The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1868-08-06
To the People ofTenneSsee.

ONaNO VI IouhOooCC3 ICopOOIiuIiJ UCS iO"'O
to suggest to you the propriety and impOr-
lance Of petitioning the Governor to recon-
mend, and the General Assembly, to be
convened at the Capitol in extraordinary
session, on the 9th instrnt, to call a con-
vention of the people of the State at early
day, or to adopt such other remedy as in
their wisdom may be deemed wise and le-
gal to remove the civil disabilities now
resting upon larger portion of the white
male citizens of this State, and to restore
them the elective franchise, and to the full
enjoyment of all civil rights under the
Constitution of the State.
In addressing this appeal to your judg-
ment, The undersigned distinctly ,Uishes
to be understood as mol intending IN The
least degree that the organic law should
be so amended as 10 destroy or impair
the Uestsd rights nOw possessed by por-
tion Of The citizens o. the State, but to
enfranchise that portion of our citizens
now disfrachised by the laws of the land.
This proposition is submitted, as we hon
estly and sincerely believe, in the interest
of the peace, happiness, present and future
prosperity of all the people of the State;
and we hope that every thing may be
averted at all calculated to produce dis
cord, strife and violence growing out of
the existing troubles that now so unhappi-
ly atfiict us as people. We confidently
believe that all the political disabilities
now restoring upon large portion of our
white male citizens can, and will be re-
moved speedily, by legal and peaceful
means by the Governor and the General
Assembly of the State. And we there
fore beg leave, most respectfully, to say,
that ''strict obedience to law is the sword
of liberty"
We cannot permit ourselves to believe
that if you, the people in every county in
the State, will send up your respectful me-
MORALS addressed to the Governor and
Legislative Department of the State gov
eminent, asking for speedy enfranchise-
ment Of the large and respectable portion
of our white. male citizens, that your petit
tions will not be granted by the Governor
and General Assembly of the State, who
are your public servants and representa-
tvs. In their care and keeping, in legal
contemplation, is the peace, happiness and
prosperity of our great State.
That large portion of our white race now
disfranchised, pay very large portion of
the taxes to support the Federal and State
governments, and to make the internal
Improvements in the State, and to support
the common schools, and contribute to
Tighten all the public burthens, and to
uphold and maintain the laws of the land.
And it seems harsh to us, and in violation
of the bill of rights and the Constitution,
and at war with the spirit and meaning Of
5 our free and republican institutions, as we
believe, to deny to said disfranchised citi.
: zens all participation in the public affairs
: of our State. To deny them the right tc
= vote in the selection of those who make
: the laws to govern our great Common
e welth, or to vote in the selection of those
=, who are to execute the laws, is discrim
!, ination against very large portion of ou
| worthy, intelligent and useful white citi
: zens, which is unwise and unjust. W,
t believed that the practical working of thu
o present franchise law has beeIi such as t,
t satisfy the Legislature, that if its origina
: design was to discriminate. aaainst tina
e portion of our fellow-citizens who wer
s connected with the late rebellion, it ha
f failed in this; for each one of them ca
n call to mind Federal officers and soldier
4 who have been excluded, and to whom th
i Commissioners of Registration have re
fused certificates to vote. This is the nat
, ural result of the absolute power and dis
erection vested in the Commissioners G
Registration by the law, and which mus
. have its effects upon the original friend
= of the measure.
/. 1t tends to promote strife and discor
ii tent. 1t is destructive of that peace, haI
s. piness and prosperity which otherwis
W would exist throughout the limits of on
is State. 1t renders our peaceful and Law
lie abiding citizens disconnected and unhaI
Te py; and hangs like an incubus upon th
IS material growth and prosperity of tn
J. State. 1t defects the legitimate streal
is of money and commerce from the Stat
is 1t retards the immigration to our State
a large, useful and much needed popul;
s. ton from the Northern States and elst
it where, who would settle in bur midst, il
st vest their money in the purchase of land
m in manufacturing, and in developing tt
v. resources of the State, and increase o,
le wealth and prosperity. And above al
at we confidently believe, with the enfral
st chisement of all our white male citizen
,s strict obedience to law and order wou