Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-12-06
FIFTH DISTRICT.
SIXTH DISTRICT.
sEYENTH bIsTRICI
EIGHTH DISTRICT,

With regard to the election of memb ers of the
Legislature to fill the vacancies, you are the excu
sve judges But with regard to the election of off,
GERS to be commissioned by the Executive, have
! duty to perform, and must know that valid cleo
! ton has been held.
If there had been no other law TO be regarded in
the issuance Of commissions, certificates to the
members of Congress but the code (Sec. 1857 my
duty would have been quite plain. But the "act to
limit the elective fronchise has been since passed
1t proposes great change may say revolution in
our elective system. 1t announces that large por-
ton of our people have made war upon the Govern
ment, and are unsafe repositories Of the elective
franchise. It provides moreover for registration
of voters, and declares that one is legal voter
unless he shall have certificate of registration aud
that certificate must be obtained in a legal way.
valid registration becomes indispensable to a valid
election.
Again, by an act of Congress, approved March
Sd, 1866 before the Clerk of the House of Repre-
sentatives can enrol a member, his certificate must
show that he was regularly elected, according to
the laws of the State, or of the United States"
With official information before that the votes
cast for candidate are illegal and his election void
cannot, and will not, certify that he is regularly
elected according to the laws of the State What
ever others may think of my duty, l will not de-
clare in a certificate or otherwise that the election
regular in counties and districts where l Off
cially know that it was not regular.
1t will be seen that the law more extensively
disregarded in the middle than in either of the other
divisions Of the State In the face of my procara-
tons and address, in spite of the Geographic ustruc-
tons of the President and the presence Of the mil
itary but one single county in the Nashville district
held election according to law, and that only in
part. In the county Of Wilson there were 1925
legal, and 593 illegal votes cast. Governor Camp
bell received his certificate on the vote of Wilson
alone having received all the votes cast in that coun-
ty but S0 every other county in his district being
II IL M dOub tr11af hot = 2
received by Gov. c. many perhaps majority, were
cast by citizons who entitled to vote if legally
registered
In the Sixth Congressional District am compel
led to throw out the votes of the counties of Maury
Humphreys, Montgomery, Lawrence, and Stewart,
the registration being clearly void according to the
reports Of the clerks in answer TO the proclamation
of August the 18th. This produces a different re-
suit than that produced by the Sherfs returns of
the whole vote. The vote Of the counties Of Dick
son, Hickman and Wayne which appear to be cor
recty registered, elects Mr.. Arnell by majority of
79l votes The votes Of the counties Of Perry Lewis
and Decatur, whose clerks have not responded to
the proclamation, will increase this majority TO near
1000 Counting the entire vote of the District with
out regard to the mode Of registration, Mr. Thomas
received sos votes, and Mr.. Arnell 1852.
My construction of the Law which regulates my
duties, compels me TO issue certificate to Mr.. Ar
nell, but l am relieved Of much responsibility by
the fact that my decision is not conclusive and that
the question Is still open for the action of Congress
In the other Congressional districts majorities are
reduced or increased by the action have taken but
the result is in no case changed.
The entire vote of the State is 81, 1888; emitting
the vote illegally registered it is reduced to 60509
But must repeat that there can be no doubt but a
large portion OF the voters in the counties have
been constrained to reject were justly entitled to
tifcates if the law had been complied with sin
cerey regret that loyal men should be deprived of
their votes oy the fault or mistake of others. The
remedy lies IN new registration which hope will
be st once ordered for having acted in this matter
with deliberstion, and from sense of right shall
be compelled hereafter to disregard elections held in
the counties indicated in this report illegally reg
istered.
The official reports Of the clerks and sherifs, in
response to the proclamation of August 18th, well
as the original returns on file in the office of
the Secretary OF State subject to the examins-
ton of all concerned
Respectfully submitted,
W. G. BRowNLOw.