The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-02-03
Elective Franchise.

an able speech in the Convention last
week on the Franchise question. He
stated, among other things, that there
were supposed to be 10000 negro vo-
tiers IN the State, and 100000 white vo-
tiers, and came out fairly and squarely
in favor of negro suffrage. His speech
concluded as follows:
"Gentlemen may suppose that in
some parts. of my remarks have ex-
hibited dependency. ! am not des-
pondent. believe as firmly in the re-
vival of the Government in its ancient
purity as LIDO in my own existence
These States will one day shine as
bright in the constellation as they did
in the days of Washington, Truth is
omnipotent and public justice certain !"
Pride may strut and vanity tlutter, and
ambition stalk, across the stage, each
bearing. trophies stained with blood
and polluted with fraud. but there is
another action to perform. 1t is truth
modest and assuming, but unyieldng
and unconquerable. She will triumph
in political government and moral gov
eminent, when all the badges of ill.,
gotten power shall fade away forever
You have seen noble vessel that had
made many successful voyage, go
down at last in storm. You have
seen that same vessel rcsuscitated and
restored, like thing Of life, to its ma
tive element. So long as we can see
the tops of the masts above the waves
we may hope for the resurrection Of the
great vessel of State, and when it is
done, we will find its spars, and decks,
and keel and rudder, and its live oak,
in full preservation, and it will resume
its majectic course amid the shouts of
all ON board.
But there is another view of the
question before us, which l must not
omit. In al! our political contests
since these people became voters,
pledges were made to them thousand
times over by conventions in their
platforms, by candidates on the stump,
by executive committees, and by the
great body of our people, that if we
attained 10 power we would not take
from them their right Of suffrage. A
respectable portion of them went with
us in our darkest hohr, and aided us in
our efforts to regain our rights. Now,
we think we are in sight of the prom
ised land,. shall we keep those pledges !?
Or shall we violate them? Can we
look at our faces in the glass, covered
over with the shame Of broken faith ?
l shall not consent to take from them
their privileges thus guaranteed to
them. i have not the hand to do it;
I have not the heart to do it; cannot
and | will not ! am for redeeming
that pledge. ! am for trying the ex-
pertinent. lit works badly, it is not
my fault. ] did not make the late war
aid or abct in the policy which inexora
bly, demands this of me. l am but
yielding to the urgency ofthe hour. l
do it boldly, bravely, and unshrinking
ly, we'll satisfied that / am doing the
best for the people of the State, under
all circumstances.
GAS to the amendment offered to
submit this as seperate question to
the people, cannot give my assent.
l desire to have this as all other prop
ositions passed upon alike, and sub
mitted together. Let them all stand
or fa.l together. I am willing to take
my share of the responsibility, and l
think it is our duty to do 50, for we
were sent for the purpose of proposing
our judgments as to Tic amendments
to be made, and not evade and cast
the burden on the people. l wish to
have an end of this agitation and of all
suspense. My highest ambition is to
see the State restored to her full digni.
| ty, her people at peace at home
and abroad, her highways damned
with a thriving commerce, her SCHOOLS
hourishing, her debts in the process oil
payment, and her credit elevated, and
the star that glitters to her name in the
national banner bright and resplendant