Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-06

East Tennesseans he could not speak. He did
not believe, however. that the loyal men OF East
Tennessee were now ready or ever would be
ready TO submit to Rebel rale If the other two
sections of the State were ready to turn over the
control of the State and the safety Of the eOlOred
men TO the tender mercies Of those who fought
to destroy the Union, let them do it; but he
prayed that before that time came East IenneS-
see might be permitted to 60 of to herself, and
thus be spared such fate
Mr.. Williams 1t was to be regretted that
many members had allowed their feelings to get
the better of their judgment. Was it the part
of statesmen to rehearse the wrongs they had
endured as Union men and God knows they
had been bitter and many. Was il the part Of
wise legislators to thus bar the hearts Of the
people against them2 Although he did not
think II 4 wise policy to open up the franchise
question apd place 1t in the issues of the pend
ing campaign, he believed that the Wisest course
would be to refer the Governors message to
committee and dispose of il in the usual way.
lie would even be in favor of saying to the
Rebels IN that report that, if they behaved
themselves, aSted to suppress the armed
bands who were now Perpetrating Outrages
throughout the State, obeyed the laws and
acknowledged the legitimacy of the constituted
authorities, the House would be willing to take
steps to restore their lost privileges. Gentle
men mightsay that these men should never be
entranchiSed, but, unless all history was a lie
the time would come when they would be com
PEELED to do so. Did members pretere, then.
that the Constitution should be amended by
their enemieS2 There was danger in the tu-
ture. Ii was only the shallow demagogues who
legislated fer the present alone. He could not
deny that the policy of the Republican party in
Tennessee had lost thousands of votes in the
North. This was admitted By the most intiuen
tial Republican papers. The party in power
could not disgrace ITSELF in the present serious
aspect of affairs, by meeting their enemies half
way. Would to God that the animOsties Of the
past could be buried row and forever, lie hoped
gentlemen would pause ere they set about TO
deliver those speeches which were only calcula-
taA To au7h Iftar tho nuhlio mini
Mr.. Hacker. These cOnciliatOry speeches
were but part and parcel Of the proceedings
of the past two or three days, and were intended
to fire the public mind on the franchise ques-
ton. Such sentiments a. those Of the gentle
men who had preceded him, served only to give
aid and comfort to the Rebels, who looked to
him as their right-hand man. If il were not for
this sympathy from those who claimed to be
Radicals, the Rebels would be quiet. What
could the cOmmitte do with this question
What could it effect Enough courtesy had al
ready been shown these petitioners and It had
been mere waste Of time. lie accepted the as
suranccs of the Rebel Generals as good Omens,
but that was as far AS he would go, After hav-
ing been driven from his home during the war
by these Internal ScOundrels he was not willing
to be dictated to by them. He then read from
n report of a speech, delivered July 30, in which
General Quarles is said TO have reflected very
severely on Governor BrOwnlow and his ''lcgis-
lative assemblage Of scalawass and bummers"
Governor BrOwnlOW did not want this question
agitated. If he were here to-day he would tell
the House to let II alone.
Mr.. kercheval: Why. then, did he send the
message
Mr. Hacker: Merely out Of courtesy to this
man Lea. They had already agitated the ques-
ton enough fit were referred 20 a committee
here would come mere Of your sham Peace Com
missiOners and he would not be surprised II
jeff. Davis himself were tclegraPhed for. As
for this man Guarles. his speech showed that he
not only knew all about the ku-klux Khan, but
he was in full sympathy with them. He be-
leyed with the gentleman from Carter, (Mr
Singletary) that if the Middle and West Ten
neSsee members were preparing soft beds to lie
on, the East IeunCSsans were ready to let them
fall lone. His constituents would drive him out
of his county if he dared to vote for the enfran-
chsement oft the Rebels.
MIR. Wines About ten days before the Legs
laturc met, a party of hu-hluX came, as is gen.
orally supposed, from Christian county, Ken
lucky, just over the line. This occasioned a
good deal of excitement and alarm in MOntgOm-
cry county. Three days ItterWard, what was
called q Union meeting" was held-that is n
meeting of men of both parties. 1t was called
at the suggestion of Gen. William A. Quarles.
He was, however too unNwell to be present. and
sent his brother, James A. Quarles. to represent
him. Speeches were made by McSsrs. Bailey,
HOrnberger, and others, on the part of the De-
mocrats, and by two or three on our side, de
nouncing the course of the ku-EluN in visiting
that section, and resolutions to the same intent
and purpose, which had been prepared by Gen.
