Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-07
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE,
Senate.

Senate.
THURSDAY, Aug. 6, IS6S.-The Senate met al
3P. NJ, Speaker Senter presiding. Prayer by
Rev. Mr.. Campbell.
Mr.. Nelson presented a report from A. ].
Fletcher. member of the Finance Board. Re-
feTred to the Finance Committee, and 1000
copies ordered printed. s..
By Mr.. Rodgers A bill entitled an act to
preserve the public peace. Referred to the Ju-
| dietary Committee. and one hundred copies or.
dered printed.
Speaker Senter presented the following mes
sage from the Governor:
Gentlemen Of the Le0isLafHre : / submit to you
| the inclOsed memorial from Maury county at the
request Of the committee appointed to lay it be-
| fore me.
(SigneD W. @. BRoWNLow.
We, a portion of the people of Maury county
Tennessee, have this day peaeeaby met to-
gether to advise and consult as to the means OF
relieving the political and social evils that ve1
| and disturb the peace Of society. AS candid men
we are compelled to admit that the credit of the
state has not only been seriously impaired
prosperity retarded and industry paralyzed but
that, in some localities at least, disorder, dis
| content and lawlessness prevail where peace
order and quiet should reign: and that every
where the public mind is filed with apprehen-
sion and alarm for the future. This existing
state of facts none can deny, whatever may be
! our differences of opinion as to the causes that
have produced these effects, or who are charge
able for the same, or what may be the true REM
edy for the evils of which VIC complain.
Whatever false statements to the contrary
| may have been heralded forth by the political
partisans and interested mercenaries through 9
venal press, in justice to TRUTH no less than tC
| ourselves, we must be permitted to state thai
4 no Rebel element or influence, or spirit, hos
tile to the authority of tho Federal government
either secret or open, expressed or understood
exists IN our community, but az acknowledgt
and yield prompt and cheerful obedience tC
its authority and commands. Slavery and &c.
cessiOn, by the late war. were buried in n com
mon grave; and none seek TO disturb theil
Ak.ne- al ~ 81. "
therefore, denOunco as utterly false any and al
statements, by WhOmSOeYer made, that this peO-
pie are dislOyal in feeling or sentiment, or will
favor any disObedience or resistance TO the law
full authority of the United States. The COnsti-
tuition Of our fOrefathers We revere as sacred
and regard all as enemies who violate its prin-
eeipleS and disobey its commands.
As now organized, the negroes constitute the
ruling power and influence IN tho State. Con-
SciOus of their strength, they are everywhere
manifesting decided hostility. not only TO their
former masters and those Of Southern birth, but
also TO the Northern men among u.s. who, per-
haps, fought for their emancipation, and within
twelve months were hailed as their deliVerers
and political saviors, thus making certain that
tendency to war Of races which statesmen and
patriots Ofall parties predicted. and which all
good men must forever deplOre.
When we reflect that our citizens were born
freemen, were reared under free institutions,
were a-dontly attached to constitutional liberty
and devoted to a republican form of govern
ment; when those who represent tie wealth,
the intelligence and virtue of the State, and
have to bear the burden of taxation. are de-
MED voice in the government, and their for
tunes and thor liberties, lives and honor of
themsel YES, their wives and children, placed
under the control and at the mercy of an ignor-
ant race. Sxasperated against them, is it to be
wondered at that our race of white men should
feel that they had been treated with cruel in
justice and punished beyond all reasonable
measureS Y ct all these evils and expressions
have been borne by the freemen of Tennessee
with degree of patient submission and uncom-
planning silence that is, to the rejecting and
unprejudiced portion of mankind, a marvel and
mystery. .-......
Feeling keenly. as we do, the grieYoas wrongs
that have been done US, we do nOtnow counsel,
and have never so done, resistance to the law.
or resort to revolutionary means. but now, as
ever, advise submission TO the laws and cOnsti-
tuted authorities, and appeal to the COnstitu-
tion, to the Judiciary aud the sense of justice of
those in authority. for redress sud relief.
We proclaim our devotion to law and order
and are ready and willing to do all things that
may become honorable men for their mainte-
nance and preservation. We would gladly aid in
country; would difuse universal sentiment of
kindness and good feeling, and would heartily
rejoice to see that happy era when an insult or
injury to the humblest individual would be re-
garded and punished as a wrong done to the
whole community.
While we earnestly desire all this, and will
ubhTLlly CO-opbTdlb Win all EOou men to bring
about this happy state of society, we cannot
shut our eyes TO the alarming fact that such is
the state of feeling between the disfrancbised
white men and the insOlent, dominant black
race in Middle and W est Tennessee, az fearfuIly
to betOken a bloody intern ecine war frightful
and appalling in its character and consequences
which, in its inception, may, like the prophets
cloud, be no longer than mans hand, yet will
soon loom up in blackened hsrrOr and delugs
the land with blood. For such a calamity may
God, in his mercy. shield and deliver us.
Impressed with those views. we feel that an
organization Of the State militia would not only
add to the burdens of taxation, already too
grievOus, but intensity the hostility of feeling
existing between the races. and tend TO precipi-
tate the dreadful issue which we cannot con-
template but with hOrrOT-an issue which every
motive that control prudent men induces US to
avoid, but which injustice TO our nature. to the
love We bsar our race, and for our wives and lit
tie ones. cannot be done by cOwardice or dis
honor; therefore 1t is
Resolved That we respectfully submit to His
Excellency, W. q. BrOwnlOw, Governor Of the
State of Tennessee, these, our views and feel
ings, with the request that he recommend 10 the
consideration of the General Assembly of the
State, soon to assemble in extra session under
his proclamation, the importance. as an act of
magnanimty and justice, as well as of peace and
order, tho re enfranchisement Of all persons
now labOUing under political disabilities To
the end that, as q united people with equal law,
VIC shall feel that for each and all there Is
but one government, whose credit is our credit,
whose prosperity is our prosperity, and whose
future is our futuYS, and that our native Ten
nossee IS the home Of US and our generations for
ever.
ID. That it DO also submitted to the Governor
that, in our opinion, a call Of the militia Is
unnecessary 10 the enforcement Of laws; on the
contrary, wise. impartial legislation will best
promote the security and peace Of the whole
Mr.. Garner entered his solemn protest against
any couRtCnance being given to the memorial |
lie thought il an insult 10 tho Legislature and |
the loyal people.
Mr. Smith said there were two or throe direct |
threats in the memorial. They say when you
will Rnfranchise US, or in other words, when you
tnTn over the government to US, then, and then /
only. will we have peace
Mr.. Nelson did not consider il a petition-he
regarded IL as n fiery stump speech.
Mr.. Misencr thought Il respectful 20 them 10 Il
receive the petition; although it was not /
sOuched in respectful language, yet he was will /
ing 10 overlook that, and was willing for IL 10 4
DO referred TO q committee TO be reported upon ]
But IL you let it go without consideration, il /
will only add fuel TO the FIRE. He was not will Il
ing 10 vote for il, without q signature, and did /
lot know whether il would be respectful 20 the
Governor to reject il.
On motion Of Mr.. Mathews, il was laid on the
able.
Senate bill No. 2. TO aid 10 the suppression Of
appearing or parading in masks, |
n this State, passed second reading. Referred |
Q the Judiciary Committee and lao copies or |
ered printed.