Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-10-02
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.

We have been profoundly astonislied
at the indifference and apathy mani
tested by many of our people in ref
erence TO the Fifteenth Amendment.
We have heard some who ought to
be better informed on the subject say
that IL would make but little differ
ence whether the amendment was
adopted or not, as the ballot would
not be taken from the negro any way.
If negro suffrage were the only thing
contained in the amendment, there
might be some plalisibility in the
above position, so far as the people of
this State are concerned.
But negro suffrage Is not the only
thing aimed at by the cunning and
INSCRIPTIONS men who concocted the
Fifteenth Amendment. Ever since
the commencement of the war the
party in power has been endeavoring
to destroy the rights of the States
and eliminate from the Federal Con
stitutlon every guard placed there by
its trainers, TO protect the sovereignty
Of the States. One after another of
these safeguards has been trodden un-
der foot, and now, by the Fifteenth
Amendment, 1t is proposed to give
to Congress the right to control cleo
tions in the different States, thus
sweeping away the last Constitu-
ltional barrier. to the encroachments
of Il centralized despotism upon the
reserved rights of the States.
We are not surprised at members of
the Radical party being in favor of
this Infamous and ubiquitous amend
ment, for they have advocated con-
sistently every measure of usurpa-
ton and tyranny to keep their party
i'll power, and will, of course, con-
tinue so to do to the end Of the chap
ter. But to hear n man who pretends
to be in favor of the government, rs
established by our fathers, speak
lightly of the danger of adopting
this fifteenth amendment, excites
only pity for his ignorance, or con.
tempt for his want of principle.
Some tell us that our Legislature
ought to adopt it in order to concili-
ate Gen. Grant and the Radical
party, and thus induce them to grant
us favors or to keep their hands off r
us. We have no patience with this
political pusillanimity; for it is moth
ing else. A sound policy we are
willing to recognize and to practice,
but VIII n a people surrender honor to
appease party in power, although
they may think it policy, Others will
esteem and characterize 1t rs cow
ardice and disgrace. After the adop-
ton of the fifteenth amendment
there will be nothing left in the con-
stitution of our fathers worth pre-
serving. The government will have
passed from confederaey to GEN.
tralized despotism. Give to Congress
the power to control our State cleo
tions and we would not give the snap
of our finger for what would remain
of the old government.
When men advise our Legislature,
then, to adopt this monstrous amend
ment, they advise them to surrender
the last vestage of liberty and to pre-
cipitate tile government into cen
tr;l zcd despotism-a vast, boiling
sea without shore. We would as
soon advise woman to part with her
virtue to appeaso and conciliate the
libcrtine that sought her ruin, as to
advise Tennessee to adopt the fif-
teenth amendment to conciliate
Grant and the political prostitutes
that assist him in tearing down the
pillows of the constitution and dane
ing in drunken rcvelry over the liber-
ties Of the people. Tenncs zee is a State
in the Union. The reconstruction
ring is not in her nose; and woe be-
tide the degenerate son of hers who
should attempt to disgrace her and
her people by voting in the Legisla-
ture to adopt the scum OF all villainy
and iniquity known rs the fifteenth
amcndment-who shall vote to con-
fer upon Congress the power to in
spcct the returns Of our elections, and
stille the voice of our people at the
ballot box, by declaring some such
scamp and scalawag rs Bill Stokes or
Horace Maynard elected over II gem
ueman, who had majority of thous-
ands over them. We say again, the
Legislator who votes to ratify this
amendment, will bear henceforth a
load of scoGn and contempt that will
hurry him to an early grave.
TREASURER SPINNER will shortly
issue circular directing the Govern
ment repositories throughout the
country to redeem and forward to the
Treasurer all notes OF the National
banks in liquidation, for the purpose
of returning them to the bank which