Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-12-20
THE BLACK FLAG RAISED.

The proseriptive policy of the Democrat
ic party has long been well-known. Wher-
ever the party is in power it seeks every
possible opportunity to grieve and exasper-
ate Union men. In order to strike an
enemy the Democratic party will even in
wade the Courts and rescue its pets from
the grasp of justice. We gave an instance
of this a few ago, citing the bill to enable
certain Democrats to remove their suits
from the Circuit Court of Knox county to
other and distant parts of the State. We
now wish to call the attention, not only
of the Republican party, but of honest
men of all parties, to the following infa-
nous avowal of Senator DuBose, of Shell
by county in the State Senate few days
ago while discussing the bill,s-to redistrict
the State. DuBose is the leader of the
Democrats in the Senate, the Chairman of
the Committee to redistrict the State and
the author of the bill.
II have nothing to conceal in the matter, y
said Senator DuBose. This redistrcting bill
is q political measure. In redistricting the
State no member of the Radical party was con-
suited. Our main object was so to redistrict
the State that for the next ten years not Re-
publican could be elected to the Legislature of
Tennessee. This openly avow. We endeavor
so to arrange the counties as to make every dis
trlct in Tennessee Democratic district, be-
lieve in the law of revenge The Radicals dis
franchised us, and now we intend to disfranchise
them. We intend to crush out the Radical
party by every political means in our power.
We intend to show them no mercy. | repeat
have nothing to conceal This bill is so framed
as to give the Democrats as many districts as
possible. l hope the Democrats on this floor
will allow no change to be made in the bill.
This is q political matter. This means bust
ness. Your committee =, spent a. vast
1ak ipto
MS to do the Radicals all the harm, and the
Democrats all the good we gould. l hope
therefore no change will be made in the bill.
As political measure it is perfect. The COM
mittee insist that no changes shall be made.
l am astonished at the Senator from Haywood,
who says he is opposed to redistricting the
State in the exclusive interest of party" l in
tend to let his people know what sort of n DEM
ocrat he is. intend to publish him in the pa
pers. intend to expose every Democrat who
votes to change the bill. Again repeat that
there is no concealment. This bill seeks to dis
franchise the Radical party. We have got our
feet on their necks. The Democratic party has
so decreed it; and the people can do no wrong.
The law of retaliation is right"
Such was the language of the leader of
Democracy on the floor of the Senate. 1t
will be remembered that Senator Staley was
originally appointed chairman of the Re-
dstricting Committee. But, in violation
of all the rules of courtesy and right, he
was deposed and DuBose put Einto his
place. This redistricting bill was passed
through the House under the operation of
the previous question:" which cut off
amendments and debate. DuBose at
tempted the same thing in the Senate !;
but the attempt was not sustained.
DuBose's speech is true picture of the
Democratic heart. 1t shows what De-
mocracy means. 1t sounds like the speech
of an Infatuated Indian savage to his fallen
enemy. We challenge all history to pro-
duce a speech more diabolical, more blood
thirsty, more revengeful, more wicked and
more disastrous in its tendencies. 1t is an
open proclamation of war 1t is raising
of the black flag. 1t is an open, unblush-
ing avowal of a political malignity
heretofore unknown in Tennessee. JUS
tice is sneered at. The rights of
the minority laughed to scorn. Re-
venge Revenge +! That is the one
grand programme of the Democracy.
" Revenge on whom? Revenge on
Union menl Then let every Uuion man
know and understand the issue, and be
prepared to meet it. How can any man,
who has aspark of Unionism in his heart,
remain moment longer in the Democrat
ic ranks? We thank DuBose for his
frankness. He only says what the other
leaders think. Now we know what De-
mocracy means. Republicans, Union
men, Patriots, be up and doing!