The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-27
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Constitutions of Maryland and Kentucky to
Congressional revision, under the pretense of
providing therefor republican form of gov
Irnment, invests with interest all that relates
10 the political condition of Tennessee, where
Brownlow is carrying out their theories to
perfection.
To the knowledge possessed by the public
on this subject a correspondent yesterday
furnished noteworthy addition. The writer of
the letter is a citizen of Tennessee, a consistent
friend of the Union cause, and man whose
statements are worthy of the fullest credence.
There is nothing in them absolutely novel:
they reiterate representations which have been
received from other sources and the literal
truth of which can no longer be doubted.
The letter, however, throws additional light
upon some points which have not been pro-
perly appreciated, and illustrates the approach
of a crisis which BrownlOw's lust for power
seems on the eve of preoipitating upon the
State.
What republican government in Tennessee
amounts to is plainly shown in the means
which BrOwnlow is employing to insure sue
cess for himself and his friends in the ensuing
election. The system of prescription which
he has instituted has eliminated in the dis
franchisement of four-ffths of the white men
of the State; and still it is pushed further
wherever there is danger of a Brownlow
defeat. In some counties the white voters are
fewer in number than the Offices to be filed.
In others, the Governor is availing himself of
law enacted by his creatures in the Legisla-
ture by which he is empowered at pleasure to
set aside the registration where it is unsatis-
factory, and to appoint new Registrar with
The view Of making matters more agreeable.
Thus adverse rnajorities are overcome by
short and simple process, enabling the Gov
ernor to disfranchise all who withhold from
him support.
This extraordinary power he is exercising to
an extent that renders the holding of an cleo
tiOn farce the regular registration under the
law being set aside, and a new registration
made under the direction of Brownlow's s agents.
Even the candidates in some places ofioiate as
registrars and prepare the lists of those who
shall vote-a shameless substitute for the old
method of ballot-stufing. Where the affnities
of the citizen are not known, the certificate of
regular Brownlow man is required, and the
result is the wholesale exclusion of loyalists,
tried and true, as well as of former Rebels.
Nay, the latter sometimes fare better than the
former, as a circumstance mentioned by our
correspondent proves. An anti-Brownlow
Unionist, who served as a Federal officer
during the war, has in one instance been re-
quired to procure the indorsation Of a Rebel
Colonel who happens now to be ON Brownlow's
side!
The effect of this condition of affairs upon
the white people of the State may be con-
>oeived. We have but to suppose ourselves in
the position of four-ffths of the white Tennes-
seeans-including majority of original and
steadfast UniOnists-to Judge of the anger and
indignation which the course of the Brownlow
faction is everywhere exciting. 1t is not sur
prisng that fears of extended trouble are enter
tanned, or that conflicts on a small scale con-
tinually occur during the progress of the can
vass. Infinitely more astonishing would it be
if the outrages perpetrated by the party of
extremists who seek to intrench themselves
permanently in power, were permitted to pass
wholly unresented The pretenses under
which they are perpetrated add to their enor-
nifty. A band of outlaws holding the offices of
the State, and trying by force and fraud to
keep them, would be spectacle sad enough in
all conscience. Here, however, we have usuE-
patton, tyranny, injustice, and crime carried
on in the name of loyalty and Union, with
former Rebels, now in the Brownlow interest,
helping to commit them, and thousands Of
faithful Unionists among the victims.
To make matters yet worse, the same disre-
gard of principle which marks the conduct Of
the ruling faction in regard to registration and
disfranchisement, governs their appeals to the
negro element. The four-ffths of the whites
who worship not Brownlow are held up to the
blacks as enemies who must be kept down
as 5possessors of property which the blacks
may righteously appropriate. The bitterness
of a partisan contest is, therefore, intensified
by the passions incident to an antagonism of
races. The two causes, combined, are rapidly
reducing the State to condition compared
with which that of the people of Georgia or
Mississippi is superlative bliss. Instead of
wondering at the bad blood, of which all ac-
counts from Tennessee speak, rather let us
wonder at the patience that prevails and the
respect for order which the leaders opposed to
Brownlow enjOin upon their supporters.
Unless change come, and that speedily,
interference Of some sort will be called for to
rescue Tennessee from the faction that domi-
mates over and disgraces it, and to institute
reconstruction after the fashion of the military
government plan. Certainly, neither Mary
land nor Kentucky affords a hundredth part
of the justification for interference which Ten
nessee presents, whether considered in refer
enoe to wrongs done or the Legitimacy of the
Wrong-doers. The unconstitutionality and ille-
pality which attached to the Organization ot
the ten Governments now termed Unrovi-
sional," also taint the foundation of the nre
sent Government of Tennessee. We see nc
method of purging it of the foul humors which
find vent in the Brownlown regime except tina
of reconstruction from without. Let the want
of Tennessee be remembered when help 70
Maryland and Kentucky is invoked.
Negro Suffrage In the SOuth-A Batcl
OF Blacks In Congress, and What Then
From the Herald
A day or two before the adjournment Of I'll
late session of Congress, Mr.. Sumner adm
,,isbad tba ynanohars of the Senate that