Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-17

in this particular did nobly, and
reflected honor on himself As long as he
does 50 well no just man among his con-
stituents can complain of his Representa-
ton"
AN APPEAL TO THE LEGISLATURE.
Our distinguished fellow-citizen, ex-
Gov H. SaFoote, has addressed an elabo-
rate memorial to the General Assembly
Of Tennessee, praying that its immediate
attention shall be directed to the duty Of
providing for an early revision of the
State constitution, with the view chiefly
of removing the Acknowledgement of q
majority of our white citizens. The
author has kindly furnished us with
proof sheets of his paper, but they were
received at an hour too late for full inseI-
ton this morning and We are forced to
content our readers with a single extract
containing the substance of his sugges-
tions.
Gov. Eoote presents this important sub
ieet in his customary forcible and elo-
quent style and argues it with common
dable temperance and moderation. The
body to which it is addressed will do its
duty III giving it characterization which
the grave matter it discusses demands
from those invested with the high res
sponsibility Of guiding the destiny of this
people. All of the Views offered may not
appear feasible aud judieious; but the
preliminary step, the calling of a cons
vention empowered ia the name of the
people to consider the subject, is due at
the present time; and the masses Of the
people Of Tennessee unite with Gov
Foote in his plea in that behalf
After a fair and lucid review of the
present condition Of affairs, and an al
fusion to the pacific and conciliatory
spirit which peryades the people of the
State, the memorial proceeds:
On a somewhat similar occasion the most
profound statesman by far that modern
times have produced Edmund Burke)
said in the British House of Commons:
"lf there il any one eminent criterion
which above all the rest distinguishes a
wise government from an administration
weak and improyident, it is this: Vel 10
krlOw The best time and manner Of yieIding
Uhdt Il is impossible 10 keep" He further
said, on the same noted occasion: 81 do
most seriously put it to the administration
to consider the wisdom of a tins Ii Tetormd-
ton. Early reformations are amicable ar
rangements with a friend in power; late
reformatiOns are terms proposed upon a
conquered enemy; early reformations are
made in cold blood late reformations are
made under a state of Inflammation. In
that state of things the people will behold
in the government nothing that is re-
spectacle. They see the abuse, and they
uiU see nothing else. They fall into the
temper of furious popuace, provoked at
the disorder of house of illfame. They
never attempt to correct or regulate. They
90 to work by the shortest way; they abate
the nuisance; they pull dOion the house"
The perfect applicability of these words
of Mr.. Burke to our present condition, is to
my mind most obvious. If you, gentle
men, shall Immediately call convention,
to be composed of delegates chosen on the
principle of universal suilrage-neithere
Guiding the present registered voters, nor
any portion of those who have been subs
iected to Acknowledgement, that body will
come together in a most amicable and con-
-. .
ton equitable, slatesmsnlike, and purely
republican in all its features. That instru-
ment will embodY in it a provision
securing indemnity for all past wrongs,
either real or supposed; it will remove all
doubt as to the validity of the legislative
enactments heretofore adopted, and thus
happily prevent much strife and collision
now obviously menaced; and it will pro-
vide for the continuance in Office of all
civil functionaries heretofore elected or
appointed, until their official terms shall
have respectively expired. We shall have
friendly and united people, and such
blessings will beshowered upon us as part
Of the world has heretofore enjoyed. You,
gentlemen, will be recognized as wise and
patriotic statesmen, and you will receive
the praise and gratitude of your fellow
citizens, both of the present and of future
generations. But suppose you delay this
important action; suppose you endeavor
to eyade your manifest duty towards pa.
tient and long-sufering people; do you
suppose that they will contentedly remain
in their present dishonored and distressed
condition for one, two, three, four years
longer, or, as some / am told are suggesting,
for an indefinite period Why, gentlemen,
you would yourselves hold them in pro-
found contempt if you thought them capa-
bic of pursuing such a course. True it is,
there is but the smallest danger of their
rising in arms against the authority which
you are now welding. No scheme of Sc
ditious opposition TO the existing govern
ment or its chosen functionaries will be
thought of. Whatever course your disre-
gard TO their just wishes may compel them
TO adopt you may rest perfectly assured
that all their acts will be peaceful, orderly,
and strictly in conformity with the consti
tuition. They are entirely aware that prin-
ciples are embodied in that instrument and |
remedies prescribed, which, if appealed to, |
will secure TO them prompt and speedy |
relief from oppression; and upon these |
alone they will rely"