New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-17
HELP FOR TEYNESSEE.

HELP FOR TENNESSEB
The Republican Caucus OF Congress lately
voted to cooperate heartily with the loyalists
of Tennessee Recently, the Union League Club
of this city held a special meeting, at which
the subject was thoroughly discussed, aud the
views of the Tennessee Union men explained
by Judge North of Knoxville and Gen. Eaton
of The Memphis Post. We believe the matter
TO be worthy of the attention of all earnest Re-
publicans. The old battle Of ideas we fought
and won in Kansas is to he renewed IN the
Border States of the South
Tennessee is the only position now held 10y
Republicanism within the late rebellious terri
tory. Unfortunately for Northern knowledge OF
the State, Kentucky interyencs. But we know
it to be beautiful State, with delightful eli
mate and rich soil, combining the product OF
cotton with that of cereals of the North; pos
sessed of vast supplies of minerals-coal, iron,
"copper" &c; singulaTly intersected by navigable
rivers, and already facilitating commerce by
over a thousand miles of railroads. IL contains
six thousand square miles in area more than
Ohio and WAS admitted to the Union six years
before that State. One of the first anti-Slayeiy
movements in the country was made ut Jones'
boro. The negroes voted till 1885, aiding At
different times in the election Of Jackson and
his compeers Yet, overwhelmed in the progress
of Slavery, the State had in 1860 about 100000
slaves and 100000 whites, and of the lat
ter $4,000 who could not read, and had only about
one tenth az many issues from the press rs
Ohio. Her Unionism strongly resisted rebellion,
but finally succumbed to trick and violence.
The heroic suflerings and deeds Of herlOyalists
l. Iue I...,
known to thrill the hearts of all Union people
They rallied to the old flag and as soon as
safety warranted, began TO reorganize the
State on the basis Of n loyal franchise. They
purged their Constitution Of Slavery and in
trusted the regulation of the ballot to the first
General Assembly. That sterling body Of men,
in spite of their old preiudices, have swept
away from the code one after another of the
relics of Slavery; given the negro all rights Of
court and of industry and to the asylums Of
the State; enforced law in the cities by n
Metropolitan system Of police, and now pro
pose u bill for the establishment OF loyal militia
which shall be ready at the Governors com
mand TO enforce law in the country;
another for the establishment OF II school sys-
tenn, free for whites and blacks and another
ment of tho negroes.
Legislating OH suffrage, they first allowed
registration for voting OH the taking of a strin-
gent oath. Alas for Rebel morality this proved
an insufficient barrier No election for State
officers was held so the State was not lost.
But in the local elections bad results often fol-
lowed. In Memphis for instance, John Park,
who surrendered the city TO our forces, was
elected Mayor, and then, through his police,
came the May riots FOrewarned the Gen
eral Assembly revised the Franchise law
by making the oath more stringent and
requiring additional evidence. Tho local
elections held under this law, which is now
in force, with few exceptions, as in Shelby and
Davidson Counties, have resulted In the tri-
umph Of the Radicals or thorough Union men.
But the Rebels threaten to disregard il, and
have in some instances; and it is feared, since
the President does not use the troops for the
enforcement of laws when tho interests of Union
men require it, that in any important election, as
that of next August for Governor, Legislature,
Judiciary, and members Of Congress, they
would altogether set it at Defiance; and, out
numbering the Union men Gas they do),
would take possession Of the Government
as they did in Maryland. Should this be so,
the Union men Of Middle and West Tennessee
fear they will be driven from the State. This
fear, We are told, quite as much as any
sense of justice, is prompting the enfran-
chisement of the blacks, by which it is con-
sidered beyond question that the State would
remain in loyal hands, thus giving the North
strong hold upon the ten non-reconstructed
States which adjoin Tennessee. Gov. Brown
low and other leading men OF the State, In
Guiding Senator Fowler, and Messrs. Maynard,
Stokes, Amell, and Hawkins Of the Lower
House in Congress, have openly declared for
negro suffrage, ard must go to the people on
that issue
If Tennessee triumphs in this contest she
will do in the period of single State Adj
ministration what New-York has not fully
accomplished in the half-century since freeing
her slaves. II is not strange that the interest
Of the friends of civilization is aroused Such
progress is almost without parallel. Our ex-