Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-24
ADDRESS OF MIR. MORRIS.

| Four Years As0-Who Caused the Ga.
lamity? Represents the
| County of LincOin-The First Fran
chise Lsw--Thes Second Franchise
Law--The Third Franchise Law
. The Fourth Franchise Law-Kereh-
evaIs Denfai-Metropolitan Police
The Alden OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of
the City-Brownfow's aIiistis Come
tn-Kercheynt Responsible fer. 1t
au-Carpet Bagging In the South
The Parp0se-LOok at It-Kercf.
evaI's course as Mayor-Morris'
Course rs Mayor-Cffy Improve.
menfs-Morrts mot. Opposed. 20 Inn
provelnents-New water--works-
seWerage-Other improvements
Conclusion.
Fellow Citizens of Nashville: - - :
When Twas installed in the Office of May
or of Nashville, four years ago-that is, in
October, 1869, the city was involved in
troubles and dangers which were little less
than appalling. There were judgments
then already rendered months before, and
remaining dissatisfied on the dockets of the
various magistrates of this city, against the
corporation, amounting to $l33, 900. The
aanaber of these judgments vas not less
than 800.
There were, besides these, uhsatisfied
Judgments for several thousand dollars on
the docket of the Circuit Court of Davidson
county. - s''.,.
Thelewa o judgment for $4,000, which
had been standing for q year on the docket
ofthe Federal Court. -,-s-I-, <.
On the same docket there were judg-
msnts standing unsatisfed which had been
rendered in May, 1869, and which were
final, amounting to about $4,000. - Exc
cntions, issued upon these judgments, were
levied on. orr school houses and lots, and
upon nearly all the other real estate be-
longing to the city, and the property a5ds
sold; - A.sg-
In the same court were some twelve
judgments, amounting together to more
than $4,000, rendered in May, 1869, on
which motions were pending for new trials.
p In all, there were judgments ontstand-
ing against the city for about $3.50, 000.
Suits also were pending against the cor
poration in the various courts, and new
suits being brought almost daily, for thou
sands aud tens of thousands. And the
prospect was, that in thu Federal Court
| Judgments would be rendered against the
city, within the then next ensuing few
weeks, for many large sums. 4
Executions were being issued from the
magistrates .courts,a as well as from the Fed
eral Court, and levied on the personal pro-
perty of the city, especially upon the en-
gines, equipments, and horses of the Fire
Department, and the horses and carts of the
Street Department. The prospect was that
the property of the city would be ruinously
sacrificed, and that the city would be de-
prived of the means of keeping its streets
in even passable condition, and of project
ing the property of the people from the raw
ages of fire. a--r--5
We had dissatisfied population in our
midst, some oft fit for incendiarism or any
kind of outlawry. u
We had a police for our protection ia
which the people bad little or 10 confidence
The METROPOLITAN POLICE placed over
the city against the will aud earnest protes-
tations of its inhabitants by the uote of my
competitor and other member Of the
Brownlow Legislature. ,f
A portion of our white population was
then still DISTINGUISHED, and declared al
participation in public affairs, ander the dis
frdnch3sing iasos uosed for in the Brol1nl0tc
Legislature By my present competitor. ID
The credit of the city corporation was
utterly gone. The money in the treasury
was mere trifls; and the cream of the
current taxes for the municipal year had
been already collected under the 20 per
cent. discount offered by the Receiver, un-
der the order of the Chancery Court.
The city was involved in debt to an amount
exceeding 81. 100000, of which say three
fourths was floating debt, due and unpaid
debts on which judgments were already
obtained; debts in suit; and debts on which
the city was liable to be sued at any time,
and on which suits were rapidly being
brought.
WHO CAUSED THIS CALAMITY
The body of this million and half or
more of floating debt had been ere ted by
the Alden administration; and that admi-
nistration had been forced upon the people
of Nashville by various unlawful and wick
ed meaus-ch.efly by the measures adopted
by the Brownlow Legislature, and uoted
for By Mr.. Kercbeeal, my competitor, as q
member of that Legislature.
The Legislative measures to which al
lude, were the several franchise laws and
the militia law. For all Of these oppressive
and unconstitutional measures Hy cOnlpeti-
tor Uoted, as ouett as for the Metropolitan
Police lao before referred to.
1t will be remembered that by the amend
ed constitution of 1865, the Legislature
which should first assemble under it was
empowered to fix the qualifications of voters
and the limitations of the Elective Fran
chise.
HE REPRESENTS THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN
1t will be further remembered, that the
Legislature which should FIRST assemble uR-
der the amended constitution was gotten
up by the convention which coneocted the
amendment; that it was pretended to be
elected on the general ticket plan; and that
my competitor, Mr.. KercheVal, at that time
resident CT Nashville, was selected" to
represent the people of Lincoln county, in
the House.
.-, TEE FIRST FRANCHISE LAW,
It will be further remembered, that this
first Legislature passed Franchise Law on
the 5ih of June, 1865. which was intended
to disfranchise the great bedyCf the people
of the State. The Bill passed its final
reading in the House, June 2, 1865, Mr..
KercheUGl UOting in the gfirndttues blouse
Journal of 1865, page 22S) 1t was under
this Law, that certificates were issued py
the County Court Clerk; and under it we
had here what was known as the Lindsey
NichotOr Nat. TrinabIe Registration.
THE SECOND FRANCHISE Law.
1t will be further remembered that this
first franchise law was not bad enough to
satisfy thorough Radicals, of my competj-
tors kind; and the same Legislature again,
on the Sd of May, 1866, passed another,
more stringent franchise law-more de-
grading and humilisting to the people dis
franchisihg all who had been previously
granted certificates: and requiring all TO
come again to a commissioner appointed by
the Cover or, and get new certificates.
This second franchise law, while pending
before the Legislature, created so much IN
dignation even in that body, that it nearly
broke up the Assembly, reducing both
Houses for a long time below q quorum.
Time and time again was the second fran
chise law put upon its final reading for
passage in the House of Representatives;
and upon the count it would be found that