Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-10

citizens and strangers a correct appreciation
of the material used by the Governor, I'M
der the name OF registers, for the purpose
of controlling the elections. Ii is impos-
sible, in the very nature of things, that it
should be otherwise. To entrust its execu-
ton TO honest, liberal and inst men would
be to defeat the object of its enactment.
Honest men could not be used for such
purposes; and the monstrous injustice
which conceived it also requires conve-
nient, facile instruments to put
it into execution SO as to insure to Its au
thors that mastery over the people which
its enactment was intended TO secure to
them. And under its provisions, as now
administered by these degrading creatures
of gubernatoriai confidence, large num-
Der of the most consistent, worthy, and re-
liable friends of the Union. including
large number of the officers and soldiers of
the Federal army, who fought with gal
lantry and have been discharged with
honor, are robbed of this inherent and in
estimable right of free citizens. But even
with this most ample and placable ma
chinery, centering in the Governor the
whole power of the State, there is mani
fest distrustfulness of success on the part of
its traitorous authors. Why is this "Con-
scious guilt" gentlemen, makes towards
of us all" None, gentlemen, know better
than they the extent of their base betrayal
of the people. Yes, under the guise of
friendship and loyalty, they sought your
confidence, begged your permission to serve
you in positions of public trust, and when
commissioned they have basely used the
power obtained through insincerity and
fraud to rob yon of your liberties, and to
betray you into the power Of the most con-
temptible and corrupt oligarchy that ever
domineered over an enlightened people.
And it ia a Consciousness of this fact that
makes them afraid TO trust any portion of
the people, hampered az they are by the
iron hand of power that seeks to control
them through the complicated network
which have attempted to nnveil and lay
bare before You.
But what more could fraud and coWardice
suggest? What resource was left, by which
these accidental occupants of place could
drive an unwilling people into their sup
port? A crisis had been reached, and
something must be done; and the negro,
the poor, harmless, and if let alone, inof-
act, enfranchised. Thus, an element,
capable of voting from 10000 to $4,000
votes in the State, Hnaccustomed to the
exercise Of political rights, uneducated,
unfamiliar with the theory, or wants and
necessities of the government and az a
general thing incapable of giving an en-
lightened vote, is crowded and thrust into
the political arena, to be gambled for by
demagogues, and inveigled into the party
harness. But even here their confidence was
not entirely free from misgivings. Doubts,
having their origin in a sense of wrong,
still disturbed their minds. If the stake
the negro vote-was left TO its own volition,
or to an impartial scramble of interested
politicians, uninhuenced by the presence
of force, it might and probably would, be
cast against them.
THE STANDING ARMY.
Hence another step became necessary
and thereupon these oppressors of the peo
pie, these men who sought places as SER
wants, but who now claim to be masters of
the country, by another act of the Legisla-
ture, made provision for the organization
of standing army of 5000 men in a time
of peace; and these men to be organized,
equipped, fed, clothed, and paid by taxes to
be gathered from You and | are to be Off
cered and commanded by our most excellent
Just, and discreet GOUernor-to move at his
and TO execute his bloody, OPP
pressive and illegal DEGREES. Yes, fellow
citizens, in time of profound peace, when |
the machinery of civil government is in |
full operation, and in the hands of their |
own friends in all IFS departments, with
submissive and non-resistant population |
readily aiding the execution Of the laws,
and acquiescing in the DEGREES of your court, |
a formidable military power is being organ
Ized in violation of the constitution which /
all these men sworn to support for no other |
purpose than to control the elections. The |
negro, like some of you, can VOTE provided /
he gets permit from the Governor through |
1ne of his registers, and provided further,
hat he votes in accordance with the Gov
srnor's wishes. And this, gentlemen, he
will be required to do. Such is the unmis-
akable givings out Of the Governors or
yans and most trusted tools.
THE BALLOT IN THE HANDS OF REGISTERS.
Heretofore, the appointment of judges of
elections was, by law existing from the or
ANIMATION of the State, till few months
Igo, made by the county courta tribunal
elected by the people of each county, and,
I may be fairly presumed, representing
heir views and wishes; but this long es-
ablished law has been invaded. 1t still
eft remnant of power with the people,
which. in the opinion of our Legislators,
vas necessary to be withdrawn, in order to
complete Capitalization of power in the
Governors hands, and forthwith the duty
f appointing the judges of elections, the
nen with whom is entrusted the purity of
he ballot box, is taken from the county
ourts, and imposed on the registers
{ uoters in the several counties. So
on will perceive that the system is
ow complete-eyery part being in
armony with every other part, all center
lg in our most excellent Goren0r, who is
nsconsed behind military force, provided |
/ your expense, by which he can stifle
iscussion, crush out opposition, and reduce
on to the most abiect state of dependence
pom his will What huge privilege it
to vote under such circumstances-to vote
4 the presence of bayonets, and at the die
ltion of an upstart, and an INSCRIPTIONS
Military organization, to vote as Governor
rownlow may require, TO lick the hand
lat smites you, and to be made the un-
illing instrument of fastening the chains
slavery upon yourselves and upon your
osterity
A SUBSERVTENT JUDICIARY.
Now it would seem that the NAL admin
tration Of power in the particulars al
lady enumerated, is more than any people |
nght to bear. But these are not the only |
rounds of just complaint. When the
,urce of power is corrupted, the streams of
lstice cannot be kept pure and unpolluted.
very other department must, Of Necessity,
e more or less contaminated.
The judiciary, which has been Justly
yled the brains, as well as the great moral
oper of republican governments, is,
some extent, imbued with
artisan bias in the discharge of its respon-
bic aad sacred trusts; and the Legisla
ire has not been unmindful to provide it '
illing instruments in securing partisan }
lrors, by the enactment of recent statute
all men as jurors except
Oters. By this act the property, the repu- .
Ition, the liberties and the lives of every J
ne are placed at the disposal of men who
ave been registered by the instruments,
II the purposes and in the manner previ-
lsly explained. And when it is remem- Z
sred that mort Of the litigation in East :
is in some way connected with, '
has in some way grown cut Of the late I
p 4