The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1867-08-17

From the -BOx-The Mystery !
Explained
Guthrie, the Commissioner Of Registration
in this Henry county, labored by fair means
and foul to place the political control Of his
baliwick in the hands Of the radicals. To
wards white men he was remorselessly ex-
acting The proof the proof unqucstion-
able proof Of loyalty, was his constant cry,
and oftentimes when proof was offered By
vouchers of his own selection, certificates
were refused on the fimsiest pretexts. But
to the colOred man Sc he would roar me rs
gently as any dove" he would raise no
doubt, start no objections but with a smiling
graciousness, would accept the unctuous
periuries of Cal Sweeney and Bob Curry
brace of as disreputable wretches as live,
as proof as strong as writ of negros 10y
atty.
But after all his rascality, as the result of
his labors wnen he closed his books on last
Saturday night, this disagreeable fact pre-
scented himself to him, to wit more Con
seryatiYes had registered than radicals. The
remedy was In q moment thought of
Frauds were at once charged, and reported
to Nashville, with the recommendation, no
doubt, that the old registration be annglled
and a new one ordered under different aus
pices. Accordingly on last Sunday morning
! the community was astOnished and dumb
/ founded by the announcement that this
/ county had been unregistered. and John Nc
| Donald, another ardent supporter Of Brown
/ low, but withal clever and Conscientious
| citizen, had been appointed the successor of
Guthrie In the same connection it was
! given out that the new registrar would open
his books on Tuesday, the Both ult, thereby
/ allowing the people only two days to obtain
/ oartiGoatoa dau dasiuuofad o,4,.
streets were crowded with a dense thTOng
Of men robbed Of their rights, but eager to
| reinvest themselves with the voting privi-
lege. At the hour appointed applicants pre-
| scented themselves the whites at one door
and the blacks at another The latter were
gwen without hesitancy the premium boon
sought for, by a militia lieutenant, who had
been charged with that duty, but who was a
stranger to this community, and consequently
ignorant Of the antecedents Of every citizen
Of the county. The whites came harder by
their certificates. In another room adioin-
ing the one occupied by the doughty officer
of Brownlow's trained band was a scene to
make the gods weep. Worthen Frank
Travis, and the Captain Of the militia sta
toned at this place, were grouped together
IN dire conspiracy against the liberties of
the people. The moral beauty (?) of the pic
ture is best shown by the fact that but one
OF this ungOQly ana unprInclpled trio Is q
citizen Of the county, and he Is its bitterest
enemy. But its most touching feature was
John Mcdonald. He was the impersonation
of an honest man struggling with adversely
and if such a scene makes angels weep, as
has been said, verify there was shedding OF
tears on high that day. There he sat, every
honest suggestion of his overruled the evi
dences of his senses denied, his strongest
convictions Of right and duty gainsaid, his
idea of men and things quietly ignored
every noble prompting frowned down, his
decency outraged, his humanity shocked and
his intelligence insulted, his sense of Justice
violated by the shameless proceedings Of the
unconsciOusable junta that Brownlow placed
over him. Enduring this until it became
clearly apparent that he could not, consist
entity with his oath, submit longer-in Other
words, seeing that it was impossible for hin
to execute the law, he gave up in DISCUS
after few hours, and dispatched his resig
nation to Fletcher, announcing that his act
were null and void This is a simple state
ment of facts The world is at liberty t.
draw its own conclusion. There is but one
opinion here, and that IS, that a more un
mitigated outrage was never attempted to bt
perpetrated on the rights Of free people OF
republican usage.
It is needless to say that Fletcher appoint
ed no one to take the place of Mcdonald
and so the vote of Henry county is merel,
nominal, but nevertheless Conservative.