Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-08

have been. and don't know that I ever |
will be.
When the killing Of Union men ceases,
the helIiSh organization of the Ku- Klux
and the laws are observed,
then | am willing to entertain PROPOSE
ton to amend the State constitution so |
as to allow the DISTINGUISHED to como |
in gradually by providing, that |
the Legislature may, by o twosthirds |
vote, remove the disabilities of these who |
petition and come well recommended by
their loyal neighbors. This would let
in well disposed ex- Rebels, and keep out
bad ones. This would not endaDger the
Republican party. for the reason that it
would require q two thirds vote of each
House to remove their disabilities, and,
in my judgment, it will be some time
before the Conservative Democracy will
have such majority. + 3et,.t
The idea of amending the constitution
so as to place the ballot in the hands Of
those OUTLAWS at one clean sweep, and
at the present time, would be cruel to
the Union men.
/ hope this will be satisfactory at
least you will be enabled to know where
| stand - t q" lsfli4tl
With my kind wishes, am truly
yours, GUqtts w. b. Stokes. q
The prompt and emphatic man.
ner in which Mr.. Stokes replied
shows that he feels keenly the
suspicion which his little contre-
temp of a few years ago has
brought upon him. The interroga-
tory addressed him by three East
Tennessee members of the Legis>
lature, touched him on that very
sore point which implied want of
confidence in him, and he answers
COMPATIBILITY, that he is not, nor
never has been, and don't know
that he ever will be- in favor of
universal suffrage. He is thus
emphatic because he aspired then
as now to govern this common
wealth, and to wayer in the least
would lose him the support of loyal
East Tennessee. But he is not con-
tent with this declaration Of his pre-
sent position and future intention.
He tells his interrogators
that "when the killing of Union
men ceases, the hellish organisation
known as Ku-Klux disbands, and
the laws are Observed" he would
then be "willing to amend the State
constitution SO as to allow the dis
franehised to come in gradually"
"This would not endanger the Re,
publican party" he says, "for the
reason that it would require two
thirds vote of each house to re.
move their disabilities" and he con
solos himself with the reflection
that at will be some time before
the Conservative Democracy viii
have such a majority" Mr.. Stokes
is decidedly opposed to endanger
ing the Radical party by letting
too many of the Taxpayers of the
State vote. He does not pretend
that it would endanger the public
safety or the credit of the State
/" to allow the disfranchised to come
in" but it would endanger thu
Radical party, which he thus set'
above the State and the interests o
a great people. This is the per
vading idea of his speech at tn
capitol Saturday. lie distinctly
declared there and then that " tn,
great rule of necessity" demanded
the Acknowledgement of the "Re
bells" in order to enable " the loya
men to control the State govern
ment, and his idea is that 9Th,
great rule of necessity" demand
that disfranchisement shall be con
tinued to such an extent at least a
not to endanger the ruling of thu
State by the Radical party, ant
the moDopolising of all the Office
by that party. No where does h
advance the idea that the institu
tons of the State, or the peace ant
quiet of the people would be en-
dangered or the credit Of the Stat
impaired in the least by restoring
the ballot to every white tax pay
er. There is not even the pretenc'
that these are the reasons 70.
opposing the restoration Of thi
right to the people which he admits
was taken from them to subserv,
the interests of those he is pleased
to term ''loyal men," 1t is hi
party that would be endangered
and his course shows that its de
mands upon him are superior t.
those of the State. In his speech
here Saturday he said:
"They had his platform in print, ovel
his OWE signature. He had it published
that every man might see it. When
would that time come when these disa.
bilities should be removed? And wher
was it proposed that it should be done
He proposed TO do it at the next session
of the Legislature, if then, peace and
harmony should prevail and men should
go on in the discharge Of their duties,
apply themselves to their own business
and should let their neighbors alone;
then it would be the duty ofthat Legis-
lature to come forward and commence
the work of enfranchisement of those
men who should attend to their own
business and let other people alone"
Now what does this amount to ?
Precisely nothing. The "Rebep'
people of this State have shown
themselves the most law abiding
people in the world. There are
laws on our statute books enacted
especially to catch them, yet the