Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-16
ATTOENEY-GENERtLs OFFICE.
Nn-hr-ilI. IL. = ~,


DEAR SIR: Your enquiry respecting the rr-,,ry;ar-
lZation of the local government of your country,
deserves more consideration than | able to give
it on the spur of the moment. Ia~rcc with vuu the
matter is Of vital Importance to the people of this
State.
with the of the poor the roads the public prop
crt the county taxes the estates of persons deceased
lunatlcS and Orphans and their clerks with the pro-
bate Of instruments required to be registered the is
suance ot license for marriage and the collection of
large share of the public revenue. The office. of
sheriff. constable, register. and tr,Istce-al made
ccctlvc-are of immense local Importance. They
are purely civil in their character without any po-
ical significance.
Ever since the Federal re-occupaton, certainly. if
notslncc the beginning of the war, they have been
practically vacant in nearly all parts of the State.
The constant and earnest efforts of the Governor to
restore their functions to activity have in various
ways, been neutralizcd, even when the people were
anxious to cooperate with him. The situation of
affairs at this time is undoubtedly more favorable
than heretofore for renewing the attempt.
The period fixed for the election of county officers
is the first Saturday of March, in the even wears and
occurs of course in March ensuing. quite three
months away. | deem it of the utmost consequence
to the people that they assemble on that day at thr
respective places Of voting and elect the proper oil
GERS as they have been accustomed to do In this
way the Quarterly Term of the county courts for
April lhcid, and such business transacted as
usually comes up ut that Term. and much that should
properly be attended to at the January Term.
The unatcrcd constitution rs it stands on the Code,
and the statutes prior to May, 1861 will be- the guide
All subsequent attempts at Legislation, eng :hc
work Of men who repudiated the national govern
ment, If which tennessee Is Il part and avOwrdlv
for its overthrow null and will be So regarded
Where there no officers to hold the elections the
statute, careful of the elective franchise provides
that they be held by any three frceholdcrs. In
majority of instances probably this will have to be
done The directions Of the Statute Code 843. are
ample
The pcrsons elected will doubtless be required be-
fore assuming their respective Offices to take the
usual oaths including the oath of allegiance to the
Government of the United States rs prescribed by
the Constitution Of Tennessee. The Federal Govern
me:t cannot permit any others to exercise official
authority when it has the power to prevent it, is
the in this State
The officers 50 elected and qualified will of course
limit their operations strictly affairs between cit
Zcns. They will not be permitted, it Is presumed, to
interfere with military persons persons in military
employ. to exercise authority in opposition To
the several acts of Congress which have IF tcl very
the condition of the negro population
The constitution of the State in prescribing the .
qualifications of the voter, requires that he be c-
zen of the United States The fair Interpretation
Is, that he be who recognizes and
v0ws his allegiance to the Government of the nted
States; in other words, loyal and not disluvnl
citizen 1t will clearly be the duty of the officers or
persons holding the elections to observe thi, con>ttu
tional provision, and permit one to vote whose
loyalty is not established. When there is any doubt
the oath of allegiance to the United States, taken .
and subscribed before the Judge, would be Il conve-
nicnt test, and when taken in good faith with an
honest intention Observe it, ought To be concu-
,ive, not otherwise. am respectfully ETC.
HORACE NAYNARD. (
JOIN l.. SrURLocK, ESQ. /