Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-15
PRoCEA4ATTON nY THE GOvERNOR.

The Governors organ of yesterday pub
hshed proclamation, ordering an election
10 be held to fill certain vacancies in the
Legislature, Of which the following is the
body and substance:
To the Sherifs Of the counties Of Smith,
Cannon, Bedford, Gibson, Benton, Harde-
man, Macon, Warren, Dickson, Franklin,
Coffee, Williamson, Cheatham, Robertson,
Shelby, Henry, Monroe and Scott.
WHEREAS, The Commissioners Of Regis
tration appointed under the provisions Of the
Act Of May 3, 1866, for your respective
counties have reported that they have COM
pleted the registration of the voters thereof,
Therefore, /, WILLIAM G. BRowNIOw,
Governor Of the State Of Tennessee, by vir-
tue Of the power conferred, and in discharge
Of he duty imposed upon me- by the terms
of said Act, do hereby command you, and
each Of you, 10 open and hold elections IN
your respective counties on Saturday, the
18th day Of October, 1866, according to the
tenor of the writs of election this day issued
to you, to wit:
For the County of Smith, one representa-
tive.
For the County of Bedford, one represen-
tative.
For the County of Franklin, one repre-
sentative.
For the County of Shelby, two represen-
For the County of Dickson, one represen-
tative
For the County of Warren, one represen-
tative
For the County of Henry, one represen-
tative.
The said sherifTs are also commanded to
open and hold all elections necessary to fill
vacancies in all county, district or municipal
Offices in their respective counties, the ex'
istence Of which are known to them.
There is one feature in this proclamation
to which we desire to call especial attention
as being most remarkable. It lis thateightecH
counties are required to hold elections fol
sepen. Being no longer able toresist thepop-
ular demand for representationinth those conn
ties that have been uniustly and violently de-
prived Of voice in the Legislative coun-
ellis, this oligarchy at the capital are resolved
to defeat and suppress the popular voice and
liberty, by taking away from the counties
the right 10 select their own representatives
according 10 the desires Of their respective
peoples, and committing it to other counties
1t is unnecessary TO say that this course is
in violation Of the customs and laws Of the
State from its inception. There is but one
exception, and that was the election of the
present Legislature, which occurred under
most extraordinary circumstances, and which
could not have been excused or tolerated
under any other.
But in this very Legislature vacancies
have previously occurred, and have
been filed under the old system of each
county choosing its own representatives, and
the members 50 chosen are still holding
their seats.
We have been disposed to concede the
necessary prOpriety of the original election
in this case; and for the sake Of having some
tolerable State Government, returningas rap.
idly as circumstances would permit to the old
style in which the people were educated, and
to which they are unalterably attached
When the vacancies above referred to occur.
red, the question as to whether they should
be filed by the general ticket system oil
by the respective counties in their own right
was presented and discussed. It was decid,
ed by the Governor and his advisers thai
they should be held in the latter mode, and
were 80 held. This we regarded as coming
back to the peoples wishes and TO their i'm.
prescriptible rights; and we refrained from
making any issue as TO the legitimacy of 8
legislative body, the constituent members o.
which we're selected in so diverse manner
The people Of the counties accepted the re.
storation of their right TO choose their own
representatives, and hailed it as an omen Of
future good.
But they were disappointed; for in a
number Of cases the members they sent up
to represent them were arbitrarily excluded
by an act Of usurpation, unparalleled in
this or any other State. And now, the
vacancies created by this atrOcious outrage
upon the rights of the people Of whole
counties, are ordered to be filled by the
assumed despot of Tennessee, under the
general ticket system"
If the Governor can thus, by his mere
ediots, change the modes of election, for
partisan or other purposes, there can be no
law in this State other than his will. This
the people can never tolerate, except at
the expense Of their dearest rights and lib
critics. They will inquire by what authority
the people of Williamson county, who are
already represented, can choose representa-
tives for Shelby, or Scott for Henry. They
will deny the legitimacy of Legislature 80
created, in whole or in part-resist the exc
cution Of pretended laws enacted by such a
conclave-and il true to themielves, refuse
to sustain and support them, and institute
such measures as will vindicate their rights,
and give them Government protecting
them from such despotic usurpation and
outrage.