Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-05-08

names are-Frazier, johnson, Mcfarland
and Thompson.
The following are the Republicans of the
House, who voted for colored suffrage-alI
supporters of mine:
Anderson of Hamilton, Anderson Of
White, Baker. Blackman, Clements, Cleve-
land, Clingan, Donaldson, Doughty, Dowdy,
Elliott, Fuson, Gilmer, Hudson, Hale, Ker-
chival, Maxwell, McNair, Morris, Murphy,
Norman, Patton, Porter, Pickett, Raulston,
Richards, Shepherd, Smith of Hardeman,
Smith Of Obion, Taylor, Thornburgh, I'm
derwood, Waters Welsh, Wines, Woodcock,
Woods and Speaker MulIoy.-38.
The Conservatives of the House, who
voted against coiored suffrage, are:
Able, Brown, Biggs, Brien, Coleman,
CowaD, Grove, Jones of Greene, Lasater,
Lellyett, Loughmiller, Moore, Parks, Pear
son, Schmittoe, Shuts, Stegald, Street,
Tharpe, Thompson, Warren and Wright
-22
The question of colored suffrage in the
House and Senate was sprung by Republi-
cans, advocated by Republicans, and passed
by Republicans, against the united and de-
termined opposition of the so-called Con-
servatives. The odious 10th Section of the
Franchise law, excluding colored men from
holding Office, originated with the Rebel
Conservatives, and by them was forced upon
the House as a means of securing the de-
feat of the suffrage bill. / was all the time
in the Hall, laboring to defeat the 10th Sec
ton, and was an eyewitness to all that oc-
Cured.
But it is urged against me now that l
have all my life long been pro-slavery
man, and my debate with Mr.. Pryne in
Philadelphia is largely quoted from to prove
me the dduocate of the institution. | was
challenged by Mr.. Pryne, as the debate
shows, to defend the South, and done SO,
with an ability creditable to me, although
was on the ,Crong side of the subject In
that memorable debate of five days dura-
ton, notified the world that if conflict
of arms came on 1 would take the side of
the Union in opposition to all other inter-
ests. These facts it does not suit my oppo-
nents to publish. And the same men who
now censure me for having formerly advo-
Gated slavery, have denounced me for
twenty five years as an AbOlitionjSt, as well
as the whole Wing party with which l
acted
The late Legislature of Tennessee has
been more bitterly and perseveringly abused
than any General Assembly that ever con-
vened in the State, and yet no Legislative
body ever did as much for the best interests
of the State. Two years ago this body of
men assembled in the Capitol and took
charge of what little was left of the State
and her records. The State was Frustrated,
her archieves gone South, her money squan-
dered, and her credit utterly ruined. War
was still raging, courts were nowhere held
with safety, and justice was administered
only within few fortified posts, protected
by bayonets. County governments were
broken up, and peace officers could do moth
ing Our schools and academies were
closed, as they had been during the four
years of war and anarchy which previous
ly reigned. Our grand system of Railroads
was in ruins, while the military authorities
were running such as were necessary to
their success. Guerrillas prowled without
restraint over the whole State, and our far
mers were liable any night to loose their
last horses and their only hope of raising
bread. The Legislature, by its judicious
has placed the State upon her
feet again, enabled the treasury to meet all
demands, and put the Railroads in running
order, and enabled them to meet the interest
on their loans. The credit of the State is
restored, and the State herself is restored
to the Union The courts are everywhere
open for the transaction of business. The
farming operations of the country are going
on finely, and our schools are opening in
every county. In a word, it has been the
proud privilege Of this Legislature to re-
store this noble old Commonwealth to pros
perity in business, and to her ancient posi-
ton in the Federal Union. And the mem
bers of the Legislature have done all this
in defiance of the abuse of traitors, the
SANDERS of their prostituted papers, and in
the very face of a war made upon them by
the President, whose patronage and dicta-
ton were brought TO bear upon them
through bad men who had sold out to the
or lacked the manhood to
stand up against its denunciations. All
honor to the patriotic Legislature of Ten
nessee, and the brave men in both Houses
who have faced the storm of rebel abuse,
copperhead SANDERS, and the treason of
those in high places
There are but two parties in this country, !
and in the nature of things there can be but
two parties now-one the party for the
Union, the Republican party, or if you
please, the Radical party, standing up to
and endorsing the American Congress. The
other is the representative of the Rebel
party, sometimes calling itself the Conser-
vative party, sometimes the National Union
party, and again the Constitutional Demo
cratic party. This ring -streaked and striped
Rebel party, led us into war and rebellion,
and it is time to leave it in its wickedness.
We have but two alternatives. We must
90 with the Rebel party, with all their in
fanny and the blackncss of their record, or
with the only party competent to crush i,
and that is the Republican party. We nave
again before us the issues Of 1861, and the,
Republican party alone has the .ower to
save us. Whether successful or otherwise
at the polls l stand upon this platform Of