The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-08-08
rHE TFNNEssEE FRAUD.

we're observed. All the essential clc-
mcnts Of the great American institu-
ton were opeuly disregarded. Like
Napoleon, who declared that all French
men might vote as they pleased, but at
the same time made it penal cifense
for any man to print or write ticket
from which his rame was omitted,
BTownlow took care that the machinery
of political and military dcspotism
should work in his favor. The most
outrageous and indcfensiblo course Of
conduct was pursued with reference to
the Conservative party. Laws were
passed DISTINGUISHING over iifty thou.
sand Of tho whlto men Of tho State,
while at the same time tho negroes
Wsre enrolled, without question as to
their residence or the fact Of t.Laeir ,!,av
ing any Of the few qualifications made
necessary "uder tne Brownlow dynasty.
! 1Ie c.rctlcn laws of the State have
been changed four Or five times within
the past three years, and each change
was intended TO aud did limit the fran.
chise so far as the white men of the
State we're concerned. All the laws Of
Tennessee we're passed under the direct
supervision of Brownlow, and carried
out by his tools, and hence the disfran-
chiscment Of white men who are in IA
vor of the Union and the Constitution,
and the respect shown to negroes who
support Brownlow and his military des-
potism. la addition to this, the Con-
servatiyes wcre prevented from making
a full and complete canvass Of the
State by bands of rufians and cut
threats, organized by BrownlOw, mar
shaled and led by his friends, both
black and white, armed with State mus
kets, rifles and pistols, and paid from
the State Treasurer. These gangs we,e
, instructed to break up the meetiLgs Of
the Conservative party, to mdrder
) those who would persist in denouneing
, Brownlow and his unlawful acts, to as.
, sail prominent and Influential citizens
at their Own homes, and thus terrify
S the masses aud prevent them from par'
. ticipatipg in the election. While the
-, white men Of the State who have a real
and abiding interest 10 its progress and
, welfare we're thus stripped Of their
political rights, thus disfranchised, TO-
e suited aod prevented from instructing
8 the people upon the real issues of the
r day and occasion, the negroes were in
, famed against the whites by promises
i and fslsehOods, and thus their 7Otes al
> the polls were secured.
Ia this manner the farce called al
election was playedin Tennessee. Nov
as to its results. Who have been fJrc,
! ed into position by this surgipg tide o.
force, fraud aud management? Brown
low has been continued in the Guber
material chair, political trimmer Of the
b most dangerous and repulSiye character
man ripe and ready FOR any course O.
1 action that will put money in his purse
and power in his hands. Claiming II
be the most deadly encmies fall who
e during the late war, did not openly side
/; with the North, the BrOWnlow part
scrupled not to bargsia with th-
rebels" when they could gain b
such an alliance. To them principle
was nothing. 1t Was power they need
$ ed at this time, power to be used in tht
e future as a means Of rivcting still nor
d tightly those chains by which the whit
0 men Of Tennessee are NOW iettered. 4
+ Nashville correspondent Of leadin;
e Radical paper in New York gives SOM
: facts on this point which are interesting
= lie states that ia lie Nashville Con
gressi0nal district, the ultra Radical Goa
d hseation candidate for Congress edited
!. rampant secession newspaper in Georgi
r in 1861, aHd served in the Contederat
. army, whereas his Conservative OppO
IF neEt, Mr. Bailie Peyton, MAS an earn
est and consistent Union man through
out the whole war. The same write
t, remarks that all the Conservative can
at didates for Congress could show con
+ + sistent Union record, while among tn
to Brownlowites more than one was in tn
" ranks Of the rebel" army during tn
" war. OF the Radical legislative caud
dates, ole voluntary took command {
~ ,ohal - aan,ranx, -.