Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-02
Some of the Tallest Swearing
on Record.
ALL ABOUT EVERYTHING.

Contrary to the expectations of many,
the election yesterday passed off quietly,
not single disturbance having occurred
throughout the day. At seven o'clock in
the morning, the entire police force of the
city, including the three hundred special
appointees, assembled at the markethouse,
and were marched off to each ward in com
panies OF thirty-fve, headed by either a
Deputy Marshal or Lieutenant.
At an early hour the last miltiaman
had struggled off from Capitol Hill to Join
his command at Buena Vista Springs,
and only a few old dirty blankets and
camp traps remained in the State House
to tell of the previous presence of the
mighty garrison" of Nashville. Cooper
had sent away the only company vouch-
safed to the endangered capitol, and when
the three companies of Gen. Duncan's vet
Grams marched up the hill to take posses.
sion Of the State House, its halls were
empty. They were under Lieut.. Col.
Woodward, and were supplied with one
days rations and twenty rounds of ammu
milton per man.
All day they were held in readiness to
move at a moments notice.
n hcldAuniCuL Oh the ruin NdRHlIY,
numbering about As, appeared at the
Court House just before the opening of
the polls, and were divided into patrol
parties, a number being assigned to each
ward. They we're fully equipped with sa-
bers, reyolyers and carbines, and were kept
on duty until the election closed in the af-
ternoon.
A dead calm seemed 10 have settled upon
the city-a calm that appeared to have
something terrible in it. Great crowds
we're upon the streets, but they spoke in
low tones as they gathered about the polls,
and comparatively little electioneering
was done by either party. No Sabbath
day was ever more quiet, and the Olanking
sabers Of the cavalry broke ominously upon
the still air as they moved up and down
the echoing pavement.
The organization of the Radicals was
admirable, and the work of their leagues
was everywhere visible. Indeed, one man,
Peter Weller, who was arrested for carry
ing heavy navy revolver, declared that
he had been enlisted five days ago by
General Cooper the militia chief, and
was then on duty. Many of the negroes
dared vote no other than the Radical
ticket. One of the leaguers was heard to
say, "any id niger who would vote
the Conservative ticket ought to be boiled
in oil p He was not arrested.
Though the presence Of colored men at
the polls was something new and calcu-
lated to influence that prejudice which the
Radicals are so fond Of attributing to OPP
pOnents, not one Of them was crowded from
his place, or in the least prevented exer-
cising his rights as a voter.
In some places, no one was allowed to
challenge a vote. 1t was evident that a
large number of negroes had been i'm
ported, this class voting solid for Brownlow,
and too many of them swearing that they
came here in January. Indeed, the imml-
grafton in January must have been unpre-
cedented A great many who were I'M
questionably under twentysone years of
age swore themselves in and their votes
were received. The vote Of Kerchival,
Radical candidate for Representative, was
challenged by NJ. S. Brantley, one of the
officers Of election, on the ground that as
Representative of Lincoln county he could
not be a resident of Davidson. Kerchivai
swore and voted.
Notwithstanding the manifest injustice
with which the election was being carried
on, il was evident that there was no rem
edy that would not bring on bloodshed if
undertaken, and everything was passed
over without remOnstrance.
One of the most fragrant outrages, and
one for which there appeared not the
slightest necessity, was the wholesale is
suing of certificates from negro saloons to
negroes. and these certificates were signed
by Major Alden, the registration Commits
sioner, as often as they were presented TO
him. A negro named Allied Gray was ar
rested for attempting TO vote with an un~
signed certificate which he said he had OBJ
tanned at the saloon of Henry Harding,
colored man, but while the police were
taking him to the station house, they fell
in with Major Alden, who was riding
about in a light wagon with DR.. Sparkling
and several others. When the matter was
made known to him, he declared the Ger
ti6cate "all right and, going up into the
Mayors Office, signed il, whereupon the
prisoner was released and returned to the
Fourth Ward polls Here he was chal-
lenged, but Alden's signature carried the
felt al this, but no disturbance arose. The
following afidsvits in regard TO the matter
have been handed us:
State Of Tennessee, County Of Dqridson.-
This is 10 certify that Alfred Gray col
ored, made application to vote on blank
certificate, at the polls of the fourth ward,
and was challenged and arrested for so
doing. He stated that he obtained his
certificate this morning at the negro shop
kept by Henry Harding lcolored,) i'm
mediately below said poll. He, the said
Alfred Gray, went in search of Major Al
den. Franchise Commissioner and found
him at the room of the Recorder. Said
Alden signed said Alfred Gray certificate,
and told him to 60 and vote upon the
same. His vote was challenged, and the
Commissioners said that there were special
police enough to challenge without out
siders," and Alfred Gray wac by them per-
miited 10 vote.
One Of the Commissioners or clerks said
that it mattered not at what time the Com
missioner signed a certificate, whether in
his Office or not, il entitled tae bearer TO
vote; and such establishments are giving
out certificates near each poll, and Alden
has signed the same.
The only question when a negro comes
up is, do YOU live in this city" An athr-
native answer is all that is required, and
the negro is permitted TO vote without any
futher interrogations
WIN. CARNEY,
SAM. ID. NICHoL.
thereby certify that there is one or more
negro shop or shops near each poll giving
ont certificates 10 any and every negro who
may apply. and that said negroes are per-
mitted TO vote upon said certificate with
only the question, do you lire IN the
ciiy.'
O. B. YOUNG.
August Let, 1867.
BY three o'clock in the afternoon, nearly
aNaI-N ono LII ,-ninl ord Of four nlrlnch