen
tlemen, whom the interesting occasion had
called together. The vote went on. The
Clerk called each name clearly and dis
tinctly, and the response Of 4" aye" OF
" no )" was given the same way. The end
of the roll was at length reached The
vote was counted and the Speaker an
nouced the result--AFFIRAIATTvE 80, MEGA
TIVE o. The bill passed and thousands
Of regrOes we're, by the House, az four
O'Clock made citizens, and had given them
the power Of the franchise laW--the highest
right that belongs to man in o republican
government. When the vote was announced
the scene that followed beggars description.
LOnd and yociferous wells followed, re-
peated and prolonged. Men clapped their
hands, stamped their feet, and halloed, and
cheered, till the very walls Of the capitol
aud its huted columns, massive as they are,
seemed 20 trembie The Cincinnati Gazette
gushed over in the eXu-
berance Of his feelings, and swung his hat
around his head and cheered most Justify
while those who favored the measure kept
up the cheering, the negroes in the galleries
caught the infection, and stamped, clapped
their hands and yelled at a tremendous
rate, on the event vouchsaieing TO them
more privileges than are extended
by any State in the North. That grand
capitol hall never witnessed such a
scene before, and few such scenes ever
lranspired in any capitol where men Of
dignity had convened for grave and inn
portant purposes. 1t was enough to call
he dead Strickland from his eoflined niche
IN the wall, and give him the power of
sampson to tear down the pillars Of the
capitol, and send the noble edifce tumbling |
upon the heads Of those who dared thus
permit lis rude dissertation The usurpa-
ion was consummated, and trivial iests |
md loud huzzas rang ont from the capitol
where the last yestige Of Tennes- |
iee's constitutional liberty was struck down. |
The event will not be forgotten, nor will |
he undignified scenes following it, con |