New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-27
POLITICAL.
TENNESSEE

K,soxvrrIE. Tenn, Dec 21.-An election has ]nst
- hid in onr State for the purpose of choosing
1Iootes 20 Constitutional Convention W, to as
somble at Nashville OH the third Monday IN January
The vote has been exceedingly light, in many coul
ties less than One-fOurth the vote usually pohou'
The apathy among the people, and especially ainons
the Republicans, was general. II ever there was .
people cursed with Multiplicity Oh frivolous oioo
lions il is the people Of Tennessee since the war
To l. in some degree the cause of the want of in
terest in This one which has just been held AS be-
fore stated the Republicans have taken very little
mart in the matter, leaving the Democrats ana heo-
els 70 pursue. unmolested, undisturbed, the even
tenor of their way We expect this Convention 10
meet at the appointed time, and to spend lew
weeks in so shaping the State Government as 10 dis
place from their present position all Republican
offlce-holders, and more especially the judiciary
throwing the whole machinery thereon INTO ther
own hands To this end, several important changes
will he suggested in our organic law, portion VI
which NAV result in good but large majority Oh Tue
measures adopted will really be LOT OuS''I *
men from position who do not Oerons are
the party in power These measures are to
the foolish policy pursued by leading hepuplcal.e
while they were in charge of the STATE UOVerIlle
These foolish not to say wicked acs, haNe po. t IN
cause of the downfall of the party, have kcpg W
domestic strife and furnished our enemies aDunGint
means of using our own weapons upon us. " nIi S
the masses of Tennessee hepuOlcans are nVI'o' 90
patriotic they have been unfortunate IN inc seiieo
tion of their leaders, from men whose prime GUILTY.
seems to have been treachery 10 party ana county
| The consequence is that Tennessee pOlltlclahs
| nnblican polticians-whe few, very lew, nave
been faithful TO their party ana deserVeuly VoCuPa
an honorable position IN the anu many nav tu ~;
recreant TO every principle of honor or patrl9tsih
and either from the use of money OF the lnOrdlnaIe
desire for place. have become the most corrupt men
! OF modern times, in comparison TO their haluin
| ability. ,.ooa
upon the books statute after statute for the oppres
sion of those who failed TO agree with them poIl
| cally They have pundered the puDilc treasury,
until we are almost on the verge OF OanKruplcy anu
our Free Schools which should be in full blast nave
| been for some time suspended. These are
| the men who, when 1t was ascertalned thaI
! the scepter was about to pass from tncl,,,
| forever commenced intriguing TO keep the rlhH
i'm power or to break up the Republican party OF the
| State. These are the men who now, having turned
their backs upon those with whom they once acten,
and having succeeded in placing their enemies IN
power pirate about prescription, and speak OF inc
| policy of the Republican party as being 700 pro,
| scriptive. Ii these treacherous men hau proved
true TO their professions pursued the line OF duty'
| instead of being led by their inordnate ambition,
| the Republican party of State would have been
| in power now and would now command the respect
of the nation and of the State. AS 1t is, we are de-
graded in the estimation of friends and utterly
| despsed by our enemies. who will spare no opportu-
| mites during this Convention 10 keep us down.
The only hope have OF rising Is 10 renOunce the
corrupt leaders who have placed MS III our present
| unpleasant condition. We will follow no man VINO
| are We will select new leaders, and elevate the
| standard of Republicanism Ill the State TO that
| reached by the Republican party OF the nation.
This being done, expect to redeem the character
of Tennessee Republican politics, aud march on TO
conquest and to victory with our brother Repub-
licans at the North.