Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-01
Gag Law.

The Banner objects to Gov. HARRIS making politi-
cal speeches during his term of Office though 1t adj
mits he is simply initiating bad precedent estab-
lished by those who have gone before him." We
know that Mr.. BELL introduced Bill into Congress
and urged its passage into law, which made any
person guilty of hig hmisdemeanor, who, "holding
any Office or employment Of trust or profit under
the constitution and laws of the United States in
any manner intermedded in the election Of a mem.
Der of Congress, or of President or Vice President
or of Governor or other officer of any State or of
any member of State Legislature upon convic-
ton to be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars.
We know that Mr.. BELL favored Mr.. CRITTENDEN's
celebrated =. Gag Law" which declared:
mo postmaster or deputy postmaster no receiver
register of a land Office any other deputies
clerks no surveyor general of the public lands or
any of his deputies assistants, collector,
TeyOr, naval officer, welgher, guager. appraiser, or
other officer or person whatsoever concerned or en-
plOyed in the charging collecting. levying or
aging the customs, or any branch or part thereof.
no engineer. officer, agent employed or concerned
in the execution or superintendent of the public
works shall By cord message 2UTitiHg, or in any
other manner lCGtSoeUT, eRdedUOr to persuade any cleo
tor TO qUe diSSudde dy electOT from giving has tote
for the choice of any person be elector of Presi
dent and Vie President of these United States or
for the choice of any person to be Senator or Rep
resentatve in Congress of the said United States;
for the choice of any per. TO be Governor Lieu
tenant Governor of any State, or of any person TO
be a representative or member in the Legislative
Department of any State of this Union. for the
choice of any person to serve in any public Office
tablished by TIE law of any of said States shall
any such officer person intermeddle in any of the
elections above mentioned, or use any means with
intent TO influence or control the same, otherwise
than by giving his vote and every person
offending therein shall forfeit the sum Of fire hundred
dollars one moety thereof TO the igtOr7Rer, and the
other mOiey thereof the United States aforesaid
to be recovered with Costs of suit. by any person
that hall sue for the same, by action of debt bill.
plant IL any of tie district circuit courts of
the United States and every person cORUid on any
such suit of the said offence shall thereby become
disabled and Incapable # eUeT bearing or executing any
office or place Of trust lchdteCer under the said United
SidteS.'
But these propositions. denounced far more
oppressive and anti-Republican than the Sedition
Law x JONI ADAMS, met with an overwhelming
and dsgraceful defeat The Republican instincts of
the American people triumphantly rebelled against
such doctrines. 1t fiat neither of these bills
prescribed any line of conduct to the Governor of
State But the Banner would go further than these
Gag Bills do and say that Governor of State shall
intermeddle with any election. Gov. HARRIS
elected Governor of the State because of his Demo-
cratic sentiments. and when elected the people did
not intend thereby seal his lips to prevent at any
time or place any expression of his political views
or political preferences. The people will be at all
lines & to meet with and hear, in these times,
one in whom they place such implicit confidence.
is particularly incumbent upon Gov. HARRIS to
address his fellow-citizens whenever and wherever
invited to do so, in the present canvass, he has
been again and again charged with combining with
certain conspirators against the Union, to secure
the election of JoHN c. BRECKnRIDGE and Gen1 LANE.
Should Gov HARRIS neglect his ical duties. then
there will be sufficient cause of complaint But no
such charge as that will be made against him. The
Governor of State certainly loses none of his
RIGHTS as n citizen