Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-05
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
VIII Gov. Ssnter Call a Special Session
of the Legisiatare?-sPirit Of the
Press.

VIII Gov. Ssnter Call a Special session
of the LegIsiatare?-spirit Of the
Press.
Frem the Memphis Sun. Sept. 8.
A Washington dispatch in the LOUIS
vile Sun, dated Monday night, contains
the following:
"Governor elect Senter writes to a
friend here that he intends calling the
present Legislature Of Tennessee together
before their term of office expires, in or.
der that they may adopt the fifteenth
amendment to the national constitution.
He believes the amendment would be
adopted by the new legislature, but as
long as it is in doubt, he will make the
matter sure by allowing the present legs
islatuFe to dispose of it,
Later adviees from the friends Of Gov
ernor Senter in Nashville are to the
effect that he will not convene the Legis-
lature; while special dispatches in yes
terday's Sun represented that it was
believed in Washington that Senter had
defeated the fifteenth amendment in this
this State, and consequently Grant
would show him and his friends no
favor. 1t IS certain that very strong
pressure has been brought to bear upon
Governor Senter to induce him to cons
vene the old Legislature, and he may
have made the promise in good faith to
call it together tor the purpose indicated;
but as he is expected at Nashville by
next Monday, If not before, we hope he
will reconsider his determination and de-
cline to fulfill his promise. To convenethe
old Legislature after new one has been
elected, and for the aYowed purpose of
securing the adoption of an amendment
that the old Legislature had failed to
ratify, and all on the pretext that the
new Legislature will not ratify it,
would be not only a Wanton dis
regard of the popular will, but convert
ing our whole State government into
mere partisan machine for the aecom-
plishmens of mere partisan purpOsei
We cannot believe that Gov Senter,
I however anxious he may be to see the IF
teenth amendment ratified, would be
/ guilty of an act so utterly indefensible
| and inexcusable. As to whether the
new Legislature will rstify the fifteenth
amendment, we have no means of aceu-
/ rately determining Stokes and bis little
band of procriptionists emphatically as
| sert that it viii not. But we do not be-
| lieve that Stokes and his friends are sin
/ oere in their representations in this par
| ticular. On the contrary, We believe
that Maynard and Stokes have other
schemes in view that they dare not now
avow. We believe that while they
would have the old Legislature convened
under the pretexsof passing the amend
men their real object is to amend the
| franchise act, so as to defeat
the operation Of the decision
Of the Supreme Court restoring
suffrage to those who had been disfran~
| ehised, thus seeking to deprive citizens of
| their privileges. Having done that, they
would proceed to call for new deal of
registers, and make other enactments no
less partisan and procriptive. They
might even presume to reverse the cleo
| ton returns, and declare that Senter had
been elected by fraud, and also that the
newsLegislature is not legally elected
body. In fact there is no mischief that
can possibly be conceived that desperate
| political managers, forever consigned to
the shades of private life, might net des
| wise. Even another Dorr rebellion in
Tennessee might be organized. The
peace, happiness and prosperity Of Ten
nessee, for years to come, is intimately
wrapped up in this proposed special ses>
| sion of the old Legislature; and as we
would desire for this people the blessings
and benefits Of peace, we would urge
| Gov. Senter to spare US the almost Ger.
tain infliction OF great evil and no good
by resolutely refusing to sccede to the
request Of Maynard, Stokes & Co. to call
the old Legislature to meet in special ses>
sion, either to pass the fifteenth amend.
ment, or for any other purpose. In less
than thirty days the peoples representa-
tives, under the constitution and laws,
will convene at Nashville. If they shall
pass the amendment, it viii give the lie
to the representations of Maynard and
Stokes; if they shall refuse to do 80,
they will be responsible for their failure
alone to the people who elected them;
and if Grant, Stokes or Maynard, or any
body else, should desire the fifteenth
amendment passed in opposition to the
clearly ascertained win Of the people
they are not fit to be representatives Of
the people in popular form Of goVern>
ment, but only the tools Of an infamous
oligprchyi In any aspect Of the case
the calling special session Of the Leg
islature would be an outrage on the peo-
pie, for which there could be neither jus.
tifcation in law or extenuatior, fer
which there could be no adequate JUST
fication, and we cannot but hope tta
this cup may pass from Us.