Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-20
Lattar from Hon. H.s. Foota.
To the Members Of the Senate and House Of
Representatives Of the Legislature of Ten
nessee In General Assembly convened:

ton that presume 10 address you on a
subject Of vital importance to our whole
people; and nothing but a sense Of duty
now permits me to undertake task
OF nature so delicate and responsible,
the execution of which have been all
along hoping would be seasonably
attended to by others having much higher
claims TO influence your official action
than it is my fortune to possess. The
gracious and respectful reception ac-
corded recently by his Excelleney, Gov
Brownlow, to communication of a
somewhat similar import which took
the liberty of forwarding to him, encour-
ages me to hope for action on your part
of a corresponding character.
Let me declare in advance, that il is no
part of my present purpose to refer to the
painful scenes of the past, or TO the suf-
ierings which our people are now endu'
ring, with such commendable patience
and quietude, in manner calculated, in
the least degree, to wound the sensibili-
ties of any member of your body, or to
awaken unpleasant "reminiscences which
all good and patriotic citizens must de-
sire as soon as possible should be buried
in oblivion.
Itis exceedingly gratifying to discover,
that in spite of all that the rude occur
rences OF war, and the consequences
naturally flowing from the deplorable
conflict from which we have recently
emerge!, the inhabitants of our State are
now rapidly becoming reconciled to each
other; that the estraDgement and alien
alton heretofore existing among them is
everywhere giving way to the ancient
sentiments of amity aud brotherhood,
and that but little is wanting save just,
equitable and statesmanlike legislation
on your part to the complete restoration
of our former prosperity, and to such o
thorough development of our wonderful
native resources, as shall cause our noble
commonwealth to be universally recog-
nized as the foremost State in the Ameri-
can Union in wealth, in population, and
in all that appertains to the corporate
happiness aud dignity of free, united,
and law.respecting people. {.
/ shall pretermit on this occasion all
unkind or disrespectful reference to that
memorable historic fact, the establish
ment of our present State Government,
few years since, in season of extreme
excitement and commotion, in manner
supposed by those who organized it to
have been justified by an existing mill.
tarv necessity. / shall not now vehe.
mently complain of that series of legis.
lative measures known as franchise acts,
avowedly for the needful support of that
government, existing, as it was supposed
l. -. al ~ vt,b lIO
sentiment constantly meuacing it with
overthrow. | shall not dwell upon the
calling into existence among US of an
active military force for the purpose of
suppressing tumultuous movements
which it was at the time apprehended
we're likely to arise among proud and
gallant people, trained to the love of
freedom, and long accustomed to its
uninterrupted enjoyment Passing by
all these matters, | proceed at
once to explore the present civil
condition of our State, with view
to the suggestion of such remedial
expedients as seem to me to be at this
moment indispensably necessary to our
present repose and our future safety.
The following short statement of facts
will not be called in question by any
honest and intelligent man /. The peo
pie of Tennessee are at present perfectly
quiet, orderly, and law abiding, both in
spirit and in action. 2. There is no
disposition exhibited anywhere to resist
the existing authorities by arms, or to
oppose, in seditious manner, the exc
cution of the laws of our own State, or
the laws of the Union. 3. The people Of
Tennessee were recognized by the nation
al Legislature, nearly three years ago,
as having entered into the late war under
such circumstances, and to have con-
Quoted themselves during its continuance
in such q manner as to be clearly entl-
tied to be represented in both houses Of
Congress, as they now are. 4. Notwith'
standing these facts, State govern
meut is now IN operation amongst us,
which has never yet received the formal
approval of one.fourth of our citizens,
which was originally framed by a very
small minority of our people, and owes
moment to military coercion. More
than two-thirds of the white voters of
Tennessee have been subjected to civil
Acknowledgement, by mere legislative
enactment, without judicial Investigation
of any kind, and, though owning the
greater part of the property of the State,
and constantly subject TO heavy taxation,
are not permitted to participate in any
way in the administration of the govern
meut, or to exercise the right of voting
in any election whatsoever. Meanwhile,
our colored residents have been enfran-
chised aud are allowed to vote in all
elections; a measure Of which our people
have never been disposed to complain,
provided they were not themselves kept
in q state Of degrading and ruinous
servitude Under these circumstances,
it is bumbly submitted that the time has
arrived for the complete restoration OF
the freedom of our citizens; that they
have an undoubted right to claim the en-
ioyment, as we'll as others, of the much
Landed principle of equality before the
law; and that the present moment is a
most propitious one for establishing the
govern ment of our State upon the basis OF
universal suffrage and universal am
nesty. / will urge further, that any
delay on the Iart Of the Legislature IN
calling into existence convention for
the purpose of efecting these objects,
may be perilous to the public repose, and
productive Of permanent mischiefs,
which, should they be permitted to have
existence, it will be found difficult of
remedy. A thousand reasons might be
given why this great and salutary work
Of deliverance should not be a moment
delayed. Gentlemen, / mean no disre-
spect when l say to you that it will not do
for you TO chicane with your situation.
On somewhat similar occasion, the most
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