Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-11
REGISTRATION An IMPORTANT
MATTER.

much anu anxious consultation among
the Radical plotters during last winter,
for it involved the tenure Of them power
1t is the reputed work of Mr.. Arnell, as
sisted by all the Radical craft that he
could command at Washington city. I'M
mediately on its completion, that person
age hurried from the Federal capital to
this city, and the Radicals in the Tennes-
see Legislature were summoned to eau
Gus, and initiated into the secret and in-
structed in the working Of the contriyance.
Forthwith, the simple amendment strik-
ing out the word white in the law Of
1866, then the pending proposition was
abandoned, and the Radical fugleman on
the floor of the House of Representatives
presented the new bill Mr. Arnell was
deeply interested party in securing
some law which, as nearly as possible,
would exclude from the privilege Of the
ballot-box, every man who could not be
controlled for the behoof of himself and
other Radical candidates He had
been overwhelmingly beaten at the
polls under the law of 1865. The law of
1866, which was framed to prevent such
expressions Of popular disapprOval, had
been found inefficient to prevent the fire,
quent election Of Conservatives, aud it
was deemed absolutely necessary to de-
wise some scheme which would give to
the Governor and his cabal, complete
power over the ballot-box They were
even afraid to trust the negro element
that they expected to cajole en- masss to
their support They foresaw that the
negroes, who, under the general clauses
Of the law were eligible, on the score of
non-participation in the rebellion, to de-
mand to be registered as voters, might
come to understand the political knaYery
Of which they were to be made the
dupes, and that their well-laid plans
might, at last gang aglee." 1t was
therefore determined TO cobble the regis
tration feature, and make it perfect for
the purpose, and this was done; and the
chief reliance that the managers have, is
in the degree of success with which they
can apply that portion of the machinery
The Registration Commissioner is the
appointee of the Governor. He is oath
bound to observe the constitutions, Fede-
rsl and State (e mere FORM and to dis
charge his duties under the law. Invested
with extraordinary powers giving him dis
erection to so control the voting privilege,
that he may affect the rights and proper
ty Of every citizen in his county, he is OBJ
igated in no penal peeuniary bond for
faithfulness under this vast responsibility
While the law takes care to afix the PEN
alties of perjury upon any applicant for
registration who may swear falsely, it
omits to apply them to a commissioner who
may be proved to have foresworn himself
He is sworn in the words of his masters,
and the more implicitly he may obey
their wishes, the greater his impunity.
This is the intent of the law, and the citi-
zen who may be aggrieved by the abuse
Of the absolute power which this official |
wields, has no redress but at the common |
law. He can put the applicant to oath,
and introduce evidence to contradict his |
statement, or deny him certificate of
registration upon any pretext he may
frame The law, also, gives him the APP
pointment of judges and officers Of the
election, aud thus enables him to prevent
all check upon his action until the polls
are closed, and the results forwarded to
the Secretary Of State, and from these
steps of official despotism, it is intended
to permit no appeal In short, the COM
missioners Office is to be grand Radical
headquarters, and there the voters are to
be made, and the votes counted before
they are deposited in the ballotbox.
We are thus particular in describing |
this registration business, because it de-
mands attention at the hands of the Con-
seryatives. We do not impeach, in adj
vance, any man who may act as commits
siuner, but the effort win be made to
secure men who will use the position,
without scruple, for the advantage of
those whs made the Office and the law
will be regarded as failure in so far as
it does not effect that end 1t is to be
hoped that the convention of the 10th
will suggest some mode by which a prac-
teal check can be placed upon the
license Of this officer; but any system
viii depend for its efficiency
upon the people Of each county. A COM
mittee composed Of vigilant, earnest, ae>
1--we men should be formed at each
county seat, who will see that the com-
complies with fair and just
Of the law and that no
voter, white or black, Of high or low de-
yree, is deferred by fear from OBJ
aiming his certificate, or rejected by
or collision between the officer
md his unconditional Union agents
They should be men Of nerve, who will
collect evidence Of malfeasance wherever
{ may occur, and endeavor to hold the
responsible before the
ourts of the country for infractions of
he rights of citizens II, by such
nears, the law can be preserved from
,artizan abuse, Odious and unjust as it is,
viii fail to achieve the enslayement of
he people Of Tennessee in the thrall of
he oligsrchy that framed it
Tf4E Radicals Of Washington county