Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-11

ELECTIONS IN TENNESSEE.
From the Memphis Bulletin Of the 9th
inst, we extract the following:
A couple Of very important telegraphs,
10 the electors Of Shelby county, passed be-
tween Mr.. Sheriff p. NJ. WRITER'S, Sheriff Of
Shelby county, and Mr.. A. i LETcHER, Sec
rotary of State and Governor pro TEN, yes
terday, which will have the effect Of disap-
pointing certain candidates at the coming
election. The FAT has gone forth, and the
Governor pro TEN, in a short and somewhat
snappish sentence, declares that on the 18th
OF the present month there will be no cleo
lion in this county FOR the Offices Of Judges
Of the Criminal, Common Law and Chan
Gerry Courts, nor for that Of Attorney Gen
eraL The reply came in response 70 a
telegraph message Of enquiry sent 10 Mr..
FLETCHER yesterday as he had some grave
doubts on the subject The following are
copies Of the important documents:
EEoUIRY. -
"MEMPHIs, Oct. 3, 1864. j. Fletcher,
Secretary Of State, NashUille, Tenn: Does
the Governors proclamation contemplate
my holding an election for Judges and At
torney General?
"P. NJ. WINTERS"
REPLY.
Mr.. p. IT. Winters. Sheriff Of Shelby County;
at does not 4 A. J. FLETCHER,
~ Secretary of State"
In accordance with the above the Sheriff,
by proclamation, has withdrawn the names
Of the several officers referred to above from
before the people.
This is laeonie, ard concludes the point as
to the election Of judicial officers, until, IN
the pleasure Of the Governor, it is seen fit to
order them specially. In the Governors
proclamation of September 18th, addressed
to the Sheriff Of Shelby county among
others, it is ordered that
The said Sherifs are also commanded to
open and hold all elections necessary 70 fill
vacancies in all county, district or municipal
Offices in their respective counties, the exist
enee Of which are known to them.
Secretary FLETCHER, we presume, land,
as he is perhaps the author of the proclama-
tion, he should know CONSTITUTES the term
Fdistriet," as here used, to apply to the sub
division Ola county, and to relate to the !
election Of magistrates and constables only. |
AT any rate his dictum is authoritative, and
the judicial officers of the Memphis district
will be filled for an indefinite period to come
with the appointees of the Governor.
Il may be that all the counties includedin
the judicial circuit, of which Memphis is
the centre, have not filed their returns of
registered voters but, with the exception Of
the Chancellorship and Attorney General
ship, we believe that the Offices for which
the sheriff had proclaimed elections are in the
boundsof Shelby county exclusively. Wecan
see no just reason, therefore, for refusing the
permission to hold the elections for Crimi
nal and Common Law Judges. The fran
ohise law declares that when the registra-
tioH Of county is complete, the Governor
shall issue writs of election to supply all |
Offices vacant, or held by GubernatOrial APP |
pointment.
In hesitaiing to remit to the people the
election Of their own officers, and especially |
that class whose function il is to administer /
the laws, the State authorities are commit
ling fragrant outrage The mode of select
ing judicial officers has been a subject Of |
much discussion, and three methods have
been advocated-appointment by one man,
election by the Legislature, and election by |
the people. The Constitution of this State
gives it to the people. Whoever assumes |
to take it away, incurs a terrible response |
bility, whether it is done boldly in defiance |
Of law, or through the instrrrnentalityA Of |
fnesse. The people are patient
and have already borne much, but a judici-
airy, dependent upon power usurped and cor
ruptly exercised, is an enormity they are not
for. If delay in the business of
is the only justification for this
course in regard to Judicial, and certain le-
gislative elections, those for instance to fill
the vacancies Of Hon. CAVE JOHNSON and
Mr.. ARNELI, it is incumbent on the State
in whose hands the whole mat
Ter rests, to hasten the work Of registration.
The peoples's rights must not longer suffer
BY the 'the laws delay" or "the insolence
If Office