The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1867-07-27
,DEMAN COUNTY, TENN, July 27, 1867.
To the sher1fs Justices of the Peace
and Freeholders of Tennessee.

The franchise law passed at the last ses-
sion Of the Legislature, provides that the
Judges and Clerks of all elections shall here
after be selected and appointed by the Com
missioner of Registration, IN each county,
IN the same manner, and governed by the
same rules and laws heretofore provided by
law comforting the said election and APP
pointments by Sheriffs" 1t will be OBJ
served that the law as laid down In the
Code designating the officers to open and
hold elections, commonly called receivers
Of votes, who are the Sheriff and his depu-
ties, is in no manner pretended to be
changed by this act 1t is the duty, there
fore, of the Sheriffs at the approaching cleo
ton for Governor, etc, to appoint the need
ful number Of deputies to open and hold
elections of all the voting precincts in their
respective Countess duty lchich they
ought Gy no means to omit
1t will be observed also, that Gov Brown
low, who has assumed the authority to in
terpret the franchise law, and to order and
command the civil officers of the State at
his viii, In recent proclamation says
" And the several sheriffs of the different
counties of this State are hereby commanded
to open and hold said elections as required
by law; and to make return according to
law of the votes received and counted by the
Clerks and Judges appointed by the Com
missioner of Registration" Waving all
discussion as to his construction of the law,
at variance with the opinions of the best
legal minds of the State, we have heretofore
advised, and now advise acquiescence In
this additional usurpation, feeling confident
that the people will carry the election upon
any ground their oppressors may select.
The Sherifs of the different counties are
hereby commanded to open and hold said
elections as required by law" The require
ments of the law referred to are laid down
in section S39 of the Code thus: THE
Sheriff. or if-he is a candidate, the Coroner,
or if there be no Coroner, some person ap-
pointed by the County Court, shall hold all
popular elections and said officer or person
shaUdpp0ilt a sufficient number Of deputies
to hold said elections" Sec. 843-" IF the
Sheriff, or other officer whose duty it is to
attend at particular place of voting under
the foregoing provisions, fail to attend, any
Justice Of the Peace present, or if no Justice
Of the Peace be present, any three freehold
ers may perform the duties prescribed by the
preceding sections, or in case of necessity
may act as officers or inspectors"
Observe now the provisions in their order
Ist The Sheriff and his deputies shall
hold the election.
I'd. In default of the appearance of these
at the time and place appointed, any Justice
of the Peace may open and hold the cleo
ton.
Sd. IF no Justice be present, any three
freeholders may open and hold the election.
Care should be taken that the judges and
other officers who may hold the elections be
sworn according to law, and in making out
their returns the certifying officers should
in their certificates, say that the election was
held according to law.
Let special care he taken by Coniervative
officers and bystanders to see that the pro-
visions of the franchise law are complied
with, and that the counting of the votes be
carefully scrutinized, and duplicate returns
preserved, to prevent fraud.
PLACES OF HOLDING ELECTIONS.
''The places of holding elections shall be
IN each civil district, IN some convenient
locality, to be designated by the County
Court at least six months before the cleo
ton, and entered on record" Code, sec.
837
In case the County Court has failed to
make any new designation of places of hold
ing elections, it will be safe to hold them at
the last places heretofore so designated
By order of the Central Executive Com
mittee Of the Middle Division.
JOHN LELLYETT, Chairman.