Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-24
nK w,sENER,s DISABILITIES

W e suggest 10 lnt hAulCdI uIetICeH Sudt
they at once begin to circulate petition
for the removal of the political disabili-
ties of their candidate for Governor. He
will find the third section of the 14th
Amendment terrible stumbling blcck in
his way to the gubernatorial chair. 1t is
true that there is no hope of his election,
but gentleman who is bold enough to
take the nomination under the circum-
stances, surely deserves to be rewarded by
having his disabilities removed.
The petition will perhaps read some
what as follows:
To the Honorable senste and House of Represent
stIves Of the Congress Of he United States:
The undersigned, truly loyal, respect
fully petition your honorable bodies to re-
move the political disabilities Of one VIM.
II. Wisener, a citizen of the county of
Bedford and Slate of Tennessee. Peti-
TONERS would respectfully represent and
show that said Wisener was, previous to
the late internal rebellion, frequently a
member of the Legislature of Tennessee,
and as such, took an oath on divers Occa-
siOns to support the Constitution of the
United States, but nevertheless, to the
contrary, Notwithstanding, the said Wise
ner, having arrived at years which should
have brought discretion, did, with malice
prepense and aforethought, as a member
of the Legislature in 1861, give aid and
comfort To the internal rebellion as afOIe-
said, in this, that OF the 18Th June, 1861,
on a motion to print two thousand copies
of a certain reasonable document, called
a message of the Governor, signed by
Isham G. Harris, notorious Rebel, the
said Wisener did speak small piece, in
which he said
He had opposed secession until the
State had assumed the attitude Of revOlu-
ton. His position had always been that
the fate of the State, whatever 1t might
be, would be his fate. He had rendered
his resignation as a member of the House,
but the Governor had declined to accept
it. He was here now to acquiesce in the
voice of the people, and TO vote for such
measures as would promote the interest
of the State in her present attitude, as
cheerfully as any member on the floor.
Applause.
And the said Wisener did during that
session vote TO authorize said arch traitor
and Rebel, Isham G. Harris, to issue
treasury notes ''to the amount of three
millions of dollars, in lieu of three NIL
lions of bonds authorized to be issued by
act of May 6, 1861, to raise, organ
ize and equip provisional force" the
true intent and meaning of which force
was to shoot kill and murder the officers
and men of the army of the United
States And the said Wisener, as mem
Der of said Legislature, did do many
other acts of an atrociOusly reasonable
character, all of which will be found ful-
ly and particularly set forth in the peo-
pies paper, published at Nashville, and
called the UNION AND AMERICAN, in the
issues of said paper dated Sept. %, "a.
and other subsequent dates, copies of
which paper are hereunto attached, mark
ed Exhibits A. B., etc, and which are
prayed to be taken as a part of this peti
ton. Petitioners, however, would res
pectfully represent and show unto your
honors that since the star of the Union
glimmered in high meridian, the said
Wisener, Notwithstanding his acts of
atrOcious treason, manifested disposition
truly loyal by taking from the authorities
of the State, while it was in loyal hands,
fees in behalf of the State in certain law
causes, for which said Wisener only re-
ceived very moderate fees, in one case |
only five thousand dollars, and in another |
only about half as much. His receipts |
therefor are in the Comptroller's office of |
the State, and will be produced upon the |
hearing of this petition, or earlier if de-
sired. The premises considered, petition
ers humbly pray that the political disabil-
tiles imposed upon said Wisener by the
Fourteenth Amendment, because of his
acts of treason and rebellion, eremoved, |
and that he be permitted TO hold any Of
fee he can get in the gift of the people |
or any other man, and as in duty bound |
petitioners will ever remain truly loyal as
long as the official loaves and fishes hold |
out. ~.
(Sirned)