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 CHAPTER VI

TENNESSEE AND THE NEW AMENDMENTS

The deed of cession of Tennessee to the United States by North Carolina contained the provision "that no regulation made or to be made by Congress shall tend to emancipate slaves." The constitution under which Tennessee was admitted into the Union also recognized slavery by the use of the term "freeman" throughout the bill of rights. It was, however, exceedingly liberal in regard to the suffrage, conferring it upon every "freeman of the age of twenty-one years, and upwards." Under this provision, free negroes were allowed to vote.

About 1830, there developed a strong movement in favor of emancipation. At Jonesborough was established the first abolition newspaper ever published in America. But this emancipation sentiment had entirely disappeared by 1860. Even in East Tennessee, the most extreme opponents of secession were firm believers in slavery.

The Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, did not include Tennessee within its provisions. Slavery, therefore continued to exist as a legal institution until abolished by an amendment to the State constitution. This amendment, as we have seen, was framed by the Radical Convention of 1865. In April, of the same year, Gov. Brownlow laid before the Legislature a joint resolution of Congress containing the proposed Thirteenth Amendment. It was promptly ratified.

In his initial message, Gov. Brownlow discussed, at considerable length, the race problem. He sought to impress upon the Legislature, "that some legislation was neces