Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-08-14
New RcsoiutiOn-prosp Extcn.
sion of the franchise.


sion of the Franchise.
BY Mr.. Prosser-WHEREAs, it is
the pride and boast of all Republican
institutions that their objects and
aims are the maintenance and execu-
ton of the laws, SO as thereby to in
sure protection to life, liberty and
property; and
WHEREAS, certain able and influ-
entail men who were the leaders of
the soldiers of Tennessee who took
part In the rebellion, have manfully
and voluntarily came forward and
rendered their services, influence and
hearty cooperation in all necessary
measures for the maintenance of
peace, preservation of order, and the
/ upholding and sustaining of the Con-
stitution and laws of the State, as at
present existing, and have pledged
their honor and their efforts for the
furtherance of these very desirable
ends. And many good and peaceably
disposed citizens, who once We're sol
diers in the rebel army under these
same leaders, will initiate their eX-
ample, as once they followed them In
war, and thereby promote the objects
and purposes of this General Assem-
bly,, to wit, the peace of the country
and the welfare of the State; and
WHEREAS, As their personal and
united efforts in this good cause are
all the guarantee that any or all of
them can give; and, i'm order tina.
should they fail, we may be ready ana
fully prepared for any emergency
that may arise in consequence of said
nr Mt In ap Tod mn.
thority should be given the Governor
to organize, arm, equip and call into
service force sufficiently large to
meet the emergency, and thereby Of
feet that which the efforts of all good
and true men, irrespective of party,
could not otherwise secure; and,
WHEREAS, The franchise law, as
now found upon our statutes was
never intended to be permanent, but
transitory, depending for its limit of
life altogether upon the conduct of
those who had actedin such way as
to bring themselves within its pro-
visions, and lawn ~
WHEREAS, The earnest ofthe good
conduct now promised, if carried sue
cessfully intopractice so as to convince
all men that it is nolonger necessity
to protect citizens of the State against
wrong and oppression, will by its full
fillment change and modify the views
of all lovers of liberty, Justice and
peace; therefore :. m.E
Be it Resolved by the General As
sepibty ofthe State of Tennessee, That
it isaneither the aim nor desire of this
General Assembly to force conflict
of any character whatever, but re-
CARDS it as its solemn duty to clothe
the Executive with ample authority
to protect the citizens of the State, or
any part of the State, against violence
to either person or property, or both,
come from whatever quarter it may.
RcsoiUcd, That with the people
themselves rests the settlement of the
question as to whether or not there
action contemplated herein, and that
the best evidence which can be given
of the cooperation of all good citi-
zens with the men hereinbefore re-
ferrcd to will be found in such q course
of conduct as will preclude the neces-
sity of any resort to force to aid in eX-
ecuting the laws of the State and
giving peace to its Inhabitants.
Resolccd, That should there be no
necessity for such Executive action,
the provisions and pledges referred to
in the foregoing preamble will have
been made good, and thereby the
minds of all true patriots will be
favorably impressed as to the remov-
ing of the restrictions imposed by the
franchise act in accordance with the
Constitution and laws made in pursu-
ance thereof; and, although the pre-
sent may not be proper time to take
into consideration that very impor-
tant matter, still the question is of
such character as will of necessity
come up for consideration hereafter,
and will be treated with that atten-
ton which its importance demands,
and determined in such way as per-
manently to secure the peace and
property of the State.
On motion of Mr.. Prosser the rules
were suspended and the resolutions
referred to the Committee on Military
Affairs.