Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-08-28
THE CONVENTION.

During the late canvass, it was anticipa-
ted, and, we think, conceded by both par
ties, that IL would be not only proper but
necessary, 10 call a constitutional conven-
vention to fe-adjust the organic law to our
Altered circumstances since the war, and to
get rid of the disabilities fastened upon our
people by n conclave ofunscrupulous men,
who assembled without authority from
the people, and leaning upon the strong
arm OF military power, determined In the
FIRST place that the State belonged to the
saints Of the Lord, and in the second, that
they were the saints aforesaid.
Since the election, some gentlemen, too
polite to be practical, and too cautious to
do what the plain dictates of common
sense, MS IL seems TO us, demand should be
done, are urging objections to convention
ut present, fearing that something unwise
or trash may be done II such a body should
now assemble. We do not share In the
fears expressed by those opponents of a
convention. We believe that such body,
composed Of the representative men of
Tennessee-and no others should compose
body convened to remodel the organic
law-would be as far from doing things
rash and unwise rs those very prudent
gentlemen who fear to trust them. We
mink the delegates to that convention
would be composed Of men land that the
people would see that IL was constituted of
such men, as wise in their day and gener-
alton as those self-constituted children
OF light, whose nerves are put on the rack
every time the wind makes a noise or a
dog barks We are tired of walking on
eggs and holding our breath, and putting
our fingers to our lips as signal of silence.
and shaking our heads In solemn warning
that no one shall say word, and whisper
ing our fears to each other through chat
tering teeth, and playing the old woman
Mt funeral, or the half-grown boy in pass
ing graveyard after night. We have pass
ed through terrible scenes. and have been
the victims of almost intolerable oppress-
Ion, but we have not been emasculated by
the one nor deprived of our reason by the
other. Notwithstanding both, the people
OF Tennessee to-day are fully capable ofse-
Letting such delegates to q convention as
Will neither imperil our interests by their
rashness nor disgrace our State by incorpo-
rating improper provisions in our organic
law. Let us take up these questions like
men and dispose ofthem. With the inter-
ests and destiny of the State in our hands.
let us demean ourselves in manner wor-
thy OF the high trust which recent events
have dovolved upon us, and quit seeing
ghosts and turning pale. Let us rouse our
selves, and summon our common sense and
our manhood to our relief, and every symp-
tom of the political dyspepsia, with which
some OF our people seem AFFLICTED, will dis
appear, the blood will leap from the heart
to the extremities In joyful currents, and
rosy hue of health and vigor suffuse the
whole body polite.
with n constitution properly adjusted to
our altered condition-the State in the
hands Other tax-paying people, we shall
DC prepared to enter upon tho great work
of rebuilding her waste places and repair
>ng che damages sustained ut the hands of
those who took advantage OF her helpless
condition to seize the reins of power, and
afterwards to seize everything else which
their hands could find to take. A conyen-
ton, called ut once, Will settle many ques-
lions which, If left open, will be a fruitful
source or discussion, and perhaps of dissen-
sion and division among us. 1t will quiet
the fears of the minority, whose conscience
makes towards of them all, and show TO
them that, although they have richly
merited punishment, we have too much
self-respeot, and regard for
the principles of. constitutional liberty, to
inlet 1t, by following their unworthy ex-
ample. 1t will show to the world that we
accept the situation in good faith and meet
the demands of the occasion in n spirit
that belongs alone to high-ininded men,
who are capable of raising themselves
above the resentments of the hour and
obeying the dictates of an enlightened
Judgment. The slandcrer's busy tongue
Will then be silenced, and the pensioned
libeler's occupation will be gone.
Ofcourse our best men must be selected
rs delegates to the convention. The time
serving demagogue and the pipe-laying
politician will be out of place In that body.
What the true interest and welfare of our
State demand should be done, and will be |
done. Questions requiring the best intel |
lect OF the State will arise. We have men
an eminent degree of grasping
with every question that win present itself
for solution, and of disposing oft wisely
and well. Let us, then, dismiss our fears,
and come up to the work before us like
men capable of governing ourselves, and OF
driving the stakes and making IT, c bounda-
ries forthe government of others.
..lN NJ AL e. n