Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-06
NEW B1LLs AND RESOLUTIONS.

Mr.. Turner presented a petition from either
OF Lawrence county, praying an extension or
the franchise.
NEW BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
By Mr.. Thornburg, Of Jefferson: Resolution
requesting the Secretary of State and Comp
trOller to report their proceedings in cOnnec-
ton with the State Board OF Finance. and also
why they have not acted with the majority Of
the Board. Adopted.
By the same Resolution calling on the Secre-
tary of the Beard of Finance for a report of its
proceedings. Adopted.
By Mr.. WOodcOck Bill directing the Comp
trOller to issue to Col. A. +. Boone warrant for
SOFA 81. for the payment Of certain unsettled
accounts in his hands. Passed first reading and
referred to the committee on Col. BOOne's ac-
counts.
By Mr.. Presser Resolution looking to the
introduction of bill to punish and remove from
office all State and county officers who fail to
execute the laws in bringing to justice those
who are now committing Outrages on loyal men
throughout the State. Withdrawn for amend
ment.
UNFINISHED BuSINEsS-THE GOVERNORS MRS
SAGE.
The unf nished business of yesterday, which
was the resolution offered by Mr.. Taylor, of
Carter and johnson, in lieu of Senate resolution
for the appointment of a Joint committee to
take into consideration the Governors supple
menJary message, was taken up.
Mr.. Doughty, who had the floor when the
House adjourned yesterday, continued his re-
marks against the extension Of the franchise at
the present time. When Republican Presi-
dent was elected next November, thus showing
that the people of America indOrse the recon
struetioR policy of the party in power; when
the Republican party triumph throughout the
country, and thus made peace a ceTtainty then
the Legislature might perhaps consider the
question OF removing these disabilities. if the
DISTINGUISHED showed a proper spirit of submits
sisn to the laws. But. for the present. the Lee
gislature neither had the right nor the dispose
ton to do this thing. He hoped that the resOlu-
ton in lieu would be adopted.
Messrs. Stone and Mynatt followed in the
same line Of argument advocating the adoption
sf the resolution.
The Speaker called Mr.. Prosser to the Chair,
and meved that the Senate joint resolution be
referred to committee. BY the Senate the
Governors supplementary message had been
treated with all the respect which it demanded.
and the resolution in question had been unani-
mOusly adopted in that body. He called on
members to remember that these were times of
| sore trouble, and that it wasShe duty of this
House to rise above the prejud1ces of party. and
to treat in n stateSman-ike manner the vital
questions which had been presented for their
| action.
Mr. Ryder reviewed the circumstances under
| which the numerous petitions had been laid be
! fore the House, and urged that the message
| should be referred to the Judiciary Committee
4 that the whole subject might receive the proper
| consideration.
Mr.. Wines I confess that am not prepared
to enter into the discussion of this question to
4 Jay. Confess lldL nave not given IL Llstl ma
1 tuTe consideration that its importance demands
nor do | propose, upon the present occasion, to
enter into a discussion of this question: ques-
/ lion the gravest import to the people Of len
1 nessee.
l We have been called together from the va
liOUs portions of the State, IN extraordinary SEES
sion, by the Governor of the State. We know
/ the agitated condition of the country we know
that the social and political cauldron is seething
/ and boiling we know that much excitement
1 prevails in different portions Of the State; we
| know that the eyes OF the people of the State
are centered upon US. DO we feel the great re-
L spOnsibiiity resting upon US ? We cannot we
dare not, shirE this responsibility. Sir, the
i Governor, at the solicitation of Judge Lea, has
i seen proper IN a supplementary message to lay
/ petition and ordinance before this General As
/ sembly, requesting the calling of a convention,
leaving the matter entirely in the hands of the
1 General Assembly, but requesting them to give
the matter that consideration that its merit re-
1 quires-in the language OF the Governor, calm
1 ly and deliberately" We find that the Senate
acting in its legislative capacity. has seen pro-
1 per so send to this House resolution, request
ing a Joint committee on the part of both houses
| to take into consideration the lestion. The
House has seen proper to adopt a resO-
/ luton in lieu, affirming IN substance that
this is not the proper time TO take this question
into consideration When | remember that the
| Senate consists of twenty-five Republican Sen.
