Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-24
TENNESSEE.
The Condition of Affairs in the
State.
Statement of Hon. Dorsey II
Thomas, Speaker of the Sem
ate, Before the Recon-
structiOn Committee.

To make myself understood il viii b
necessary to review little of our pas
history as State. Under Gov. Brown
lows administration the right of suffrag'
was denied to majority of the Whit
men of the State. -
This embraced nearly all the taxpayer
and most of the intelligence of the State
Many who had acquired the right t
suffrage were deprived of this right with
out charge OF conviction of crime.
They were denied the right to sit or
juries, or assist in the arrest of persons
charged with crime, unless by permission.
The Governor had entire control of the
right of suffrage, and gave, or withheld,
or withdrew at pleasure.
He appointed the judges of the courts,
or had them elected to order, as he pre-
ferred.
The blacks were nearly all voters and
paid no poll tax, while the DISTINGUISHED
whites paid nearly all the taxes.
Militia were called out at his pleasure
and quartered on us to awe and intim-
idate.
Felons, by hundreds, convicted by
their own courts, were turned out of
the State prison, and enlisted in this mi
litia.
Secret political societies were formed
all over the State, and the colored voters,
almost without exception, indicted therein.
On election days they were generally
marched in solid column to the polls and
voted to order.
Everything was done that could be to
engender race antagonisms and ALLEVIATE
those whose interests are identical.
a despotism such as never existed on
this continent before was established and
maintained.
The ballot, the courts, the purse and
sword all in the hands of and under the
control of one man.
To protest against this, whether Repub-
lican, Wing, or Democrat, Union or Rebel,
was political death. None but suppliants
at the throne could live politically, ex-
cept by accident or by personal power and
influence so strong as to be feared.
Our fund set apart for common schools
was sdandered and lost.
Our taxes were increased until they
were burdensome, and yet the treasury
was bankrupt.
Crime was frequent and often went UNI
punished.
When a change in administration was
had, by the election or appointment of
Gov. Brownlow to the United States
Senate, dawn of day was perceivable.
Many of the prominent men of the domi-
nant party demanded a change. They
had felt the yoke, and did not want its
burdens continued.
A contest for Governor was. had. Two
prominent men of the party were candi-
dates. The little CLEAN of light they had
received had revived all their former love
of liberty and freedom. Each wed with
the other in their advocacy of restora-
ton of liberty and the establishment of
a republican, representative State govern
ment.
The Supreme Court caught the spirit
and released some twenty thousand voters,
who had been deprived of the right with
out trial for or conviction of crime
All became liberal and felt that the time
had arrived when we should be set free
The majority of the people had little or
no choice between the contestants; but
one held the power while the other did
not, and interest induced them to support
the incumbent
A liberal construction of the franchise
law was given and large vote was polled.
None advocated the continuation of the
franchise laws, and they were considered
as virtually repealed, and yet the
forms were rigidly complied with.
The members elected to the Legislature
were, almost without exception, original
Union men.
Their every effort has been to repeal
all laws discriminating in favor of
or against any classic pass all laws
necessary for the suppression of crime
in short to do all and everything in its
power to restore the equal rights and pro-
lection to all without regard to race,
color or previous condition-to restore
the creditof the State financially, politically
and morally. That we have abridged the
powers of the Governor is true. We
advocated and we knew it TO be neces-
sary to the preservation of republican
liberty in the. State. We submit our
every act to your careful consideration.
To carry out the wishes of all parties,
as expressed at the ballot-box last sum
mer, change in the organic law was ne
For that purpose a convention
of the people was asked. We herewith
submit to you their acts, which if ratified,
becomes the organic law of the State. 1t
speaks for itself.
The crimes that have been mentioned
in such brilliant colOrs (if committed at
alb have been committed under their own
laws, and while every officer in the State
is of their own appointing. If it is as
they say, let us make the change. We
can't make it worse.