Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-18
10 THE sHERIFFS. JUSTICES OF
THE PEACE AND FREEHOLDERS
OF TENNESSEE

OF TENNESSEE.
The franchise law passed at the last ses-
sion of the Legislature, provides that "the
Judges and Clerks of all elections shall
hereafter be selected and appointed by the
Commissioner of Registration, in each
county, in the same manner, and governed
by the same rules and laws heretofore pro-
vided by law; comforting the said election
and appointments by Sherifis." 1t win be
observed 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 dep.
uties, is in no manner pretended to be
changed by this act 1t is the duty, there
fore, of the Sherifs at the approaching
election for Governor, etc, to appoint the
Heedful number of deputies 10 open and
hold elections of all the voting precincts
in their respective Countless duty lrhich
they ought By no means 10 omit.
1t will be observed also, that Governor
Brownlow, who has assumed the authority
to interpret the franchise law, and to order
and command the civil officers of the State
at his will, in recent proclamation says:
Sand the several Sheriffs Of the different
counties of this State are hereby COM
manded to open and hold said elections as
required by law; and to make return ac-
cording to law of the votes received and
counted by the Clerks and Judges APP
pointed by the Commissioner of Registra-
ton" 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 acquiescencein this additional usurp~
alton, feeling confident that the people will
carry the election upon any ground their
oppressors may select. The "Sheriffs Of
the different counties are hereby COM
manded to open and hold said elections as
required by law" The requirements 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 appointed by the
County Court shall hold all popular cleo
tons; and said officer or person shall dp-
point a sufficient number Of deputies to hold said
elections" Sec 843-"If the Sheriff, or
other officer whose duty it is to attend at a
particular place of voting under the fore
going provisions, fail to attend, any Justice
of the Peace present, or if no Justice of
the Peace be present, any three freeholders
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:
lst. The Sheriff and his deputies shall
hold the election.
3D. In default of the appearance of
these at the time ard place appointed, any
Justice Of the Peace may open and hold the
election.
Sd. If no Justice be present, any three
treehOlders may open and hold the election.
Care should be taken that the judges and
other officers who may hold the elections
be sWorR according to Idi0, 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 be taken by Conserva-
tive officers and bystanders to see that the
provisions of the franchise law are complied
with, and that the counting of the U0tes be
carefully scrutinized, and duplicate returns pre-
serued, to preUent 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
election, and entered of record" Code,
sec. S37.
In case the County Court has failed to
make any new designation of places of
holding elections, it will be safe to hold
them at the last places heretofore so de-
signated.
By order of the Central Executive Com