Quarles, were adopted. IL was agreed that the
police should be instructed to arrest all persons
appearing on the streets in disguise, or inter-
teTing with citizens. The hu-hlIX Khan was
not regarded with favor by the men Of either
party in Montgomery county
THE above statement appears To have been
suggested by Mr.. Hackers denuneiatiOn of Gen.
QuarleS.
MI White, of Greene, contonded that in view
Of the plain language used in the Governors
first message, the House had no right TO touch
the question Of franchise at this session. and
argued against any action looking to the enfran-
chisement OF the Rebels All he could say to
H.. . B
hard" General Nancy had declared at the first
conference with the Committee on Military At
fairs that the franchise law was a Just law,
while General Cheatham. whom with Generals
johnson and Nancy. he believed TO be an hon
est man, had not claimed that they ought to be
enfranchiscd. The gentleman from Wilson,
Mr.. CasOn, had said that the loyal government
OF Tennessee would not stand year unless these
disabilities were removed. My God 1t will
not stand half year il you do enfranchise them.
He was emphatically opposed to opening up the
question at the present time, Let the Legisla-
ture see that the finances were attended to, the
militia properly organized, and then go home.
Mr.. eagle: Members have wandered too
much into the political questions Of the day, and
away from the real merits Of the business for
which they had been called together. He was
for action, and would prove 1t by his course
On the one hand the galleries were filed with
cOl0red men who, il was claimed, had been
driven from their homes by the kU-kluX, thus
causing an immense pressure for calling out the
militia; on the other hand, these petitioners
were coming into the House daily clamOTing
for a repeal of the franchise law. The LegIsla-
ture was thus placed between two conflicting
elements aad it behOOyed them to act wisely
Give these Confederate Generals who have con
ierred with our committees chance to prove
their words by their deeds. They say that they
don't want the militia, and have given you as
surances that they can and will preserve peace
in the unsettled sections Of the State. If they
will do what they promise, then / want no mi
Htia-not man. Let them 90 home and carry
out their pledges TO restrain those who are now
committing these deeds Of violence on loyal
citizens. Here was chance for a true test Of
the temper Of the dIsfranchised. We need not
be afraid Oftheir arming and getting such start
Of us that We can not check them. When
they give us practical demonstration of
their sincerity, |, who suffered as much as any
other Union man during the war who hal n
beloved brother murdered and dreadfulIy mutt
lated by the Rebels, and who lost three cousins
who were fOully assasslnatcd for being loyal to
the government. am ready o. forgive them and
bury the past. / may here say, that if the
colOred men whom hear drillinG around the
CITY are to be organized and armed before we
honesty Of their professions, ], for one, am not
for letting them be mustered in. Let US not
strike the first blow, If the late Rebels really and
earnestly desire peace, for a clash of arms now
must inevitably prove the Inauguration Of dis
Mr., WeIch referred 10 his own experience at !
the hands of the Rebels when the war broke |
out, and contended that they had not since ]
shown a disposition 10 support the loyal ad- |
or respect the rights Of loyal citi-
zens.
Mr. Taylor moved TO lay on the table the mo
ton 10 refer the resolution Offered by Mr.. Tay |
lori, TO the Judiciary Committee. Carried. Ayes
y noes l6.
Mr. Roach It would be a very bad policy n
adopt the resolution. The language Of the
Governors second message showed plainly
enough that he had intended 10 bring the fran
,hise question directly before the attention Of
he House. Let the message be referred 20 n I
and then no would be IN favor Of
Ome such language as being used toward the |
petitioners in the report Of that committee.
I on have said that you are for the preseTyn-
lion Of order and obedience 10 the laWs. You
,fer US certain guaratees that your intentions
ire honest and that yOu can suppress the disOr-
lcrs complained Of Carry out, thou. this poll
y in good iatth, and we viii meet you here next
November in the same Just and liberal spirit.
lie continued IL was time for the people 10
,Uin G together. Do not dissipatc all hopes Of
,eace by driving these disfranchised petitioners
rom our presence before we have even tested
he sincerity Of their professions II can do no
iar1n 20 try thcm-it must do much good.
The previous question was then demanded on
he adoption OF Mr. Tayl0r's resolution, which
vas ~ tyllws.
Resolved by the General Assembly Of the
,tntc Of Tennessee, That we don't think this the
a.H-a 80. "a. -.