Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-11-27
Petition for the Passage Of the Bill
Ab0llshlDg Disabilities on Account
OF Race or Color,

10 The Honorable General Assembly Of Tennessee:
Your petitioners would respectfully submit 10
your thoughtful and candid confederation the fol-
lowing statement of facts, and their petition based
thereon.
Your petitioners are citizens of Tennessee. and
registered voters under the laws thereof They are
LOYAL TO the Government Of the United States. and
TO the State Of Tennessee and have eper bee, Tbsv
are all members, in common with large majority
Of your honorable body, Of the Radical Republican
party, and hold its principles and its continued SUI
premacy Of paramount importance at this time
Your petitioners further submit that our triumphant
success in the recent elections held in this State
was largely due TO the votes of oolored men. Many
of your own body their election TO the votes Of
these newly enfranohisod loyalists of the State.
Untutored in politics as they were unmoved by
the Establishments and unawed by the threats, of
the rebel conservative opposition, in solid column
they went 10 the ballot box and voted for YOU, be-
cause they believed you to be their true and stead
fast friends
ct these constituencies on whom the Republican
party OF Tennessee SO largely depends and must in
The future depend for support and power are de-
MED by the laws Of Tennessee some Of the ESSENTIAL
Hghts OF ireemen We refer to the restrictions con-
tanned IN what was, during the late canvass. de-
nounced from one end Of the State TO the other as
the odious 10th Section" The proposition that
the privilege TO sit on uries and 10 hold such Off
ces as the people may deem them qualified TO GIL
should belong 10 all classes Of Ioval citizens, seem,
too PLAIN TO require argument II is one of thefun
oAmentai principles OF the American system To
deny 1t Is TO sssail popular Government.
l.
'he white Radicals Of Tennessee were designing.
'eli-seeking men, who cared nothing for the rights
Of The colored man, and would only use him to So.
cure to themselves Offices, which they could not 9TH
U"iie obtain. This was denounced bv Republican
PsSAe's and the loyal press Of the State, as base
80 and the colorsd men we're told that one of
$3.50 acts of the present General Assembly would
.L;,.., from the statutes Of Tennessee all dis
to- =, Oeaed upon race, color or previous condi-
-, -, our laws and our institutions should
blsct ne. white men, nos Of red men, not Of
the I.v,o.C $" men of any complexion, but like
a.. n N0D-TRE TkS GONNA NpuENrs and
PIE they should speak Of the PFC
b.,lr s.-,..,l, now ask, respectfully but So
Os''!l earnestly " and in all ss,io,,.r
aaec oy your honorable BODY os a.. 80
o. outy-the ialhiiment Of Tia. - "0'A
i On the higher grounds Of rich, - ANey ASK
further, It should not be fOreot,.n ~ 4''i'e ana
action IN this matter depends thu So upon your
pfeaominsnoe Of the great prineiplo. = and
mean party in Tennessee Tue hepnb- /
In view Of the fact that our friend.
10Y al States have met with Temporal ''e 'i
,h'e -.a De only the more noble in YOU mo-,
yo - o. Justice and magnaaimity " 10
.arns,,,. iN'uonsH and constituent Is do. thsr.,
sbis appeal % you and pray that yoar 'lS.'r'
abe body 'eu not lage -. = ~ '"' your honor
g q @' great orog ara s', ,s Or pa q ne right
~ s'A.son session Of tho Frsnesi.a ''',ns
~ iaess,slv es..,,'s based upon race Or colr
TeDpc.eso d me rons r. .r,o law aud thu. place
Progress and impartial Liberty. t'sA' party Of
The war in Italy hes ended with the aes..,
Ghribaldi