Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-03

ly, and in fact, the masters and governing
power of the whole country. These negro
voters BY this Radical policy are to rule
not only the late Rebel States, but the
whole United States, with q white popuIa-
ton at this iimeof thirty millions.
The Radical Convention..recently ia ses-
sion in Chicago, in the platform of the
party, declare in substance that it is the
duty of Congress 10 guarantee the right of
suffrage to the negroes, the former slsgesin |
the Southern States, while the question Of
suffrage in the Northern States, where all
the negroes were free long before the war,
properly belongs to those States. Where
in the Constitution is TO be found the pro-
vision making this inequality Of the
States? Each State has the right TO pre-
scribe the qualifications of the voters
thereof. --...F ..-... ..sr.
In the Radical platform adopted at Chi
cago, no allusion is made to the Constitu-
ton of the United States nor does either
of the candidates nominated by that con-
that antiquated paper in their letters ac-
cepting the nomination. Their candidate
indorses the platform, but will have no
policy of his own. Congress, if Radical,
can rule him. ~
The Radical party have ignored, in fact
discarded the Constitution, aud in its stead
Congressional edicts are held to be the su-
preme Law of the land. The House of
REPRESENTATIVES preferred articles of i'm
parchment against the President for an al
legged violation of an act of Congress, which
act was violation Of the Constitution. /
The oath which the President is required
to take by the Constitution is that he "u0iH
faith fully erecute the Office Of President Of the
Uaited States, and tciH 10 the best Of mn this) 1
ability prCserUe, protect and defend ue Con.
stitatioR Of the Uaited States" Ii ever
President did endeavor and exert all his
eminent abilities to comply with the laws
and requirements of his official oath, the
present President, Andrew johnson, has
The motives which actuated him in BUS
tanning the government in the prosecution
Of the war for the suppression of the re.
bellion, the supremacy,of the Constitution,
have Influenced and characterized his eff
forts since the war for the thorough and
perfect enforcement of the Constitution
over the entire country; the reunion of all
the States, each upon equality with each
aud every other one, with good will aud
kind feelings among all parts and sections
of this once prosperous, free and happy
people. This extent hath his offending
no other.
The Radical Union party owe Andrew
johnson a debt Of gratitude for his services
in suppressing the rebellion. The people
of the whole country, all right-minded per-
sons, all lovers of liberty and free govern.
ant nd oil Of h.
ton owe him debt Of gratitude for his de-
vOtiOn to the true principles of free gov
eminent as embodied in the Constitution.
If there is any one earthly object which
| desire to see accomplished before aud
above all others, it is to have the govern
ment of the United States fairly admins
tered according TO the Constitution, The
States in harmonious union, and the people
Of all sections free, prosperous and happy.
For the contamination of so much good /
am not without hope. Ny hopes rest upon
the Conservative and Democratic voters Of
the Northern States, who alone can bring
deliVerance TO the whole country by ex-
polling from power the Radical dynasty
now in possession of the Capitol, the res
toration OF the Constitution in all its purity
and vigor.
To the delegates from the Northern
States in the New York Fourth of July
Convention should be confded the selec-
ton Of the candidates for President and
Vice President, in opposition to the Radi-
cal candidates, for the reason they are
sound and reliable, and they will have TO
do the efficient voting for the success of
thsoe candidates. 1 have confidence that
the convention will nominate men good
and true, in the support of whom all fair
minded men, just and right-thinking patri- |
ots-all Who love the principles of equal |
rights, the Constitution and the Union |
can cordially unite, and uniting, elect. |
l will most cordially and Cheerfully |
exert all my feeble abilities to promote the |
election of the nominees of the coming |
New York Convention. ! will hope and |
pray for their success; but l am not in |
condition to render much aid to the good |
cause. My fortunes were identified with /
the Southern people and their cause |
was a member of the Confederate Congress
in Richmond. | returned home in the |
summer Of 1865, to find detacto State gov
eminent in existence, by which | had |
already been DISTINGUISHED and Invested Of |
the rights of citizenship. had taken the
oath of allegiance to the United States and
had been fully pardoned by the President
in pursuance Of plain and explicit Consti-
tuti0nal authority. have since been
arraigned in the Circuit Court of the
United States at Nashville upon a charge
of treason, tried by jury aud acquitted.
Nevertheless, | am arbitrarily deprived of
the rights of American citizenship-in
point of fact | am not citizen,
but a subject of the powers that be,
under which | live. am not
voter. The franchise law of Tennessee
declares that "all candidates for official sta
ton" shall take and subscribe TO the oath |
in the third section of that law, and no
votes polled for a candidate who has failed
10 take the prescribed oath shall be count
ed or returned. | cannot take that oath,
OF course the Governor, to whom the re-
turns are required to be made, would hold
The votes cast for one in my condition as
illegal and void. Ny mind strongly in
clines TO conviction that am not eligible
10 the position for which the Convention |
lonored me with a nomination. In the |
event the Democratic electors were elected
IN this State, is it probable that the present |
congress, having to count the votes and de-
,lare the result, would recognize and adj |
nit as legal the electoral vote of a State
asst by one or more DISTINGUISHED Rebels?
think net Certainly not IL ii would effect
he result -saIf "
My senIe of right and duty to the cause,
Is we'll as to myself, constrain me to decline
he position Of candidate for Presidential I
IIector for the State at large. | do so
without regret, knowing that you car have
10 difficulty 10 filling the position without
lelriment to the cause.
With much respect,
GEO. W. JONES 6
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ANOTHER CHANGE OF NAME.
A dispute having arisen between some