Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-23

n
APPEAL TO JGsT-ATINDED AND Pa
FRIOTIg HEN AGAINST An IN
BOUNDED AND CRUELTY TEIIREK-
ALGHARGE El 1-zss s.i
i am panied at finding in the. Rspubli-
can Baaaer of this morning q report OF
Judge HaFrison's speech last night at the
Courthouse, in which it is distinctly and
deli berately charged that one of the objects
Of the disfranchised citizens Of the State al
this time desiring 60 berelieved from their
present civic disabilities, is to deprive the
colored voters of the State Of their ex-
listing right 10 vote in elections The
precise language attributed to Judge
Harrison by the reporter of The
Republicans Baslnsf is az follows: aThe
Democrats were asking the Leeis.
lature to call what they termed Constiil-
tional Convention, having feE its object the
repeal Of the franchise Law, the enfranehise-
ment Of the whites aud The permanent dis
franchisement Of the blacks.'' Nov, in
regard 10 this matter, / entend 10 use none
but moderate and courteous language in re-
spouse 10 an accusation which, under differ
ent circumstances, might we'll call forth
resentment and Indignation. But | deny
most emphatically, for myself and all in
telllgent and high-minded Democrats with
whom have intercourse, that We have any
such. object in view as that 80 unkindly
charged upon us. We desire to be restored
to the enjoyment of our own constitutional
rights we claim that we are entitled 10 be
thus restored IN the promplest and most
et1ectual manner; bat against the fran
chises accorded by the existing govern
ment TO others, We aim not to make war in
any form. The great suffrage experiment
now trying may or may not be successful.
Time and the wisdom of practical states
maHship can alone settle this at some future
period Of Our history. II may be, as
Mr. Greeley and some others are now
contehdiHg, that what is called impartial
Suffrage or suffrage based, not on line
age aud color, but on intelligence and A
limited property Qualification, may be before
many years universally adopted ia the
different States of this Union. Bat whether
even this would be wise or unwise. ia a
question which is not now before US. The
disfranchised citizens of Tennessee desire
a convention called which may 80 amend
the Constitution of the State as to re-en-
A1s
bilities, with the rights which they former
ly enjoyed and they wish all constitutional
amendmentstO be basedsupon equal rights,
complete amnesty and forgiveness of all past
injuries, either real or imaginary, the
faithful maintenance of all uested rights of
every kind, and the support of all legisla-
tive enactments so long as they shall not
have been declared unconstitutional by the
judicial tribunals of the State. We do not
even propose to go so far as Judge Harri-
son himselfis known to have gone several
months since in persHading the colOred rioters
not to aspire to official station. In relation
to these matters, we propose to say nothing,
and to do nothing. As to what Judge
Harrison says about his desire, that we
should remain in our present disfran-
chised condition for the next three
or four years, or for longer period" |
decline to say word in response. l could
not discuss this vital matter, in answer to
such an illiberal and insulting suggestion.
l fear, with that temper and moderation
which | desire to exercise. / shall, there
fore, for the present, "cOmmune nth my
heart, and be STILL"
| have only one other remark to make,
and that is, that the memorials
now being subscribed on the subject here
in discussed, SO far as / am informed, or
believe, are all correspondent in substance
and spirit with the declarations contained /
in this communication; and, though what
ever influence Judge Harrison may pos
SEAS shalfbe welded against the reinstate-
ment of our DISTINGUISHED fellow citizens in
The rights from which they are at present
debarred, / have much reason to hope that
Governor Brownlow aud the General As
'embly of Tennessee, rising nobly above
.he paltry influence of faction, will dare to
lojustice to those who are now so deco
'ousIy aud earnestly appealing to them.
-, ii. S. FooTE.