Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-10-16

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peibaps. to control those " hose, counsels
war, wrtnched, for time. the State from
Is Sniyn apaorage a y Y net z Is gSn
| cccdedin re-establ islsing thu advantages of
their former civil governments, with the
many and great sufferings endured In It's
suspension, fresh In memory, should be
Jealous for its safety, and, under influence
| of natures FIRST great law, sclf-preserva-
| tion, consider more the means for Its SCI
carity than ofextendlng All its advantages
~ those 50 recently In arms against H.
| Nor was II contrary TO reason that, in the
settled condition Succeeding the conyul-
sfons which shook nom center 70 circum-
ference this great land, they should have
honestly dreaded that control of the stat
by those who had shown, through all the
trials of war and battle, such obstinate, de-
termined spirit against the then victoria us
government, might easily result In ogRin
precipitatingit into revolution. Let IL be
remembered that Honest conviction of de-
| mand for the States safety affords broad
warrant for the patriotic action.
Bat II Is not more my purpose to here
apologize for the past franchise statutes
| than to advocate their continuance. As
one acknowledging equal responsibility
with any, 1 say: III never needful TO the
State safety, I sincerely regret each mo-
ment of their existence |; and, A. my mo-
| tive In their support was the public safety,
|
Let us all but make a Mecca OF the stand
points of ouropponents, and when we have
which may have actuated them, can but
deem 1t viii tend to soften asperity and
inspire the holy spirit of reconciliation.
II there was, or not, demand by the States
safety for the temporary disfranchiscment
of II portion of her people, may only be
known 30 Onnisclepce. Be this as II may,
even the party which, under the claim and
| 0f ".
are responsible for, never contemplated
the ,perpetuity of such acknowledgements.
And, astime in Its course assured more
and more the states safety, In the councils
of that party feebler and feebler grew the
voice of caution and warning. and louder
| and holder the tones which, under the In
spifation OF the nations institutions, de-
manded, with the States stability, party
progress in the principles of liberty, equal
lty and liberal Justice, in which must rest
mand success or, the confidence AND APP
proval of an intelligent and free people.
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
For all human ken to the contrary, II
may have been ordained, In the plan OF
overriding Providence, that In the fullness
of time this nation should honor itself by
vindicating In the conformity of practice
with theory that first great "self evident
| truth" uttered in It's immortal declaration
equal" Be this as 1t may, 1t was u result of
the war, that the sunlight which fell upon
| the soil OF this American Republic, shone
on nonea shave; and events since have,
| under the laws of this State, clothed a race,
raised rom servitude TO freedom, with all
| its limits. '.yr 80
With the appeal of our State interest for
quiet and rest from political turmoil; with
1 the ominious memory that violent politi-
cal asitations connected with this race.
to the people ofthe South !, is there q party
with us rash enough to propose destruction
or DISTURBANCE of these prfvileges? The
popular intelligence would condemn IL
| VIII a people, who have Just wok their Ow n
nfranchisementu under the unakswerable
claim of seeking only to enjoy the blessing
| in common with all other citizens, signal
ize their victory by undertaking TO wrest
| the same blessing rom Others whose gene.
ro,is aid has contributed greatly to theii
success? Honor and Justice make solemn
Can the liberal spirit of the age and the
| republics fundamental idea OF equality
before the law be violated, and the vested
privileges Of 10000 citizens ruthlessly torn
| from them, without n shock threatening to
public interest, even IL IL do not endangei
copvulsion? Reason makes denial. Then
under the dictates of public intelligence
honor, justice and reason, the eolored
mans suffrage may he safely rcckoned
| a fixed fact in Tennessee.
| What, then, are the purposes, so far n.
this race is concerned, of the proposed
amendment to the constitution of the Uni
ted states? Not TO confer special immuni
ties. or compel any social equality of tn,
colored people against the will and consent
being deprived Of privileges against theii
own. To afford them the right OF citizen.
ship and equality before the law in every
part OF the land; to simply extend. and Sc
cure to them the same privileges in Ohio
and Massachusetts which they enjoy IL
Tennessee l' . IN
Is it claimed their degradation woult
| render them, rs citizens, dangerous to TIL,
public interest? May IL not be technical,
asked, if the evil will not be aggravated
rather than diminished, by adding degra
dauon and denying opportunity Of i'm
1t is charged, by their ignorance they ar,
unentitled to voice in the selection of thos,
who make the laws they must aq,talil
obey, and for violation of which they ar,
held 10 equal liability; does not this strik'
OF the whole idea of reciprocal obligations
and rights fundamental to this representa-
know 1t Is, with vehemence, urged tina
colored suffrage and equality iIrcitizenshil
are repusnant to the American people, AM
ofthc Northern States. But / submit Il
candor, If this is not the cry off "a party
rather than the voice OF the country, spolS
en- through its lawfully constituted author
tiles. Aye, and of party which, let IL b.
deliberately pondored, has little cause, 10
its honor, to crave q balance sheet of al
vantages and disasters its counsels hav
brought to the people of this and othe
Southern States. Impartial justice will dc
mand the proofof charges Which may b
brought to degrade race, the fortunes a
identified with this land nor will be salts
fed with less than the demonstration q
experience.
If reasons Of expedioncy need be added t.
those OF pr nciple. then, IL the objection
urged TO colored citizenship be founded ii
truth, may not those who are Immediately
charged with the interest of the stat
where 10 exists, nationally and rightly pro
, test against concentration of the evil upol
them, to the exemption of States where
, does not exist. II the Intelligence OF tn
race be insufficient 10 quality for citizen
ship, II viii yet be found enough TO proven
change OF donicil, from where thendvan
: tages of citizenship are enjoyed TO wher
, they are denied. Further; the Congress 9
formally proposed the amendment IN ques
ton MS part of the policy of the Govern
: ment; and, am impressed 1t would. un
der existing conditions, be- peculiarly fortu
nate that this state should accept and rati
, fy II.
First, under the conceived obligations q
many or me Northern people, if not II
necessary To dwell upon secure the colore
population against apprehended danger,
much may depend upon the action of Ten
nessee, rs to the time and conditions, 70
the restoration Of certain other Souther
States and their people TO their former res
. peotlve relations with the general Govern
! inent, which, Unidentified with her In pas
I sutierings, vet have not been equally for
4 tunate in regainlng their advantages q
A States in the Union.
: Again. there are many worthy men {
Q Tennessee who labor under the disahilitit
Y imposed by Congress, and which, conss
quentiy, our State powers are inadequate I
reach. Joined to all this, the state itsel
$ In It's exhausted condition, has most seriou
, Implications with the General Govern
Z ment, in its railroad and other importan
/ material interests. The adoption of IN
) amendment by the Legislature more thoi
5 oughly representative Of her whole PEG pl
than any fortune has afforded since the wa
r would AT once tend TO inspire confidenc
with the Northern people, create a irieno
ly interest In Congress, and perhaps wi
, the strong, helping hand of'the Genera
. Government In Ourmany wants.
Profoundly i'm pressed with these consid
- erations, and by the emphatic dcclaratio
e of the people OF Tennessee at their la,
: election, Tor manhood equality before III
!. law and in political privileges, i would i
\ fecreant TO my own conscience and Ia IN
[ convictions of the public interest, did I ia
N