Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-06


Since the returns Of Registration Commits
sioners in the various counties have been
completed and fled in the Office of the Sec
rotary Of State, proclamations from the Gov
ernor's Office have been issued ordering cleo
tions in nineteen legislative districts. One
election has already been held-that in this
county, on Saturday last, resulting in favor
Of Judge JOHN S. BRlEN. Elections are to
be held in the counties of Davidson, Hamil-
ton, Carter, Giles, Sumner, and the Pictorial
districts OF Lincoln, Giles and Marshall,
Sumner, Smith and Macon, and Benton and
Humphreys, and in the Senatorial district
Of Sumner and Smith, on Thursday, Novem-
Der lst; and in the counties Of Smith, Bed
ford, Franklin, Shelby, Dickson and Henry
on Saturday, October 18th. There are other
vacancies to be flled-two that we call to
mind at present. the Senatorial district Of
Robertson, Montgomery and Stewart, and
the Pictorial district of Williamson, Maury
and Lewis. We presume the reason for de-
lay is the incompleteness of the registration
reports from those counties. It is to be
hoped, however, that they will be fled in
time TO have elections for all the vacancies F;
Tor if the Legislature is to assemble on the
day to which the body which met in July
adjourned, j! should as nearly as possible
represent the people.
We cannot urge too strongly on our Con-
sentative friends the duty of selecting true
and substantial men for these positions. In
the matter Of reliability on questions at
issue with radicalism, they should be above
suspicion. This is not the time for doubt
full, timid men. It may be the purpose of
the men who assume to control, by fair
means and foul, the legislation Of Tennes-
see, to force upon the people some Of the
monstrous measures they have already more
than limited at. The conservative element
should have ability, fidelity and courage to
maintain the rights Of the people, and resist
in every legitimate mode the consummation
Of such schemes. If the people be true TO
themselves, they can, in the twenty or twenty
five members TO be elected, secure z
representation that, by its influence and
weight of character, may deter the ambitious
Radical leaders from venturing further in
their revolutionary course.
There is another point to be kept in view
=, oloo..;,,. 49,, e.. tIa,o ,,o,oro.o, III -
should be men Of energy, tact and expert
ence, who know the vital interests Of the
people in matters Of business, and will urge
them upon the attention Of the Legislature.
Too much valuable time and money has been
wasted in mere political pipe-laying. There
are matters of importance in which large
numbers Of the people are concerned, which
have been shamefully neglected. Very lit
tie has been done for the resuscitation of in
terests which suffered during the war, and
the correction Of careless and injudiciOus
Legislation in the early months of oM return
to civil government. There are lstions
of revenue, of commercial character; of
internal improvements; and Of agricultural
interest that require immediate attention.
They cannot be longer postponed without
serious detriment The Legislature should
be composed Of men who will have the good
sense 20 dotach these questions from the ever
listing subject Of politics; and who have
some other idea of the duties of a represent
atives than the subordination of every local
and material interest to winning a point or
two in the games of party controversy.