Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-02-15
Last Act In the Negro Drama...A Rich
Scene at the Capitol.

Yesterday will be day long to be remeu
bered al vitality affecting the political, mora
and social interest of the State Of Tenn essee
The remark of Elwood Fisher, made come
years since, to the effect that in attempting
to free the negro, white men themselves
would become enslaved, found practical IL.
lust1ation in the proceedings at the capitol
on yesterday evening. Those present will
never forget the scene, nor the time when q
subject Of such momentous interest was de.
cided. 1t had been known that the final
vote on the franchise bill would be taken in
the afternoon, and large number were pre-
sent who had no connection with the Legis.
lature. When the previons question wa.
called the interest became absorbing, though
the fate of the bill was virtually foregone
conclusion. Considerable elbowing and but
tonholeing had been going On for some time
by outsiders and PRETTY high pressure had
been brought to bear. When ayes and noes
were called, noses had been counted by the
majority. Asthe roll was called much interes,
was exhibited in each response of aye and
no, and members would look at each otheI
as each vote was recorded. When thirty
votes had been counted affirmatively the
Radicals felt sure of their triumph, and
smiles and whispers were exchanged between
the members. ,I
The galleries were crowded with negroes
while all the vacant seats in the House were
filled with spectators, ladies and gentlemen
whom the interesting occasion. had called to
together. The vote went on. The Clerl
called each name clearly and distinctly
and the response of ''aye" or mo was Civ
en- the same way. The end Of the roll wa
at length reached. The vote was countet
and the Speaker announced the rcsuh-AF
vIRMArtvs 3s, NEGATIVE IS. The bill passed
and thousands of negroes were by the House
at four O'Clock made citizens, and had giver
them the power of the franchise law--th'
highest right that belongs 70 man in re
publican government. When the vote wa
announced the scene that followed beggari
description. Loud and vociferous yells fol
lowed, repeated aud prolonged. Men clap
ped their hands, stamped their feet, and hal
loed, and cheered, till the very walls Of the
capitol and its futed columns, massive a
they are, seemed to tremble. The Cincin
natl Gazette correspondent gushed over in
the exuberance of his feelings, and swung BIZ
hat around his head and cheered most lus
.uOcc WuO thNotCo tuC hcaSuhs
kept up the cheering, the negroes in the gal
leries caught up the infection, and stamped
clappsd their hands and yelled at tremen
dous rate on the event vouchsafeing to then
more privileges than are extended by any
Stste in the North. That grand capitol bal
never witnessed such scene before, and few
such scenes ever transpired in any capito
where men Of dignity had convened for grave
and important purposes. 1t was enough u
call the dead Strickland from bis coffined
niche in the wall, and give him the power o
Sampson to tear down the pillars Of the cap
itol, and send the noble edi6ce tumbling up
on the heads Of those who dared thus per
nit its rude desecration. The usurpatioI
was consumated, aud trivial jests and lout
huzzas rang out from the capitol building
where the last vcstige of Tennessees consti'
tutional liberty was struck down. The even
will not be forgotten, nor win the undigni
fed scenes following It's consumation.--Un Un
ION and Dipateh.