The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-02-15
Passage Of the COIOred Suffrage
Bill in the House on the
Third Reading
Freedom Nobly INDICATED.
All Hail the House of Rep
reSentatiVeS.

| From the Nashville Pres & Tines, Feb. 7.
The brave and patriotic Lower House o
the General Assembly Of Tennessee wiped
out our great reproach and weakness yester.
day afternoon, and restored to the colorOd
citizens Of tie State the great right of suc-
frage, of which they were wickedly and
treacherOusly robbed in 1884.
The bill enfranchising loyal freedmen
passed on its third reading by the oye--
whelming vote of THIRTY-EIGHT to
TWENTY-FIVE.
The announcement Of its triumphant pas
sage by Mr.. Mulloy, Speaker pro tenn, was re-
ceived by general outbust Of shouts and
clapping OF hands by the members and q
large crowd of spectators on the floor and in
the galleries. The applause burst forth
again and again, til the lofty walls re-ecboed
with the joyful sound as silver sweet as the
trumpet OF jubilee. Parliamentary order
and forms were for time laid aside by gem
carried their point after long months Of
weary struggle, exchanged those heartfelt
congartulat ions with heartiness which
those victOrs only know wHo have passed
through the fires Of relentless persecution
Just before the final vote was taken Mr..
Elliot, in brief speech Of much force deliy-
cred with his wontcd grace and courtesy, Of
fered and advocated q redemption clause re-
moving most Of the restrictions Of the bill
after 1870, He was heard with much inter-
est but II was easy 10 see that the PROPOSE
tion would be summarily tabled.
Mr.. Duggan followed in vehement remon-
trance against the adoption Of the amend
ment, which he affirmed would utterly de-
stroy tho utility Of the franchise law. He
asked when, how, and where the men whose
hands were red with our brothers blood had
exhibited any pentence for their enormous
crime
The amendment was tabled, and the final
vote was taken.
One flaw only disfgurp4 the excellent han
diwork of the House. We allude to the pro-
viso excluding colored citizens from the j1ry
hox and from office. The proviso, In our
opinion, Is wholly uncalled for, and cannot
be defended on principles Of justice and
right. II Is an expression Of fear, which
is unworthy OF being hsrbored In the heart
of any man. II belongs 10 the class Of obso-
lete ideas and prejudicos which have blight
ed our State, aud the Legislature should set
its foot upon them.
Why should intelligent e0lored men be ex-
cluded from the jury box when they wonld
be efficient there as at the ballot-box In the
maintaing the purity OF the courts and 10y
al supremacy Are colored men unfit to sit
in judgement upon Frank Farris, Ellis Har-
per, and Champ Ferguson's clan who battle
their hands In loyal blood and set q price on
the heads Of leading Union officers and SOL
diers7 We think not. Again, why deny
them the power 10 sit upon cases where both
parties are Of their own eolor2 We have no
fears Of negro supremacy. All we ask Is "a
fair start and an even chance for all"
We hope that the Senate will patiently con-
slider the provision specified, and eGpunge II
from the excellent bill. We feel satisfied
that all that Is wanted TO secure Us removal
iS cool, unpreiudiced reflection.
The East Tennesses Representatives aquit-
ted themselves with signal honor yesterday.
They had extraordinary struggle to make,
but patriotism and native sense sf justice
over old errors, and they placed
the torch OF truth 70 a dry heap oflong cher
ished prejudiees until the latter were con-
sumed TO ashes. .I.te.
Uolored suffrage Is virtually once more, as
In 1926, the law OF Tennessee. God be praiI-
ed Il is the best security against the much
talked Of "War Of races" threatened BY po-
litieal mountebankI, which the Legislature
could have enacted. Il speaks hope and en-
eouragsment TO the eolored man, and bids
him strain every nerve TO qualify himself 70
use bis suffrage wisely. The Bible and the
School.house, O, eOlored friends are thsey-
sr-burning pillars OF Gre whose light should
be your guide through this world into The
slory OF The world 10 come. ThegreAt Re
publican party Of the Union 10 the only par
" worthy Of Jour support. I. has delivered
and snfranehiSsd you, and will defend you
in the future.
We can safely promise, in behalf Of The