Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-23

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1 to repeal those laws and thereby facili
tate and render legal their proceedings
that they did not obtain permission an,
assistance in that invasion was entirel,
owing to the fact that Congress refused
to act in the matter.
I'll RIGHTS OF FoREIGsNBoRN CITIZENS.
I may state as fact, that foreign-borr
. citizens have had their vital interests
better advanced, and in every respect
, have had more done for them within the
past four years than at any other period
since the American republic has been
established. .r..
Il And in further;ng the welfare of the
foreign-born citizens, had no double
purpose in view, for when we are in pur~
suit of correct principle, we can never
| get false ideas, nor commit wrong actions.
While some were advocating that foreign
ers should remain for twenty>one years
previous to being considered eligible to
the rights of citizenship, in speech at
Murfreesboro, in 1855, advocated the
views now hold, that il q foreigner be
well disposed, possess honesty and in
tegrity, and desire it, the sooner he be-
comes citizen the better and while it
is true that there are some men who
| would never be fitted to become citizens,
| still suppose man were only two hours
in the country and a proper person, |
would be in favor of his being admitted
there and then to the rights Of citizen
ship.
RELIGIOUS T0LERATION
has always been supported and upheld
by me, and respecting the dictates of
every mans conscience, / have never in
the smallest degree interfered with the
convictions of any one. | may refer to
the case Of Charles the Fifth, who was
convinced of the folly and impossibility
of bringing the minds of men to state
of perfect agreement and universal con-
formity, from his inability after long
patient and careful experiment to make
two watches that would keep equal time,
and believing this, l firmly believe that
nothing is more extravagant, futile and
impracticable than the endeavor to set
aside or prescribe in any way complete
religious federation.
OBJECTS OF HIS TOUR.
Many considerations have induced me
to make this tour. Numerous requests
have been sent me from various parts of |
the State, stating that my presence there
would be desirable and advantageous.
This is my adopted State came here
from North Carolina penRiless, and here
| passed my successive steps from the |
lowest to the highest Office in the land, |
and / am free to say that the last highest |
office in the gift of the people has been
conferred upon me without any solicita-
ton of mine. Hence, upon retiring from
that position, did not consider it right
or justifable to turn my back on those
who freely conferred office and emolu-
ment upon me.
DIsFRANCHISEMENT.
To relieve those at present burdened
with political disabilities and debarred
from the rights Of freemen, would be the
highest desire and happiest event of my
Iifo. 1 may add, tina. although have
been honored by my fellowNcitizens with
every Office in the gift of the people, and
have now nothing to ask at their hands,
| cannot, from the many appeals that
have been made to me, go into retiFe>
ment il l can be any benefit in allevia~
ting or removing the disabilities under
which they labor.
l have been misunderstood very much
on my views respecting the question of
dislranchisement, and | take occasion
here to state, distinctly and emphatically,
my opposition from first to last to dis
reimbursement Even while the war was
raging all | required of any one was to
come over under the Union flag, renew
their allegiance and at once resume the
rights and privileges Of citizen. l re-
uuired no iron clad OATH" no obnoxious
measure of any kind, but when men de-
sisted from the conflict, and the sword
was sheathed, | was always for receiving |
those who desired it az citizens. Every
act of mine showed in an unmistakable
manner that | was opposed to disfran-
chising any portion Of the citizens Of the
United States. | removed many disa~
bilities, and purposely had the amnesty
proclamation so framed that it should
restore to each and all every right and
privilege. The Best legal talent was en-
ployed by me to have it perfect, and to
make assurance doubly sure.
The day selected for its PRONUNCIATION,
December 18th, was suitable one, and
that proclamation gave a free and full
pardon and amnesty to all participators
in the rebellion and restored to each in
explicit terms his rights, privileges and
immunities. That this did not take full
effect everywhere as it was certainly
framed to do, is owing to the fact that i
could neither pass State laws, nor inter-
fere with the rights Of State in this res
spect.
Viewing the merits of the question,
am positive that this disfranchiSement |
is illegal, because at the time the etfense
was committed no law furnishing treasOn
existed in this State, and hence disfran- |
chisement being a penalty and retro
spective in its effect, was inflicted by an |
er post fdctO law. For if those to day |
DISTINGUISHED have committed an ofense |
known to the laws Of the State, the |
courts of the country are open, and why |
not have them arraigned and punished |
by law? For my own part, | consider |
the act of the Legislature DISTINGUISHING
any citizen for participation in the late
rebellion, to be illegal and unconstitu~
tional and if case of this kind were
properly presented before the courts Of
the country, l have not a single doubt |
but that that would also be their decision.
The ex,President concluded by i'm
pressing on the members of the Associa-
ton his grateful acceptance Of the ad-
dress, and by returning his thanks for the
complimentary and cordial sentiments
it contained, assuring them that he knew
how to appreciate the same, and express
ing his trust that their confidence in him
would not be misplaced.
The Association, after being intre~
duced individually to the ex-President,
withdrew, pleased and gratified with
their interview.
SNOW MAINE.
In Franklin county the roads are full
1 &c NJ al fha krnualI;no - man