Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-11-20
The Franchise Law.

The excellent Representative from our nelghbor-
ing counties, Anderson and Campbell, Hon. James
A. Doughty, made an able speech on the 18th inst
in favor of the repeal of the odous Sixteenth Sec
ton of the Franchise Law We don't believe any
body doubts the sincerity of Col Doughty in his
course on the great question of Equal Rights Even
his political opponents admit his sincerity on this
question while they call him fanatic Col. ID. has
been too consistent on this question: running through
period of twenty-five years, and since early man
hood and amid great persecution, to be doubted as
the sincere, earnest friend of the oppressed Below
we give brief synopsis Of Col Doughtys speech
he had not expected that the subject would be
brought up to day and was not prepared to say all
he could wish to say upon subject OF so much ln-
portance But he could not omit TO raise his voice
in favor of the reconsideration OF the postponement
of the bill, and in favor Of Its immediate passage
He was present at the passage of the Odl0us sixteenth
section and he then felt it to be insult TO the
white men of the State IL was saying that the poor
down-trodden black man would rise superior to the
white if he were not bound and fettered to the
earth. But he was opposed to this section chiely
because it was in conflict with the great law OF the
nation equal rights TO all men, and when we fail
to obey this law we strike at the principle lying at
the foundation of our free government the princ-
pie announced in the Declaration of Independence
and enjoined by the Word 0t God, which bids US
do unto others as we would that they should do
unto u.s." To deny just and equal rights TO this
people was 20 violate the spirit of fathers and
the injunction of the Holy Scriptures.
A boy standing under the American flag, upon
the soil of any foreign country, could claim the
proud name of an American citizen, and the arm of
the nation would be stretched forth in all its
strength for his protection, and should deny this
protection 10 a citizen at home because his skin
dark?
It was Just that capable men should aspire TO a1d
hold Office no matter what the color Of their skin.
If the will of the majority declared that coloFed
man should hold the Office of Sheriff or Mayor, or
any Office, what then? Was any man wronged
Let him be elected. The will of the majority must
be maintained. Colored men would not succeed to
Office except they were capable and if capable why
should they not hold Officer He advocated this
measure because it was consonant with the spirit Of
Republcanism. He had all along lsbored for it.
The true doctrine Of Republicanism should prevail
The principle was rightly laid down, when the Gov
eminent was organized; but with the growth of the
slave power other ideas of restricting the rights of
coored men. The original States had, with one or
two exceptions permitted free cOlOred political
rights, but new SGT of ideas had grown up and we
were told that this a white mans government.
The words of cur national constitution were, we,
the people of the United States, etc, not we the
white people
The Speaker hoped that the motion to reconsider
would prevail, and the bill would be passed prompt
ly and at once.