New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-17
stitution itself The Federal Government BY its agent
Gov. johnson through the convention and the ratiG

stution itself The Federal Government BY its agent
Gov. johnson, through the convention and the ratr
cation BY tho people. conferred upon the first General
Assembly tlat should convene power to limit the
qualification Of voters The qualification Of voters is
prescribed BY the Constitution The Convention pro-
posed that the Legislature might amend the oonst
tuition In this particular and the people ratified the prop
ositon. Thus. power of amendment was delegated TO
the Legislature which became, while acting upon this
subject 10 all ntents and purposes constitutional con
venon The power Of the convention to delegate this
authority was legitimate and beyond all question: by
being chosen the instrument OF the Federal Govern
ment whose authority was supreme hnality. 1t Is
said law is harsh and wanting in .magnanimity
BY law the crime of treason Is dsfranchisenent
and the punishment is death and the confiscation
OF property. This ia waived. and 1t Is said
to DO cruel to refuse them the privilege of
that they should go to the ballot box and with bloody
hands deposit their ballot and by the force OF numbers
seize the eins Of government they have tried to de-
stroy elevate their baied leaders to power renew their
persecston Of Union men, and at last have victory in
the State. East Tennessee with her thousand martyrs
remember Is again to come under the rule Of such men
as Harris or Cheatham or Bates. or Pillow mere ap-
pendage TO Rebel State province TO Rebel govern.
me and yer this will DO the early result Of the repeal
the failure Of the act to limit the elective franchise
Having said this much by way OF friendly explana.
ton come TO the principal object Of this address, and
that is that this important law is already get at naught
in many local cities by the remssness of those whose
official duty IT is TO execute IT, TO announce that it will
be enforced the day OF election far the civil
and military authorities enforce it, and all elections
effected by Illegal votes will be annuled and if
sry, tho officers elected will be arrested The civil and
military authorities understand each other and will act
in harmony The Commander Of the Military Division
Of Tennessee will aid the civil authorities in all in
stances when the powers Of the latter inadequate
to protect the ballot box from fraudulent voting or
move county officers in one.half the State by whom
elected Judicial proceedings will be utterly impract
cable and civil remedy wholly inadequate. The nil
tary VIII assist in this particular This STEP likely
to become necessary is much to be regretted and clerks
and Judges Of election yet have time 20 correc. much
they have done aud the hope is expressed that many
of them will do 90 and save their respect /;
is my sincere desire that the entire State be repre-
scented the Congress If the election in Middle
and Western Tennessee proves failure It Will not be
my fault. l nave issued two proclamatioDs aud now
this address, warning the people against an Illegal cleo
lion. Ii they will persisi it. they must go without
representation in the councils of the nation With sin
hope that the present cloud may pass away, and
lDspeople remain your servant w. O. BRowNLow.
hnorrMle. July IL. 1865.