Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-17
- TE,NNEssEE TO HAVE 4 REPRESs-
FNTATNON ~ THE FOhA !"

IL TIN NEGSEE TO HANE A1r r,
The act Of Congress conyening the
Fortieth Congress on the fourth OF March
next empowers the Governors OF states
that have not elected their delegations to
the House of Representatives, to Or'ier
special elections prior to that date and
the code of Tennessee (section 500 pro
vides that in the event vacancies occur
in the delegation from this State, special
elections shall be held to I'll them. Those
State and federal statutes give ample |
mower 10 Governor Brownlow and the |
contingency viii occur on the ionrtb Of
March
In discussing the coming political con
test in this State, the Radical organ Of
this city says
We have no idea that Governor Brown
low will order an election until the Legis-
lature shall have thoroughly revised and
completed its labors upon the franchise
law. delegated to it by the unanimous vote
Of the loval people Of the State. As
wise and providen. Chief Magistrate, he
will take all possible precautions to pre-
p vent the Rebels from getting possession OF
\ the balot-bOx and electing a Congresslon-
al delegation, in defiance Of the franchise
law. who would be sure tobe excluded from
, the Fortieth Congress The Congressional
. elections can be safely entered upon after
y the universal enfranohisement OF loyal
r citizens by the Legislature. The Republi-
u can ticket, with proper organization, can
. poll between S., 900 and $4,000 votes, which
will insure us the State by a triumphant
ia majority.
f. Provision Is made by law that the
n people may hold elections at any time
"a that it is necessary to secure their repre>
Il sentation in the most numerous branch
= Of Congress; and the Executive is the
n. official designated to put the elective ma
chinery in motion. 1t is clearly his duty
b, to order an election in time for the dele
cation in this State to assume their places
n. upon the organization Of the fortieth Con
- rress. But here we have it announced
10 that he will probably consult his own
. pleasure, and fix the time for the election
N as the exigencies of his party may re-
D. quire. The present Legislature have con-
Ia structed two franchise laws with the sin
~ Gle view Of obtaining Radical control o.
n. this State. 1t is now proposed to amend
the one at present in force, and attemp
to make assurance doubly sure by en-
franchising the negroes Of the State. The
G. interests to be subseryed by q represen
ce tation in Congress are not considered ioI
n moment Duty, in the premises Il
he lost sight of entirely The grea
be absorbing question is how to acquire su
pc premacy. To accomplish this, they vii
ss trample on constitutions, defy laws, disre
'e- gard inalienable rightbs, grant commits
sl, missions to men rejected by the people
al or refuse them to those lawfully elected
ed The managers have concluded that theii
Id surest reliance is on negro suffrage, an,
IN success or failure in that scheme, is to de
be eide whether Tennessee is to be represent
II ed in Congress, or whether 1t IS to be re
ms presented at all
he Perhaps there was never before suci
ng arrant and hagitious trihing with tn
I'D rights and interest of the people a
We that now being practised by the Radicals
r. Of Tennessee. Considerations of legal
x ty, of Justice, of compatibility with Repub
"a lican principles are utterly discarded
ng The privileges Of white men are abridged
n. and those Of the negro enlarged,a it ma.
ed suit the purposes Of a party Laws ar
he made, amended repealed, observed, o
lie nullifed as the occasion may require i
this reckless political jobbery, the peopi
e. have no security for anything that gov
I'd eminent was ordained 70 provide an
y protect This semi>authoritatiye sent
p. ment of the Governors probable actor
I'd in regard to the special election for Cor
1e gressmen surpasses any exhibition Of un
IT. adulterated partyism that has ever aT
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