Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-03-30
The Franchise Bill.

The Nashville Banner thus exposes
the enormities of the Franchise bill, now
pending in the Legislature
The Franchise bill reverses the uni
versal presumption of law, that all men
accused are innocent until the contrary
is proven. 1t presumes, on the contrary,
that all men are disloyal and not to be
trusted with the right Of suffrage, or to be
believed upon oath, except the exempted
class of individuals in the bill mentioned.
1t Furthermore empowers the Governor
of the State to appoint about eighty-four
Commissioners of Registration--one for
each county in the State-with power to
administer oaths, etc These Commits
sioners are to receive one hundred dol
lars each-to be paid out OF the State
Treasury-and three dollars per day for
attending the county courts at their quar-
terly terms. The books and printed
blanks are to be paid for at the expense
of the State. Thus, the cost of registra-
ton of voters may be put down at an
expense to the taxpayers OF the State,
from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars:
The people who are disfranchised and
precluded from holding Office by the bill
are to be taxed equally with the favored
class to support and maintain a policy
that derrades them, and denies to them
the privilege of holding any Office or vot-
ing in any election The bill requires, in
addition to the proof before the Com
missioner of two unconditional Union
men, as to the loyalty of the applicant
for a certificate, that he take an oath
that he never did voluntarily aid the late
rebellion against the United States
The Commissioner has the power to re-
quire counter-proof, and refuse the GER
ti6cate. 1t creates, in short, court to
deprive the people of their rights and
privileges, unknown TO the Constitution
and laws of the land; ard no appeal is
given to reverse OF. revise the decision OF
this court. Its decisions are arbitrary
and final. The right of trial by jury IS
taken away. An inquisition is applied
to the citizen to make him give evidence
against himself upon oath, in direct yio-
latiou of the Constitution. And no per-
son can vote in any election in this State,
except such as Gov. Brownlow Com,
missioner may be pleased to register and
give a certificate. No person can hold
any Office in the State who cannot take
the oath prescribed in the Sd section of
the Franchise bill.
Now, who are to be the Commissioners
appointed to register the votersp Are
they to be citizens or foreigners Are
they to be white men or negroesf The
bill does not say. Without stopping TO
inquire whether Gov Brownlow would
appoint good or bad men, it cannot be
denied that the bill confers upon him the
power TO appoint either citizens of other
States, or negroes, if he should choose
10 do so.
The 9TH section of the bill provides
that it shall be the duty of the Governor,
before any State or other general or spe-
cial election, to issue his writ of election
to commanding officers of regiments,
battalions. or detachments of officers and
soldiers. who may be in the service Of
the State. or the United States, wherever
located: and the officers shall open and
hold an election, and make returns
thereof to the Secretary of State, and
such votes shall be counted. etc. This
violates the Constitution in this: no
man, By the Constitution and laws OF the
State, can vote in any county or place.
except the county wherein he has re
sided for six months next preceding the
election But, why the necessity Of this
9TH section2 Have We any white eiti-
Gems of the State in the military service
Of the State, or Of the United States. at
this timer Or, is it intended to e2afer
the right Of sufc1ge upon the negroes Of
Tennessee who are now in the service OF
the United States2 Ths language Of the
section is silent as 10 color.
The foregoing are some Of the Prov
sions Of the Franchise Bill, which has
occupied so much time in the House Of