The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-08
Cheating Ourselves.

Cheating Ourselves.
We might as well speak out plainly,
and confess TO theworld, that what was
called an election, Saturday, at least 50
lar As Nashville IS concerned, was
serious farce And it would be well if
those in authority would observe like
candor, and thereby save scandal to the
Government, OF least to this admins
tration. Very few Of the original Onion
men voted at all for they had warning
in advance that frauds like those prac-
ticed by King Isha1n 9. Harris and his
1ninions would be used They had dc
nounced the rebel frauds Of 1861, and
: were not willing to compliment the
devil by adopting his programme IN
public meeting called unconditional
Union it had been announced by
the Mayor Of the city, as reported by a
ETY. paper in strong sympathy with
him, that Quartermasters and their
clerks, and ALI the soldiers and Govern
ment employees, who had been resi-
dents Of the county six months, should
assist in the election Of loyal men"
As reported by another city paper,
Judge Brien, "a gentleman appointed
Criminal Judge by the Military Cover
nor, lent his legal weight to the new
doctrine, by joining in declaration,
that aaI persons who had been in the
county SIX months-svhsther soldiers or
ciaze1s-had right to vote for the
ticket
Most intelligent persons were con-
vinced that no man, soldier or citizen,
had right to vote, unless he had fired
his residence in the county, and had re
sided in It six months Indeed our
diligent neighbor the Dispatch, had
published the law, as well as the SUI
prerne Courts construction. We avail
ourselves of his research. The Consti-
tuition Of the State Of Tennessee pro
vides that Every free white man Of
the age Of twenty-ono years, being a
citizen of the United States, and citi-
zen Of the county wherein he may offer
his vote, six months next preceding the
day Of the election, shall be entitled to
vote for members of the General Assem-
bly,. and other civil officers for the coun-
ty or district in which he resides"
That the word "citizen, in the Con
stitution, means not merely an Hha5i-
tant-much less temporary sojorner-
but one having a FIXED RESIDENCE, is set
forth in an opinion of the Supreme
Court, which ought to have AUTHORITY
with those who possess the keys of the
kingdom of loyalty, inasmuch as it has
been quoted as authority by Hon. Ho-
race Maynard, the Military Governors
legal adviser and law expounder Here
is the Courts language
Without perplexing ourselves with the
intricacies and mazes of the argument,
there is one consideration which, we think,
may serve TO guide us TO a correct eonclu-
sion in the construction Of this provision Of
the constitution.
" The journal Of the convention, to which
we suppose il is admissible TO refer for the
purpose Of ascertaining the sense ia which
particular words or phrases may have been
used ia the constitution, shows that in the
draft Of the section il question, as reported
10 the body from the committee Of the
whole, the words IAN inhGbtant' were used;
and, on motion, these words were struck
out, and Citizen inserted ia their stead.
Now, whatever may be said in respect to
the want of verbal prODriety in the use of
the word Citizen in this connection, we
must suppose that the convention meant
something by it. And, in our judgment
no other conclusion can reasonably
be deducted than this, that il was in
tended by the change Of the phraseology, TO
convey the meaning in the most emphatic
form Of expression, that no one should be
entitled 10 exercise the privilege of voting
who had not been member Of the body
polite, and likewise q permanent resident
Of the local division or county for the pc.
riOd Of six months Immediately preceding
the day Of election.
sThe conditions Of this section ofthe con-
stituton, cannot, in our opinion, be fulfill
cd upon any other construction. And this
exposition is free from the impu.ation Of any
hardship or invidious discrimination as
regards naturalized citizens. It puts them
on exactly equal footing with natural born
citizens immigfating to this State from
other States Of the Union and on the same
footing, too, with our own citizens remov-
ing from one county 10 another in this
State, all of which are disqualified TO vote
until six months after their removal TO the
county in which they may have frs& hsir
Eesidsace."
A meeting which ratified the caucus
nominations, Thursday night, imme-
diately preceding the election, APP
pointed a committee to ascertain who
are entitled to vote at the coming cleo
ton, and to instrue, he judges according
yi Did ever a Vigilance Committee as
sumo more authority than this meeting2
By Friday evening, though no publiea-
ton had been made, it was well under
stood that soldiers and Government
military employees would be permit
ted to vote il they had been in the
county six months. On being satisfied
Of this, many citizens who had perfect
right TO vote, and were willing to sub
nit even to what they regarded un-
reasonable and arbitrary conditions, to
participate In an election bona Jfde, de-
clared they could not think of taking
part in a pretense so absurd. Self
respect withheld them from the polls
When we consider the strong invita-
tons thrown out by men in high posi-
ton, It is but justice to say of our brave
soldiers from other States and counties,
stationed in and around Nashville, that
a very large proportion Of them evinced
their sound judgment and their sterling
sense of honor, by remaining Needless
TO tho seducer's wooings. Andwe doubt
not, those who did vote unlawfully, did
so conscientiously, believing themselves
in the right, through the persuasions Of
interested politicians.
We have no personal complaint to
make of any gentleman recommended
to the soldiers for their votes, but rs
fhoaa WHO ,ss,,,,,,1 - nominate tha