Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-04-17
THE SPIRIT OF TENNESSEE DEMOCRACY
senator Grbson's speech.

From the last number of the Tennessee
Tribune we take the following extracts
from Senator Gibson's speech on the APP
portionment bill. The bill being before
the Senate he said:
Are we here TO legislate in the interest
of the Democratic partylexclusively? Such
was not our oath. Are we here Tor the
sole purpose of so framing the Congression-
nj Districts that no Republican can he
elected to Congress from Tennessee? L, at
least did not so swear; what then are. we
here for? We are here for the purpose of
dividing this State into districts COM
posed of contiguous territory and contain
ing as nearly as practicable an equal num-
her of inhabitants " So reads the act Of
Congress. viii we obey the law, or Will
we violate its letter and spirit Look at
this map and tell me which we have done.
Here is the LIST District containing 5000
votes too Te,o and the ID District contain
ing Il Geo votes too many. Why has this
been done? Why is the LIST District made
so small and the ID District made so large?
The law requires each district to contain
as nearly as practicable an EQUAL number
of inhabitants; - Why has this been
done? And what is the reason assigned
why this change was not made? Blush,
oh truth. and hide thy face, oh justice. The
reason openly assigned on this floor for re-
the LIST and ID District must be so consti-
tuted that no Republican can be elected in
either of them. We are told again and
again that this bill is designed to crush
the Republican party.
In referring to the cry against recon-
structon, Mr.. Gibson said:
Oh, have heard, until my ear was tired,
this Democratic TRADE against reconstruc-
ton! But what have we here? Here Is a
deliberate attempt on the part of Middle
and West Tennessee to reconstruct East
Tennessee. Now understand it all, it is
not so much the Republican party that is
to be crushed as it is East Tennessee that
| is to be crushed East Tennessee must
now suffer for her devotion to the Union in
those dark and dismal days of terror and
death between 1861 and 1865. Democracy
is triumphant and East Tennessee is suhJu-
gated.
This bill will increase the Republican
vote in East Tennessee at least five thou
sand, and will enable us to carry the first
three districts. Mark this prediction. You
can't enslave us We will burst the shack
les; and the standard of independence
and of victory will CLEAN from every
mountain top; and when next November
the magnetic wires bear the election news
from East Tennessee to Nashville and
Memphis, great will be your surprise, and
great your modification, when you read
" Three Republlcans elected 10 congress
from East Tennessee J"
FREE ELECTION.
And while talking about elections,
want you Democrats to understand me
The day of intimidation has passed. The
fire-brand, the halter, and the six-shootel
must be thrown aside in Middle and Wes'
Tennessee. Political discussion must bt
free. The Kuklux must be driven int
their dens, or bayonetted in their tracks
Political prescription must forever end
The Republican party will be trified will
no longer and we now give you fair warn
ing and full notice, that there shall be eth
er free election in Tennessee next No
vember or none. Mark that! A Repub
lican President and Republican Congress
means something. Every citizen mus
have perfect protection. The way to the
and safe for every man. Without this
freedom is mockery and the ballot {
counterfeit