The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1869-02-12
MisrelIamGOms.
SPEECH
OF
Hon. VINCENT MEYERS,
DELIVERED
In theHOuse OF Representative,
JANUARY BOTH, 1869.


The Bill to extend the suffrage franchise to
the rebels being under consideration Mr.Vin-
cent Meyers, Representative from Claibourne,
spoke as follows:
Mr.. Speaker. Tho question has been die.
cussed two or three times during this session /,
when IL was foisted upon the HOuSs in some
shape or another BY friends Of rampant rebels.
During these discussions tho matter was sufti-
ciently ventilated to be well understood by
every man in theHouss. He had not taken any
part in those discussions, but listened quietly
He hoped the House would indulge him while
he offered a few remarks upon matter that
appeared to have become chronic trouble
in the House, for men would persist In briAg-
ing II up whenever an opportunity offered, no
matter how smphAtically voted down BY the
House.
Il would DO sadly remembered BY every
member on this hoor thAtWe have had not
only gigantic, but grisyous, war in this
country. That was huge fact, not likely TO.
bs hastily forgotten. Now, the simple fact Of
the war could not be denied or got over In
auy way, and II was as true as there was
God in Heaven that Somebody lcas respOniible
for that war Where the responsibility Of 90
much crime rests there necessarialy attaches
heavy penalty, according to that sense Of
Justice which prevails among the most civil
lied nations. II can never be considered the
part Of tluo statssmAnshiP to allow national
security. The charge 80 freely, aippantly and
thouRhtlessly made against this Legislature
by membsrs Of II, that We are disfranchiSing
the most respectable, influential, wealthy
and edueated people In tho State, Is false
,r,t = - =. .na,.,fi.l vwaalfhw and aduca-
tad people had broken up the State govern
msut and len 1t In disrupted condition for
about four years, conVention Of the people
Of The State was called here in this ehAmbsr
for the purpose Of setting the machinery
again in motion. TIE people Of thsStais were In
yited to that convention. In view Of the cha
otic condition Of things, aud for tie purpose
Of producing order Where confusion reigned,
some rules we're necessary 70 be observed.
Ons Of the rules which WAS adopted was the
taklnr Of an oath, which no honest man
who had not been guilty Of treason could
object to. when we are charged with Faking
m old sores and appealing 10 prejudice and
bad passions in support Of our position
We rebut by simply pointing 70 lhehe iAsiS, Il
WAS a V eak argument, buto one easily made.
Hs never knew 4 man 10 BE- grossly N the
wrong who did not fecur again and again
10 ne hackneysd style, charging bis oppo-
nsut with prejudice. Those popular stock
phrases" old sores" appealing 70 our pas-
sious.p HbloWing into new life the expiring
embsrs Of sectional ard political hate" meant
nothing, and had no argumsn.ativs valne.
No tnan could point out 70 any disqualifylng
aet which ths Legislature Of The siale bad
passsd. The fact Was, no one was leelslHted
ont Of lis rights. No one was di1lranehisee.
Ths people Who now complain, complain Of
ia ffditr Of their own acts. They dlilfan-
shissd themselves when Ne sonsdtuhonAi
eouvsnlion namsd Who we're % sano vac
wsrs not, Il len tho door open ior eFelJ one
70 csms %. Tbo1a Ehoss suh'uecked moea