Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-13
TENNESSEE.
A Card from the Speakers of Cur
State Senate and House of
Representatives.
The True Condition Of Affairs in
TenHessss--A RefutatiGn of
Radical ISLANDERS.
An Answer tc Fletcher, BrOwRIOW
Maynard and W. ]. Smith.

our State requires that we should cor
rect some misstateinents that have
been made. and which seriously re-
fleet upon the honor, discretion and
wisdom of the Legislature, over the
two branches Of which we have the
honor to preside, and upon the peace
able character of the people OI this
State, whom we in part represent.
To the people OF our State, who
know how untrue these statements
are. and who are familiar with the
motives and designs that prompt GER
tain parties thus to slandeF and mis-
represent US and the great body OF the
DeOple. this correction is entirely un-
necessary. But when men pretend
inc to represent the people OF TINS
State. make speeches in Congress, and
read letters from high officials OF the
State, making these false statements,
we fear that failure or omission on
our part to deny them might be con-
stTued into an admission OF the truth
of these reports, however incredible
they may be, and the authors thereof
unworthy the confidence of any intel
ligent people.
Justice to the people Of our State, to
our friends abroad, and to the MEM
bers of the General Assembly of the
State, requires that We should correct
these false and mischievOus reports.
1t is charged by these emissaries OF
disorder that the Legislature is COM
posed almost entirely OF rebels; that
Ihey have repealed the common
school law, solely with the view to
withdraw its benefits from the colOred
children,and children of the pOOrUniOn
men: that they have enacted law to
prevent negroes and poor men from
hunting and fishing on the lands OF
the rich. We might pronounce these
| charges false, and known to be so
when made, and do so declare them;
| but will give them separately a more
distinct notice and refutation. The
| Legislature is composed almost en-
tirely of original Union men, there
/ being twenty or more members OF the
! present General Assembly who were
! Union soldiers during the late war,
and adhered faithfully to the cause of
/ the Union to the end of the contest.
! In truth there is but one member Of
! the present General Assembly who
I bad sGy connection whatever with
| the rebel cause.
The present Legislature has done
everything in its power to remove all
! invidious political distinctions for or
! against any class, race or color, and
! have bv repeated enaCtmentS, en-
| deaVOred to give full force and effect
! 60 all the reconstruction acts OF Con-
| gress, and to cause a strict Observance
4 OF the amendments to the OOnstltu-
/ ton and of the proposed Fifteenth
! Amendment. 1t is true the common
! school law was repealed, bat with no
/ inimical feeling against the education
/ of any class. 1t was done because
/ il was extremely OnerOus upon
| the people TO impose tax
sufficient to sustain a system as
| expensive as this was; and, further,
! afJer the decision of the Supreme
/ Court of the United States declaring
| the State liable in, receipt OF taxes for
all of the issue of the Bank Of TenneS-
see. had the law continued in force,
the receipts for school purposes, for
perhaps the next two years, would
have been received in this worthless
! currency, of which no use could have
been made in the maintenance and
| support OF common sghOOlsi but q
I
the State Treasury for no services
/ whatever, except the bare name OF
! County and State superintendent.
The Legislature has passed no law
whatever upon the subject of hunting
or fishing, as the journals OF both
Houses of the General Assembly viii
show.
1t is charged that the State Consti-
tutiOnal Convention was composed In
the main of prominent ex-rebels-that
their objects were revolutionary, and
their chief aim the turning out OF
Office of a loyal judiciary. 1t is'true
that the Constitutional Convention
was composed in part of prominent
rebels and OF many prominent Union
men, but it is further true that these
prominent ex-rebels were emil
i nenuy conservative, as all OF
their speeches and the Constitu-
ton which they have submitted
will abundantly attest. Their work
was revolutionary only so FAR as ii
was necessary, iD order TO restore
10 the people of the State a Republican
form Of government, that is, 10 give TO
all the right Of suffrage, and TO re-
move q judiciary, many Of whom
held their offices by appointment
from former Executive of the State,
made without warrant of law, and
many of whom were wholly incompe'
tent to fill the high and responsible
positions TO which they had been ap-
: pointed.
, This action Of the Convention, va
! eating all the judicial offices of the
State, was urged by the Union meI
, therein, and by their influence, main
J ly, adopted.
But the work of the Convention
speaks for itself, securing equal right:
2 and liberties to all, and discriminat
Z ing against none, on account of race
) color, previous condition or forme
: sentiments. If ratified, it will effect
1 uaiIv break down all political dis
5 tinctiOns On account of past difference
4 of opinion.
d It is further charged that the peopl
o are banded together to resist the las
= that they encourage mask maraud
e ers. and eonnive at the murder {
n Union men and negroes. They eve
= attempt to cite cases of murder an