Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-20


| Modes and Persians, shall not be changed
If we adopt this proposition, our homo
is pledged, before the world, ceey to main
tain it,
After carefully considering this who'll
subject, and after elaboration, l do no
feel that it is my duty thus to pledge my
self. On the contrary, I am bound by tn
very highest considerations, even by m.
] friendship for this helpless negro race-b!
my love for my native State, and by my
love for mine own countrymen, not to give
my support to this proposition.
come now to speak of the real object tc
be accomplished by this amendment. L
is very evident that this Convention is tC
decide great issues involving the peace
honor and prosperity of the State, not up.
on the principles of sound political econ
omy, but on considerations of mere policy
and expediency. In other words, in order
that Congress may have no pretext for in
terfering with our State affairs, or of Geor-
gia-izing us, many seem to think that we
must do, not only what is commanded, but
even perform more than is required at our
hands.
This amendment is tub, and an empty
one at that, which we propose to throw
overheard to the whale. The whale, how
ever, will not swallow this tub; for he is
an old and wise whale, and understands
this body quite as well as we understand
ourselves. He has no confidence in US,
and he knows full we'll that we intend to
''harpoon" him at the first good opportu-
nifty.
Mr.. President, if you will show me how
may be polite without sacrificing my
principles; or, if you will demonstrate to
me how the adoption of this amendment
can aid in securing the liberty and peace of
my country, then L might go for it. But,
did it never occur to your mind that while
liberty had often been lost, it was never
maintained by bowling to usurpations. 1
admit that by quietly acquiescing in all the
demands of the powers that be, you may
secure peace and quietness, but it is the
peace that Immediately precedes the death
of constitutional liberty.
Now, sir, (and make this remark with
very great respect for the feelings of those
who may differ with me, l believe, with
all my heart, that the Government of the
United States possessed the clear and IN
doubted right Of compelling us, even by
bloody war, to obey the Constitutions, both
and State, which we had volunta-
rlly adopted but when she went beyond
this-when she undertook to compel us to
change our organic law, she put herself
clearly in the wrong, and became usurper
and therefore any changes we may have
made contrary to our own will, are null
and void, and to be for nothing held.
Believing this, l cannot agree to make
oh ~ II
tation of any one whatsoever.
am ready to aid in framing q Constitu-
ton which shall conform, in letter and in
spirit, to the Constitution of the United
States, but beyond this 1 cannot and will
not go. If anything more than this is
required of me, then l have no business
here. Then our whole work is q solemn
farce, and had better be left undone.
But, to return to this amendment.
Some of us have thought that Radicalism
has gone to the very Outmost verge of our
political system, where scarcely the faintest
ray Of light ever comes; bat this amend
ment goes beyond this, and into endless
night. Our political adversaries have
never ventured to the dismal ground on
which we are now standing. We have
come to the very brink of the yawning
gulf Shall we retrace our steps, or shall
we take the fatal leap? Let every mem
Der of this Convention answer for himself:
Tor we must render to our people and TO
our poSterity an account of this days
work.
If we are to adopt the principles con-
aimed in this amendment, what have we
gained by the late civil revolution in our
State except it be a change of men? So
ar from having gained anything as to prin-
,iples, we have absolutely lost by the
,hange; for we now propose to out-Herod
1erod himself
Even our former rulers have left lis this
important right, viz: that we may restrict
suffrage by property or educational quail.
hcation; but our own political friends
yravely propose to take from US this small
comfort. Dives, in all his pride, allowed
Lazarus to be fed with the crumbs which
ell from his table; but our own friends, in
whom we have trusted, would snatch from
,ur hands the few crumbs which have. by
accident, fallen from the table of Radical
sm. And know not how soon they may
wen forbid the dogs to come and lick our
ores.
l must believe that the friends of this
amendment most certainly did not COM
'rehend the full meaning of their own
proposition; but, if they did understand it,
n all its length and breadth, then it proves
low far, even good men, may depart fr ON
ound principles, and surrender inYalua BILE !
lights.
Suppose that by adopting every sugges-
ion that fear, or prudence, or even cow
rdice may dictate, you thereby avoid re-
obstruction, or a military government, |
What have you accomplished? Have you
lot surrendered your constitutional rights |
or present peace, and having surrendered |
ham, when can you regain them? Having |
ecured our present peace, have we not, by |
ur own act, become slaves? We have put |
he letters upon our own limbs-nOt will |
ngly / admit, but we have done it our
elU6s
Now, If l am to be reduced to political |
ondage, it shall not be brought about by
ly own act. When the yoke-the calling |
oke-is put upon my proud, unbending |
eek, will not put it there. When others
ave bound me with chains, these chains
hall be my ornaments and my glory, but
OF my shame.
Mr.. Allen indicated a desire to demand
ne previous questiOn-thinking these dis
ussions premature.
Mr.. Baxter conCurred with the gentle
IAN from Smith in thinking that discus
ion is premature. If he understood the
mendment at all, it was to provide for
ne protection of the right of suffrage as
MS Convention might fix ito provide
nat that right shall be secure to all par
es, as to this and all other amendments.
or several years past, and under the
mended Constitution of 50, the Legis-
Iture had gone on to prescribe certain
qualifications for elections; but they
ave not allowed persons possessing
UGH qualifications to vote, as that
ertain persons should not vote if
leir qualifications be objected to by
ne registrars. Now, notwithstanding
MS section, we here in this Convention
ill 20 on and prescribe the qualifications
f electors. We may yet prescribe quail
cations not contemplated here. This
mGndment did not interfere with the
ght of suffrage, did not confer negro
mirage, though when the proper time
anne he wished TO announce that he
Mould vote for it. The whole of this
mendment was that the party shall in no
ase be deprived of the right Of suffrage.
He renewed the demand for the preyi-
US question.
a delegate would like to inquire wheth-
r the proposed change in this section
, the Constitution of IS or "a.
The President-The chair understands
lat it is simply an amendment to the De-
aration of Rights in the Constitution of
S34.
There being a second for the previous
uestion, Mr.. Carter demanded the yeas
nd nays on the main question, to wit