The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-05-23

the sacred desk, and ridden upon ralls.
In one instance, two men of God were
driven by violence from Decatur, in
Mcigs county, where they were enga-
ged in conducting protractcd meet
ing, thirteen miles, and made to carry
billets of wood through the public
streets Of Athens, in McMim county,
in the full blaze ofday, and by as grace
less set of scamps as ever disturbed
the peace ofsociety. Courts have been
intimidatcd by them, and two public
executions by mobs in the town Of
Knoxville have occurred within the last
eighteen months without aprosecution.
AT times and in some localities it has
been very dangerous for 4 gentleman,
to have twenty dollars, to
travel alone through the country; while
to drive good men from the country
under the pretext Of disloyalty, but
really for the purpose Of appropriating
their property, was with many favor
ite policy fenrching themselves. And
all this was done by the Governors pc
culiar friends, and done too in the name
and under the cover Of loyalty. 1t is
true that this lawlcss population was
made up mostly 10y the refuse, the worst
portion Of both sides but this matter
ed not, so long Is they held themselves
in readiness to do the Governors lie
hest. Their object was pclf, his object
to crush out all opposition; to suppress
honest and Legitimate inquiry into the
official conduct of himself and those AS
sociatcd with him 10 concentrate with
in himself all the powers of the State,
and to stfc the freedom Of thought,
and Of the press. Such policy, it is
easy to be seen, would, in country Of
ordinary intelligence, and where the ex
isting power was dependent upon even
a partial suffrage, soon overthrow any
dynasty however strong and well pro
tcctecl; and such was the manifest fate
Of Brownlow's accidental regime. With
him, as with every one else, one act of
usIwpation and oppression demanded
another.
TILE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE.
As weak and unredecting rs he is, he
saw this much, and at once, in co-opc-
ration with Il majority of creatures in
the legislature, who, too, like himself,
were false in their promises, and false
in thcir constitutional obligations, set
about rohbing the people, who had clcc,
ted them, Of all political power, and
turning it over to such as wo.ld um-
scrupuIously and readily do whatever
might be required Of them. TO this
end, members legally elected and admit.
ted 10 their seats were expelled under
various pretcXts, but in reality to make
room rmorc supple instruments.
Others, daily and regularly elected,
were denied their seats for the same
reason, and when, by this forcible and
illegal pruning, Byo~n'owis0', (and
there is 10 more appropriate term to
characterize the dcvilish spirit that is
preying upon the vitals Of our Statc)
because strong enough, it put forth an
amended or second franchise law, the
distinguishing feature of which is that
none could vote except such as hclC
certificates fromthe Governors appoin
tees. This effective reach for power
like all usurpations, WAS put forth un.
der Il specious prcteXt. Ii was, is al.
legged BY its authors, introduced and
adopted for the puupose Of keeping the
government in the hands Of the loyal
peopie ofMe State. But in this connec,
ton it must be remembered that the
government of the State was already in
the guardianship Of loyol mcn--this oh
ect having been cilectually secured by
the franchise law which had been pre-
viously passed. No! Let us not de-
ludc ourselves by such shallow and
unworthy pretcnce. The second law
was passed to exclude loyalty from the
ballot box 1t has excluded loyalty
Yes, the purcst loyalty and patriotism
of the State has been ihpclled from all
participation in the public affairs of the
State. According to the provisions OF
this law, the Governor is authorized to
appoint n register Of voters in each
county The law declares who shall
and who shall not be entitled to be reg.
istercd as voters. Among others, sol
dicrs who had fought for the govern
mcnt in the late struggle, and been hon
orably discharged, are declared to be
entitled to vote. But then, the Cover
nor's appointoe is made the judge OF
this fact. His decision is conclusive
it can neither be appealed from nor re-
viewed. If he decides enormously,
whether from caprice, misconceptions
of his duty, malice, or unworthy par-i.
zan considerations, there is no way OF
correcting the error. The applicant is
deprived OF one of the dearest rights
incident to a republican form Of gov
ernment. Thus. you will all see tha
the Governor holds the whole game il
his own hands: and to make his pow
er.. if possible, more complete, notwith
standing this franchise act is part o
the fundamental law Of the land, en-
grated into and made part OF the con
stitltion of the State, which invests ev
cry one holding Il certificate with tn
constitutional right of voting, by Il la
ter act of Legislature, his Ercellency, til
Gorernor, is authorized, at his mere vii
and pleasure, to annul the registration
in any county, appoint new and NOR
complacent register, and order or no
order, as he may suppose most promo
tive of his faction, new or revised
registration.
THE GOVERNOR SUPREME.
These laws are intended to make thu
Governor supreme; they are intended
to clothe him with all necessary power
to force the re election of himself, u.
well as q Legislature subs' rvient to hi
views. 1t is with him to appoint reg
;,tnr, of ,,t,rc in tho cpypr1l counties