New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-04-17
TENNESSEE.


The Conservatives of Tennessee yesterday
met in State Convention, and nominated Emer-
son Etheridge for Governor. A number OF
colorcd delegates, il is said, were present, but
il certain cannot be expected that MIR. Etherdge
will obtain any important share OF the colored
vote. Tennessee has had many political revO-
lutions, but this would eclipse them all We
shall examine how far these colored delegates
owed their place in the Convention to Mr.
Ethcridge or his party.
Two years ago, just on the eve of his
passing from the Military GoyernOrship of the
State to the Presidency of the United
States a Convention, called by Andrew John
son, met ut Nashville to form Constitution for
the new State of Tennessee. We say new State,
because, by the events of the war, all the old
elements of the State had passed away. Dur
ing the four years of war; in which time Ten
ncssec had been alternately crossed and re-
crossed four times each by the Patriot and the
Rebel armes-wth all their destruction. waste,
carnage, and havoc-the people had had time
for reflection and obseryation-to what
purpose may be learned from the fact
that under the oath required by Andrew John
son rs a condition precedent to voting in 1864,
the Mcclellan ticket did not receive single vote.
When that Convention assembled, the State
had just been cleared, for the fourth time, UNI
der the heroic leadership of Gen. Geo. III.
Thomas, of the last vestige of u Rebel organ
ization, and the people were full of gratitude
over capital preserved. State regenerated,
and nation on the high road to a grander
prosperity than il had ever before known.
Thus they met and their first act was to
clear away at once and forever every remnant
of Slavery and every deed of the Rebel usurpa-
ton of lSG0-Gl. Their second was to make it
the duty of the first General Assembly under
the new constitution to prescribe the conditions
of franchise.
OF those who had aided the Rebellion to the
extent of their ability-some in the field and
some in council-many had now returned to
their former homes, at first tlmid and crest
fallen, but, as time went on and their
heads remained secure above their shoulders,
gradually growing holder, even to something of
their former arrogance. few of these
at length went to Washington and on their
return in the very last days of August, 1865,
convention was held in Columbia, the wealth.
est and most aristocratic town in the State, the
home of the Folks and Pillows, over
which presided Gideon j. Pillow, late
Maor-General of the Rebel Army. The
object of this Convention was the forma-
ton of party in the South which, uniting
with the disloyal element in the North,
should control the destinies of the country.
It's influence was instantly felt throughout the
State, and its action copied in less important
places. The papers which had gone for Seces-
sion were about that time revived and treason,
in new garb, again appeared i'll the shape of
The Republican Banner and Union and Amer
lean of Nashville, and the Araldnche and 4p-
peal of Memphis-each of which applauded
johnson, while they yilifed and abused the
people who had helped to save the country.
In October, II Franchise act was passed, but
so liberal in its provisions that Rebels found
no difficulty in voting, and so loosely drawn
that Sheriis and County Court Clerks made no
hesitation in disregarding its requirements Ac-
corlingly an effort was make in the Legis-
lature to- modify the law, so as more
completely to place the control of affairs in
the hands of loyal men, but sufficient number
of members of the Legislature to reduce the
Lower House below quorum, bolted; and
nothing was done from the I'd of March to the
18th of April, except to adjourn from day to
day. Soon after Gov. Brownlow's election,
the President had directed Gen. Thomas to
furnish the Governor all the assistance he might
require in the execution of the law. When
their aid was needed and called for, telegra
from Andrew Johnson prohibited the General
from calling his troops into the service. Every
obstacle which legal ingenuity, Executive
patronage, and unbridled audacity could
devise was used to interrupt, perplex, ana
if possible overthrow the State Government
fortunately without success. New elections
were ordered, and enough decent men were
returned to form quorum, whereby the
amended Franchise law was passed and the
State Government saved. At the next session
it became evident that only by giving the vote
to the coored loyaiist could the new free State
survive For long time the Representatives
from East Tennessee resisted but at last their
prejudices gave way. and to-day every man who