Maryville Republican. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 1867-187?, 1869-10-23
GOyernOr's Mesa 90.


: For all human ken 10 the cont rlry
it ay have been ordained, ~ tn,
plan Of overruiing ProvId' nee, that in
the iulness OF time this nation
should honor itself by vindica.
ting in the conformity of prdcttc'
with theory, that first 'grea'
"self-evident truth" uttered in it
immortal declaration of independ
ence-"that all men are creates
equal" Be this rs it may, it w
Il result Of the war, that the sunlight
which fell upon the soil OF thii
American Republic, shons on no0,
q slave and events since have, un.
der the laws of this stats, clothed a
race, ,raised from servItude to free
dom, with all the rights and priyi.
leges Of citizens within It's limits
With the appeal Of our State in
terest for quiet and res: from politi-
cal turmoil with the omnous mem.
cry that violent political agi,alions
connected with this race, have prov
en- the evils OF a Pandora's box to
the people Of the South; is there a
party with us .rash enough 10 pros
pose destruction or Disturbance OF
these privileges ? The popular in-
teAigenco would condemn it J Will
II people, who have just wonthelr
own cnfranchisement undof tie pn~
answerable claim Of seeking oily to
enjoy the blessing in commonwith
all other citizens, signalize thef yic>
tory by undertaking to wres the
same blessing from Others Those
generous aid has contributed geatly
TO their success Il? Honor and .jIstice
make solemn protest!
Can the liberal spirit Of thl age
and the republics fundamental idea
!.qf equality before the law be yiiaat~
eg ara Inf vested pfVrts J q
10, ,000lcltizens ruuhlessIy rorAl-Son
them, without u shock Threatening
to public interest, even if it do moi
endangcr convulSion? Reason makes
denial. Then, under the dictates oI
public intelligence, honor, justice
and reason, the coored mans suf-
frage may be safely reckoned fixed
fact in Tennessee. IF
What, then, are the purposes, sc
far as this race is concerned, OF the
proposed amendment TO the constl-
tuition Of tho United States Z Not
to confer special immuniUes, or com
pei any social equality OF the color
ed people against The will ahd con-
sent OF others, bu! only 10 protect
them against beng deprived OF PRIV
,,c-es against their own. 10 afford
,uem tue right Of ciilzenshlp and
equality before the law in every
part of the land to simply extend
and secure to them the same privil'
eges in Ohio and MASSACHUSETTS
which they enjoy in Tennessee,
Is IL claimed their degradation
would render them, as citizens, dan
gerous to the public interest = May
it not be technically asked, if the
evil will not be aggravated rather
than diminished, by adding degrade
tion and denying opportunity Of inn
provement?
Is it charged, by their ignorance
| they are unentitled to voice in the
selection of those who make the
laws they must equally obey, and
for violation of which they are held
to equal liability does not this strike
at the whole idea of reciprocal OBJ
legations and rights fandamenta! Il
This representative rtpunIic!
know it is, with vehemence
urged that colorod suffrage and
equality in ciiizensh P are repugnant
to the American people, aud that il
is even opposed BY a large majority
of the Northern States. But | sub
NIT to candor, if this is not the cry