Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-23

NANCY cur0 e 80 y
IT must be evident to every one
by this time that the Legislature TO
be elected in August will be
charged with duties Of q more than
usually grave and responsible char
acter. There are reforms to be
made in general statutes relating to
various public works and institutes.
The gear of the State government
is greatly disarranged. 1t needs a
complete overhauling. Nothing is
well done now that it is its duty
to do. Without pausing TO par
ticularize, Comptroller Blackburn
can tell enough to substantiate the
truth Of the averment, that what
ever the political complexion of a
majority of the body, or whether it
be fairly divided between the
Senter people, the Stokes peo~
pie, and the people TO
whom the name Conservative
applies as well as any other, some
thing wise and wholesome must be
done, TO retrieve the deplorable
financial condition. But little
legislation is required regarding
the general relations of the people
as a mass, or Of individuals to the
State. But corporations and
institutions Of every kind must be
brought under strieter and more
economical discipline. The things
described in latter day lingo as
"rings" must be rooted ont, and
laws passed which will prevent
their reformation. The tax laws
must be remodeled and equalized,
and, if possible, the rates reduced.
But greater than all the other
duties of the Legislature of 1869
20, viii be the consideration Of the
question of enfranchisement The
SIGNS indicate that majority, very
likely large majority, of these
elected rs members, Will be in
favor of removing the restric
tons and disabilities now
resting on many thousands Of the
people. 1t is probable that it will
be forerunner in this respect of s
sovereign convention Of the people
called TO regulate this feature oil the
law, and relay the foundations o.
the political structure.
In this view, the best men eligi-
BILE under the present laws, no mat
ter whether they are partisans OF
either of the rival candidates foI
Governor, or Of the party that, un
der other circumstances, would
support neither, should be selected.
There are men now candidates
supporting General Stokes who
favor eniranchisement in the
most direct and spoedymodo. There
are candidates, perhaps, also sup~
porting Gov. Scnter, who are not
in favor of it. We have, however
observed none Of these. There il
no reason why men not obnoxious
on account of past dislOyalty, but
who are not Radicals, should not be
countenanced in Offering themselves
as candidates. The Legislature now
TO be chosen should be representa-
tive of the sentiments Of the people
on this subject, and not of the plat
form of party, nor of tho interests
of any gubernatorial aspirant.
We are for candidates in fayoI
of the entranchisement Of the peO-
pie, and of a convention TO sea-
the work. No man who supports
this measure can rightfully object 10
such 4 candidate because he
may have heretofore acted with the
Radical party, neither is it just or
reasonable for 4 man Of that party
truly liberal on the franchise issue
TO oppose Conservative who may
he put forth as a candidate We
therefore eNhort against jealousies
and the indulging Of prejudices on
this subject among the real friends
OF enfranchisement.
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PFEhIUH ILLUSTRATORS.
The new Stokes organ grows va
liant in its denunciation OF treasury
plumderer5 of all kinds. 1t demands
that all officials who have plum