The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1870-03-31

STATEMENT OF HoNoRADLE DoRsEY B.
THOMAS, SPEAKER OF THE SENATE,
BEFORE THE Reconstruction Com
MITTEE.
10 make myself understood it will be
necessary to review a little of our past
history as a State. Under Gov. Brown
lows administration the right of Suffrage
was denied to a majority of the white men
of the State.
This embraced nearly all the taxpayers
ana. most of the intelligence of the State.
Many who had acquired the right to
Suffrage were deprived of this right with
cut charge Or conYiction of crime.
They were denied the right to sit ON
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 disfranebised
whites paid nearly all the taxes.
Militia we're called out at his pleasure
and quartered on us to awe and intimidate.
Folons, by hundreds, convicted by their
own courts, were turned out of the State
prisons, and enlisted in this militia.
Secret political societies were formed
all over the State, and the colored voters,
almost without exception, inducted there
in.
On election days they were generally
marched in solid column to the polls and
voted to order.
Everything was done that could be to
engcnder 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 aud under the
control of one man.
To protest against this, whether Repub-
lean, Wing, or Democrat, Union or Rebel,
was political death. None but suppliants
at the throne could live politically, cx-
cent by accident or bv personal power and
influence so strong as to be feared.
Our fund set apart for common schools
was sQuandered and lost.
Our taxes we're increased until they
were burdensome, and vet the treasury
was bankrupt.
Urine was frequent and often went un-
punished.
When change in the administration was
had, by the election or appointment of
| Gov. Brownlow to the United States Sem
ate, dawn of day was perceivable. Many
OF the prominent mon of the dominant
party demanded change. They had felt
the yoke, and did not want it's burdens
continued.
A contest for Governor was had. Two
prominent men of the party we're candi-
dates. The little el1am of light they had
received had revived all their former love
of liberty and freedom. Each We'd with
the other in their advocacy of a restoration
of liberty and the establishment of re-
publican, representative State govern.
ment.
The Supreme Court caught the spirit
and released some twenty thousand voters
who had been derived 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 form
we're rigidly complied with.
The members elected to the Legislator,
were, almost without exception, origina
Union men.
Their every effort has been to repeal al
laws discriminating in favor Of or agains
49,, al, ,,eo IL l., e.