Franklin Repository

The Tennessee constitutional convention, which has been at work constructing a constitution for several weeks, is at variance on the question of negro suffrage. Some antideluvians have drifted into the convention, and, apparently ignorant of what has been done during the last ten years, bitterly resist colored suffrage. The reasons which they offer for their opposition are note worthy, as being the same which exercised the southern, and we may add Democratic, heart before the rebellion. They complain that with the right of suffrage must come, as a necessary consequence, the right to sit on juries, to hold office and the right to intermarry. No one can doubt that these conclusions are eminently logical, the only cause of wonder is, that, being admitted, the question should excite opposition. Why should not negroes sit on juries, if they be mentally and morally qualified? Why should they not hold office if elected by the people? We may also ask why should they not intermarry with whites, if there be any whites silly enough to wish to marry them, providing always that the negroes themselves are willing to do so? This intermarrying notion takes us back to the time when the slavery advocates and their friends filled the land with the cry of miscegenation, which they said must surely follow the abolition of slavery. The want of confidence in the moral strength of the whites, and the irresistible fascinations of the negroes, which this position of the slaveocracy admitted, were freely commented on and ridiculed at the time, and were thought to have been pretty thoroughly killed. But we see it revived in the minority report of the committee on the suffrage question. And hence we infer that these members conveniently fell asleep at the beginning of the rebellion, and have just awaked. Like Rip Van Winkle, when he was aroused from his slumber of a quarter of a century, they cannot yet appreciate that old things have passed away, and are unable to adjust themselves to the new condition of things. They still doubt the strength of the whites to resist the insidious charms of the negroes, and fear, if universal suffrage become a fundamental law, that the two races will at once intermarry. Their fellow members should hasten to inform them that slavery has not existed now for a period of seven years, and that in most of the southern states negro suffrage has been in practical operation for half that period, without developing the disgusting condition of society which they fear. Unless, by industrious coaching, they can be brought up to the condition of the times they had better resign in place of others who have had their eyes and ears open, and whose deliberations may be of some use to the State.

After all, we fail to see that the question of limiting or enlarging the right of suffrage can be of practical moment to the Tennessee constitutional convention. In fact we cannot see that it is a question at all. There is but one thing to do, a higher law will soon declare suffrage universal, and all that all of the States can do is to adjust itself in harmony with the Constitution as amended by Fifteenth Amendment. But one more State is needed to perfect the Amendment, and there are three which will in a short time ratify it. Those members of the convention who have slept so long had as well take another nap.

The following cases were disposed of since our last issue:

J. F. Smith vs. Austin, Elder & Fletcher. - Summons case in Assumpsit. Verdict for plaintiff for $1,000.

John W. Barr and Christiana his wife, vs David Greenawalt. - Summons in Debt. After consuming about a day and a half in trial of this case, defendant confessed judgment for $2,600.

Joseph Groff vs. Elizabeth Inly, Adm'rx of Martin Inly, dec'd, and Elizabeth Inly. Replevin. Verdict for plaintiff.

The Chambersburg Manufacturing and Building Association vs. James King. - Summons case in Assumpsit. Verdict for plaintiff for $82,48.

Daniel Light Jr, vs Wm. W. Walker. - Summons case in Assumpsit. Case settled. Defendant pay all costs.

Austin, Elder & Fletcher vs John G. Wallich and William Osbrough. - Summons case in Assumpsit. Suit discontinued.