Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-01-03
The irrepressiblo Henry S. Foot

liuS uuhi III Nai bSDoa BSaA W shS
Legislature, in behalf Of call for
Convention to remodel the Constitu-
ton. Agreeing with the erratic au-
thor of the appeal as to the necessity
for remodclling the State government
in the interest of political liberty,
We think his laboris in vain, con-
sidering the character of the body to
whom the appeal is made. If there
be anything to hope from the Legis-
Iaturc, the first step towards reform
should be the repeal of the Fran
chise law without which repeal the call
for convention would be an insult
ing mockery. The Legislature, in
defiance of the Constitution as inter.
preted by the Court of Appeals, has
conferred upon negroes the right to
hold office, and in case convention
be called, it will, of course, be assim-
Hated to the the conventions held in
the cotton States, that is menace
rie of black and white brutes--stupid
negroes and their interiors in every
thing save low cunning and unscru-
pulous villainy.
Mr. Foote proposes to avert the
damaging results of a convention cleo
ted under tho present franchise law
by insisting, as condition precedent
upon universal suffrage and universal
amnesty. OF amnesty we have seen
and heard enough to know that tho
it may check further robbery of the
Southern people under forms of law
it confers no political rights. The
South wants its political privileges,
not amnesty for its heroic defense
of those privileges against lawless
invasion. AS for universal suffrage
we do not want it and oppose the
assembling of a convention with
that condition annexed. We believe
the best interests Of the State and the
restoration of constitutional liberty
inseperable from government framed
and administered by white men, and
would prefer to await an suspicious
time for remedying Radical misrule
by peaceable revolution to making
any compromise with negroes upon
the basis of partnership in the ad-
miuistration of the government
We look upon negro suffrage as an in
definite prolongation of anarchy with
all its attendant evils. The govern
ment, of which the present is a gross
perversion, was made by and for white
mcr, and the hopes of its success were
preGicated upon predominance of
virtue and intelligence in the constit-
uent element. To subvert this theory
and rest the security for lie, liberty
and property upon the Ignorance of
negroes under the direction of white
men degraded even lower than the
negro by the practice OF degrading
vice, is work of folly for which
there is no enuation and nothing
but ruin can follow it. The negro is
not and never will be fit for self, gov
eminent, and invest him with suffrage
is to give him the power to ruin both
himself and the white race. No gov
eminent with such a constituency,
can reach higher point in the scale
of dignity, power and prosperity
than that now occupied by Mexico
Universal suffrage is a Radical idea
that must be exploded, or the govern
mont which enforces it will stand as
n mopument of folly in all time to
come We enter oul protest against
il, and against aconvention commit
ted to it in advance. Amnesty will
prove very inadequate compensa'
ton for aeurse so deep and enduring
The voice of wisdom appeals against
such degradation of the ballot box
and experience teaches no lesson il
harmony with the madness OF bestow
iag so sacred a right upon race thai
never except rs slaves, made a stel
towards civilization, AS slaves tn,
negroes were confronted and useful, al
freedmen they are, and will ever be
thriftless aud turbulent, a curse t.
themselves and to the government
that so wrongfully and unwisel,
freed them and now attempts to fore,
them, without previous training, VI
10 the point of equality with a supe
rior race long practiced in the arts o
civilization aud the b.siness of self
government, Public opinion vii
not long tolerate them as voters au'
white men will do well TO keep il
view this foroeono conclusion instea,