Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-06-04

aren't that the plan of urco,diti nal resis-
,nce 20 reconsttur'io ion had ceased to com.
rand the one I'D sprnssh'e condition Of
nccess = a united people. MANY Couserva-
ives, too, fatigneh iuto empi nee hyyearR
{ passive suffrfirg lad come TO regard M
70 suffrage, alteaiv rivetrd on eig'd Of the
outhern States ~ fix 4 E Ct In the desti
y &c them all; aud To- accept H. az such,
long with the alleviatinns which would at
end restored snff age, restnFcd eligibility
o tiii. Q, and the withdrawal OF military I
ule. The tes' vote In the Convention upon |
he policy proper to he adopted In this al
cred state Of circumstances, NAV probably |
De regarded a. fair exponent of the change
which had taken place In the minds Of the
people, A decided mi rity fsv1red the
new line of action which vas adopted. T.
have gone into the si'pr''achirg-- di
vded in corns'l, and distr c'rd by the
Iresencs Of candidutsoft N { seyersi shades
Of cpinion, represer,eah v withsrS, Walker
aud Wells, woph have been to assure the
succ Is Of the I s''ns6,rd, aud rerhsTs the
adoption Of the cots itutraa with all its
enormitiee. SIM. compr' mise, therefore,
became indispensahiy necessar, and that
was found in the spirit &C generous conces-
sion with which minority, marked for It's
intelligence, purity and patri0tism, yielded
the ground ofurcondit iopel OPP osition, and
In which the candidates who had stool on
hat ~ ouhd resigned their + ositions-con-
duct worthy Of them, and which has entail
ed on their f,ilow-cirz, an obligation as
grateful asst viii he. frm apd lss.irg Those
Who diss.utcd fIom tho majority only re-
qnired TO be left free 10 Y tie at pleasure 10
the election on the constipation and for
State fIicers; aud the Convention accord
inyiy rcsrained from making any recnmmen
dations on thnso sui jacts. IL prescribed no
tests, but confined IT'S exhoftations to those
objects as 10 Which it will he conceded all
Conservatives opp'sitrn TO the
clauses of the constitution which will be
separately submitted, and securing the cleo
{ on of a proper Legislature.
Much and natural dissatisfaction is felt at
the refusal 10 submit The county trsauiza-
tion clause to a separate vote; and 1t has
been suggested by some whose onions are
entitled to respect that the disappoin' mel MT
TINS Inflicted furnishes a reason for recon-
siderirg the policy adopted by the Conyen-
tiop, and for it's re assembling for that prr.
pose. Bnt II would seem that such mea
sure would involve lss of time which
could i'll be spared from the work Of organ
cation and preparation for action, would
induce doubt and distraction In our coun-
sells, and result at last in adherence to the
veil covsidered conclusions already an-
Doupced. Moreover, sush course would
be q departure from that federation Of dis.
senting opinions which induced the Couvcn.
ton to leave the vote on the constitution
and on candidates an entirely open ques.
ton. Could the minority of that body by
any process glow into a majority on that
question. Could the minority of that holy
by any process grow into majority on thai
question, 1t would surely be an ungracious
return to prescribe q test to those who diff
fer with them when they would not willing
ly have accepted one themselves. Bat
there is reason to believe that instead of be
G. nj ng IN i5tity they would, on the ress
sembling Of the Convention, find their nun
bers reduced--at least there is none to sup
pAse they have increased. 80. .t
But the question which aiises above al
others In importance is (; Should not the
white vote be rallied in Its full strength ir
opposition to the test oath aud disfranchi.
sing clsusesf Tho defeat Of these clauses
will be In effect a measure Of white eman
cipstion. IL will rescue the white race from
political ostrAcism, restore to II tho control
of the State, aud forever secure to the vr.
the, intelligence and property interests Of
the community, their legitimate IL huence
II will empower those who pay the taxes ia
levy and ,xpend them, Thus frustrating the
organized spnliation which combinatio7
OF negroes, paupers and worthless adventu
re q would otherwise have irfi cted. 1t will
confer the power of change or rrpaal over
the CoDs tituiion itseiH: which under the sys
TEN OF exclusion it desigt cd to perpet tie
would have been forever impossible. o.
this subject the State of Tennessee afford.
/ q ro.o FIJI hut az m cti q Th.r.
what practically constitutes the State i.
| Just what was designed to be organized un
der this Constitution, in its original form
The blsck', brutalized by years of slavery
! oincd With native whites Of the lowest or
der, and advtn,nrers from abroad, if posi-
bic, worse, make up tbs b.hy polite
There we have seen q mob militia, white
and black, headed by a ruffisn Governor
indulgi0g it, proper instincts in their wild
est sxcesses. Lawless :,rces usurps the
place of order and law. No right is s,cred;
no home is safe. Meantime, the virtue, in.
telligence, and wealth of the State are
wholly excluded from the government, and
denied its protection. Those who in fact
oton the State stand outside of tho organi.
cation thus created, powerless to change,
because denied admission iato II. And thu
must this unhappy people continue, until
to the suffering y endure. XIX.
r 0aly second in inn Ostance TO the success.
full assertion of our rights as members OF
the body polite will DO the election of a
Legislature with the power ard the dispo
sliion to avert or mitigate the various evils
designed TO be inflicted under this const. tn
ton. The taxing roser WILDE in its hands
the electisn of judges and other s ate off.
GERS; legislation on salaries, ecu ~ organi.
zition; govsrnmCn mt Of ciLies and t0was, ed
ucation; militis; homestead aud o her ex.
emptions; a respportionment of representa-
ton after the census TO be taken next year
future charg' In the constituiion--all the
great objects Of Government may enter into
its deliberations. Can we hesitate whether
10 cOufide power over these vital interests
TO friendly hands, or by indifference aud in.
action snli it to deyolve on such as are
alien and hostile II Is earnestly recon.
mended that men Of ability aud character,
deserving the confidence Of the people, be
brought ont and Supported for the I.rgisla-
ture in the counties and districts. The ar
rangement of representation ia this consi.
tuition was designed TO exclude such repre-
s4ntatives from the legislature. Fraud,
rapine, and the spirit of confscation, pre- 81
drd over is formation aud d ctatrd its pro-
visions; and In nothing more conspicuOnsly
than in the gerryntInler Of the representa-
ton. Yet the whites have the numbers tc
defeat the scheme, and can do so IL they
will. Lot them not be wanting Ia the z al
energy aud determination, required to Of
feet ". -
Tho Convention made no recommenda
ton 10 regard to the election II the princi-
pal State officers. But while all are free IL
this matter the Commiiteo feel IL to b,
within the line OF their duty TO offer sucl
sngsestion' as seem prudent and wiso, to b,
recsiysh, however. only FIR Nhat they ma,
BE- worth, in the judgment of those TO whom
they are addressed.
A htle objection Is said 10 exist 10 tn,
minis VI some 10 both of the candidates I,
VIII m choice is now restricted, that the,
a northern men; and IL beyond this cir
cunst.nce of sim litude there existed u,
difference between them, II would be saf,
TO IN inlge a sentiment OF indifference /,
both but IS this so
In Colonel Walkers antec edenis, as wei