Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-03-16

The journals of Nashville concur in holding
up the late election in Tennessee as miserable
sham. This remarkable concurrence itself
speaks damning volumes against the proceed =
ing.
The Nashville Union, in an article entitled
.'Cheating Ourselves" says:
1--WE might as well speak out plainly and con
fess TO the world that what called All cleo
tion Saturday, nj least far MS Nashville il
concerned was IA serious farce. And it would be
well il those in authority would observe like
candOr and thereby save scandal TO the govern
men,. or least to this administration. Very few
of the original Union men voted at all, for they
had warning in advance that frauds like those
practsed by King lsham G. Harris and his min
ions would be used. They had denounced the
rebel frauds OF 1861, and were not willing TO
compliment the devil by adopting his pro
gramme In public meeting called 'uncondi-
ton Union" il had been announced by the May
or OF the city, reported by city paper in
strong sympathy with him. THAT Quartermas
tiers and their clerks, and all the soldiers and
Government employees. who had been residents
of the county six months, should assist in the
election OF loyal men " As reported by another
paper. Judge BTien On gentleman appointed
Criminal Judge by the Military Governor). lent
his legal weight to the new doctrine, bv joining
in a declaration, that ''all persons who had been
in the county six months--whether soldiers or
citizens-had a right 10 vote the ticket
a meeting which ratified the caucus iomna
tons. Thursday night, Immediately preceding
the election. appointed a committee TO ascertain
who are entled to vote at the coming election,
and to instruct The judges Geeordinqiy' Did
ever Vigilance Committee assume more author
ity than this meetingI Bv Friday evening
though no publication had been made, Il was
well understood that soldiers and government
military employees would be permitted 10 vote IL
they had been ia the county SIX months. On
being satisfied OF this. many citizens who had a
perfect right.to vote. and were willing 10 submit
even % what they reg irded unreasonable and AT
bitrlrv conditions. 20 participate IN an election
bona TIDE declared they could not think of tax
Inc part II. "A pretence 50 absurd. Self respect
withheld them from the polls.
The Nashville Dispatch, drawing it as mild as
possible. says:
&" The election Yesterday went of quietly, few
persons being about the polls besides the judges
clerks. candidates and the committees appointed
TO watch traitors Some few persons offered to
vote on the amnesty oath but on being refused
they quietly lett the polls. a large number OF
soldiers aud Government employees voted. the
question generally put to them being Have
YOU been here SIX monthsI' or How long have
YOU been hereg In of the wards the oath
prescribed by Governor johnson was read to the
voter; in one ward, the judge, after requesting
the voter 10 hold uD his RICH: hand, said, Have
vou read or heard read. the oath prescribed by
Governor Johnson. and YOU willing TO sub
scribe 10 it, Answering in the affirmative, his
vote was received Among the voters we're mem
ber> OF regiments from Indiana and other States
but chiefly the 18th Michigan. the Invalid Corns.
aud inmates OF hospitals Government employees
we're well represented large numbers voting in
all the wards a. lar as our observation permitted
Us 10 Judge We only one lutte disturbance
and that was at the jail. between two soldiers.
one of whom sfter Qusrrelling some time struck
the other in the face The fuss soon stopped
by Marshal Steele and Lieut. Kelly who happen
Ell to be there at the time "
In view of the result thus family confessed by
one of ANDREw JoHNsoN's own organs, the edi-
tor Of the Press. Tennesseean who stood firm
against all the threats and Establishments of Sc
cession. excaims:
What commentary. The noble and gener
Gus of Tennessee for lons iong.years have
not been permitted to saw whether God or Baal
should rule over them. and when this priceless
privilege i believed TO be within their reach
which thev you'd welcome as a blessing from
heaven this Is the result
Such is the mockery of law and justice and
public decency whereby Mr. LINcoLN Is abolish
ing slavery in the Southern States a a mears OF
recons,ructiug The Union The thing is enough
to make the blood boil and leap IN the veins of
every manly patriot in the land Louisville
Journal