Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-05
AniOn aud gispatfh.
largest Circulation in City and state.
THE SIXTEENTH SECTION.

for several DAYS has prevented our giving
resume Of the debates in the Legislature
on the bills proposing the repeal of the
81 steenth section Of the franchise law, and
giving the negroes the right to hold Office
and sit upon juries in this State. There is
bill in each House to the same effect.
That before the House of Representatives
was taken up on Monday, and that in the
Senate on Tuesday. We append a very
brief synopsis Of The discussion in each
House, as a matter of current record and
general interest
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF REPREsENTA-
TIvEs.
Mr.. c. c. Bean led of in a lengthy
speech in favor of the bill, quoting the
pledges of the Republican party in theirplat-
form of February 22d, lS67-reviewing the
laws relating to iuries, and the Justice and
necessity of this measure. In the course
of his remarks he said: 81 gay, then, that
the right to hold Office, and the right to be
a Juror, is an inherent right possessed by
| the elector, for the statute which says that
| no lunatic, or drunkard, or convict iscapa-
| BILE Of serving az a juror, is not part Of
| the organic law; it is a mere disability,
| which he, the elector, has himself imposed
| in certain cases to guarantee faithful exc
| cution of the laws created by him at the
| ballot-box. | care not whether it be a
| civilized people or a tribe of barbarians,
the right of suffrage contains, inherently all
minor immunities and privileges as the
I "a uaiA n oil ba looo for hat
ever bounds may be set, or Limitations pre-
scribed, or disabilities defined, the voter
determines them by this act and fixes by
his vote the polity of his tribe or the con-
duct Of the State. SUFFRAGE BEING
GRANTED the other rights and privi-
Ieges of citizenship are embraced within it
and subject to its CONTROL
Mr.. Wines advocates the bill, and after de-
nying that confscation and impeachment
were measures Of the Republican party, con-
tinued: "But do say, sir that this is a Re-
publican measure, and | affirm thar the pol~
lev of Congress, az shacowed forth in there
construction laws, shows cOnclusiyely that
their future legislation is TO be based upon
the idea that call men are created free
and equal" denying that infamous asser-
ton that this is a white mans government,
but the rather asserting that this is govern
ment of the people, for the people, by the
people.
Let us repeal the section, and then letthe
question come before the Supreme Court OF
the State, if necessary.
But, provided that the majority of this
House should see proper to view this seq
ton "a part of the constitution, | hope
sir, that this House may see proper tO
amend the constitution, as provided in sec
ton 3, art / !, at the same time extending
the elective franchise. 10
Slavery and secession lie buried in the
same grave, and there is no resurrection
They are the dead issues Of the past ant
soon-sooner, perhaps, than any of us car
imagine-new issues will divide us.
l cannot consent to swear an eternal ELI
nifty against those who, from the spur of this
moment or a fancied call of duty, wert
| dragged into the Southern movement. lie
| rs give to the common masses, regardless 0
color, and to all those who are admitted t.
| the ballot-box in the Southern States, al
| the rights of a freeman"
Mr.. Meyers, in the afternoon, spoke ii
opposition 10 the measure. He took tn
ground that the Supreme Court had deCi
dedthat the franchise law, including the six
teenth section, was part of the constitution
and was beyond repeal by the Legislator,
He did not wish to be understood "a OF
posing the rights of the colored man. H
was in favor of taking away the disabilitie
imposed by the sixteenth section. But ther
4 was proper and legal way Of doing thi
. Let the Legislature pass a resolution pre-
posing an amendment 10 the constitution
wiping ont this section, and let this amend
meni be proposed TO the people of the Stat,
: Let the colored men themselves vote upo
: this question. He would 90 for such
measure as this. He spoke in strong con
E demnation of the views Of Mr.. Wine
q looking TO the enfranchisement Of thos
y who took part in the rebellion.
j. Mr.. RYDER made an elaborate argumer
y in favor of the bill.
t Mr.. Mynatt spoke in support of the bill
He thought there was nothing in the COZ
st;tutional objection. He apprehende
that prejudice, more than anything els
was influencing opposition to the bill. IA
had once been a stakeholder, and he W,
sorry for it, and he had determined that
would never again lay a straw in the wa
of the progress Of the Colored man.
. Mr.. Jordan was surprised TO see any OF
position to the repeal of the sixteenth Sc,
+ ton. The party was pledged to its repea
+ and he would redeem his promise hv votin
b, for the bill.
, Mr.. Bowles had never made promi
90 this question TO any man, white
black. He felt that his duty was to h
God and his country, and he intended
do Whist he thought TO be rig
and best The colored man had no il
canse of complaint against the Republic,
party. Where was the freedman wi
he would be willing for any price, 10 go bs
~ 10 the position he occupied four years a
"a and become q slave? il was She Repub
can party that brought them ont of bon
e. ACE. and they had no cause of complain
NJ though the sixteenth section should not
at repealed. He had himself fought for the
ai freedom, and he was a friend to the color
an man, bat he was not in favor Of the rep'
of the sixteenth section. He did not thi
that the best interests of the colored man
the good Of the State would he prOmot
by il.
70 On Tuesday, Sd inst, the discussion v
continued in the House.
Mr.. Agee presumed that no one wot
denv that il would be right 90 repeal I
es sixteenth section, but whether 1t was eXl
hs dent at the present time, and in the pr
'ar ent form, was not so clear. He referred
u the various steps which had marked
ON progress Of the colored man from the q
@< dition Of q chattel to that of freeman
soldier and a voter, and argued that
these steps had, in each case, been tai
With deliberation and care He was in
7or Of progress, but he believed in tax
10 | each step so carefully that it would
40 have to be retraced. The question of
-, repeal of the sixteenth section had b
am discussed before the people in many {
, 70 tions of the State. Members did not kr
ons what was the will of their constituents
res. this question, and in his opinion 1t wo
,di- he safest and best to refer the subject to
on people 10 themselves.
in. MIR. Prosser urged the passage of
re bill Ii was time to have done with
pedieucy. There was never anything
- by doing right, and Justice demanded {
disabilities should be removed from
colored man, because he cannot now
into the courts of the State and get Just
He appealed 10 gentlemen to turn
"" ear 20 the whisperings Of expediency,
m vote for the bill on the ground Of jus
and right. The sooner they came al
the doctrine of equal rights TO all,