Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-10

| consistency, or ascertalneu pa"'o''-'
which might command a common con-
sent 10 usurpation necessitated by any
circumstances, set to work delegates
were ostensibly elected so-called con-
yention held, apd so-called consii'u.
ton adopted. Every species OF fraud
and .trickery, necessary to the accom-
plishment of purpose, was unblush'
inely used, and the spirit OF the Pres'-
dental ukase, which required, at the
least. one.tenth Of the votes OF the true
citizens of the State, was hardly IN
appearance observed. Every camp
follower Of the Federal army, as well rs
Radical Federal soldier that would, de-
posted his vote. Boxes that never gave
one hundred votes, when all the citizens
were at home and generally voted,
turned out their three and hve
hundred votes Germantown, Tor
instance, voting for the designated
delegates by three or four hundred
majority when the little box never be-
fore could poll twenty-five all told The
soldiers and camp followers had not the
animus to remain, which constitutes the
gist of citizenship. Aud when all this was
not enough the ballot boxes were stuffed
with false votes, votes taken out, and
false returns made, sufficient completely
to meet the conditions desired. The one
tenth vote prescribed by Mr.. Lincoln,
TO wit: One-te the citizens and
roters of Tennessee, sas nerer gfren at
the election. East Tennessee did nearly
all the voting for the whole State. 1t
was a notorious farce; regarded at the
time as mere show of fairness in the
registration of military elict, never
contemplated by Mr.. Lincoln. He in
tended that at least tenth Of the real
Tennesseeans should speak. 1t was
fraud upon him in returning the State
to the Union without the real perform
ance of the conditions he had made pre-
liminary; and fraud carried on and
carried out under the bayonet, in dis
ordered time, at the instigation and for
the purpose of making men of the very
smallest small beer" politicians whose
presence ever disgraced a State under
any circumstances.
Well, this grave and dignified conven'
ton of knaves and dances, having
adopted its so-called constitution, the
instrument was ratified by the people,
by the same process and the same chi
canery. Nobody cared to count the
notes.-the result was a predetermined
and foregone conclusion. The conven-
ton, so-called, also nominated candi-
dates for the Senate and House O! Repre-
sentatives, in every county, on general
ticket system, by which the member from
Shelby, for instance, might be elected
without receiving q vote in his own
county. And the fact was that Sam.
Tighe, who got the majority in Shelby,
was beaten by Martin Ryder, whose vote
out of the county lin East Tennes-
see principally, enabled him to over
come Tighes vote in the county. The
majority Of the legislature, being
elected in the same way by votes
pretended to be given, or actually given
out of their own counties, and chiefly In
East Tennessee = of course admitted
Ryder to a seat, and rejected Tighe. The
majority of the so-called legislators were
beaten or not voted for at all in their own
counties. And certain it is the vote was
to all intents unreliable, and no equal
republican, constitutional and honest
vote at all. The voting was done, by regi
ments rather than by counties; and, ex-
cent in East Tennessee, if the vote had
been taken on the steamboats,, or tossed
up for on the principle" heads win,
tails you lose" it would have indicated
the public voice with equal certainty.
The Convention, moreover, exceeded
the legitimate purposes for which it was
called by men who were novices in pub
lie affairs, and whose neighbors before
the war had never found them worthy to
fill the place of any reputable town con-
stable; and it was at once a so called
constitutional and political Convention.
Brownlow was nominated; and by the
repetition of fear and favor, and every
fraud on the ballot box, elected of course.
And matters have gone on ever since on
that same line, under the dictation Of
combined petty ambition, treachery,
malignity and incompetence.
Now, we ask, have we legal govern
ment in Tennessee If so, it has a
military order, the spirit, meaning and
true intent Of which has never been car
ried out, for it's foundation. And why,
then, should il not be set aside for this
reasonl Or, if the President is SO com
mitled to the enormity, or So powerless
to overcome it, that he cannot act on
this reason, why should it not be set
aside by whatever power is competent,
for another and greater; that, however,
established, IL is anti-republiean, and
incapable Of securing life, liberty and
nrosneritv 10 the people Of Tennessee 2