/ atOrs, and that the resolution IN question was
1 adopted almost unanimously, when know that
they are all supporters Ct this State govern
ment | cannot see why the House should hcsi-
tate TO appoint such committee. am in hope
| that the original resolution viii prevail. Let
l il be referred to the committee and let them
| report. | can not see any objection to this
/ course. You know, sir, what the cause OF this
| cOmmOtiOn is. You know, sir, the grounds of
| complaint. A large class of the ueOple of the
| State have been disfrRnchised. They consist of
/ the better portion of the inhabitants of the
| State, for large part, the wealth and inteil-
! gence of the State. They deem that they are
1 ground down by tyranny and wrong They be-
Il haVR that they have been WTOUupI. shall npf
enter into the discussion of the question Whe Their
1 they have been WrOnged or not. 1t matters not.
| If they honestly believe that they have been
WrOnged, the effect Is the same upon their minds,
whether they have OF not. The people Of the
] State labOring under these disabilities in many
localities of the State have seen proper to petit
| ton the Legislature. They have done this in
respectful manner, using the sacred right
of petition guaranteed thcm-the right of
every citiZen-yet these petitions, cOuched
. in such respectful language, asking the extern
sion of the elective franchise, cOnjuTe up in the
| eyes OF some terrible phantOms. As a friend to
some movement looking toward the extension
of the franchise in Tennessee. regret that this
question has been introduced at this time / do
not think that it was polite. Next November,
| believe, If peace and quiet prevails in the
State in the Intervening time, that the question
will be considered tayOrably, since there are
those that believe that the Democratic party in
Tennessee ifthey should come in power. would
take away the right of suffrage from the cOlOred
men. 1t is well known that previous to the
convention oil 1874 the Tree COIOrpd men OF Ien-
nessee were entitled to the right Of suffrage 1t
is well known that the convention of 1884
took that right away from them. | have heard
some of the best legal minds in the State If am
not mistaken. affirm that. if the question had
been taken thrOugh.the inferior courts to that
last and final tribunal, the Supreme Court Of the
United States, that it doubtless would have de-
cided that the State had not the power to take
this right away without it had been forfeited.
But, Mr.. Speaker, am not as | have stated
heretofore prepared to 60 into the discussion of
this question now | am not prepared to-day to
open thss question IN all ITS bearings. But do
hope that these papers will be referred to the
committee and let them take them into cen
sideration, and they can make such report as
they may in their wisdom see proper. Take it,
gentlemen, ponder over 10 wisely and carefully
and remember the res possibility that rests upon
you at this time. Let US have peace" in the
language of our leader. Peace to brood like a
dove over our troubled political waters. Cen
tlemcn this question is one of the greatest i'm
portance of our people. Give IL that cOnsidera-
ton that 1t deserves.s
Mr.. Cason believed that now. nor was the ac-
cepted time to act upOr0 the matter. He he
Iieyed that the Governor had fully Intended in
his supplementary message to open this ques-
ton Of franchise in all its bearings. If the
House did not think that the Governor had so
intended, then they should request him to
bring the matter before them in such a manner
that there could be no mistake about it. file hal
talked with eN-Federal soldiers and the cOlored
men in his district about the removal of the dis
abilities under which the great mass of the
in favor of acting H0ir, 10 was unnatural to
talk Of peace while twO-thirds of the people
were disfranchised These troubles could not
be expected to cease while the political status Of
so many citizens was thus unfavOrable to quiet
and a proper respect for the laws. Many called
him a weak -knCed Republican because be eX-
pressed such views, but he hurled the charge
back in their faces, as inconsistent with the
great and noble principles on which the Repub-
lican party was founded.
Before he had concluded his remarks, Mr.
CasUn gave way to n motion TO adjourn, and the
House adjourned 10 , P. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. Cason continued his argument IN favor of
a liberal policy toward the DISTINGUISHED. As
far as the sentiments Of those who served with
him in the Union army, every man out Of his
company Of ninety, except one, approve ed his
course.
Mr.. BowIes From the time Adam was year
old. did you ever know government 10 be
given up TO a whipped party!
Mr.. CasOn DO not propose 90 give this gov
eminent up to the ex- Rebels. II Is our govern
ment the government Of all Of a.. in which We
are all equally interested. Tho way 10 make
these men love and support the government is
10 give them a share in IL. | believe that the
Republican party can not exist in this State a
wear longer under the franchise law. The nDral |
force and pressure is too strong against us and |
il this General Assembly goes home without |
having taken action on this vital question. we |
may lose entirely our power for securing peace |
a aouaf ri hta on a geFurp Uarrnauapt Eaafg