Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-07-24
THE KNOXVILLE WING
Knoxville, Tenn, July "a, 1867.
Read the testimony
By BRowELow g. HAws.

AS~s4N eAAC ASoNhAaAVI4
On the 10th Of July, 1865, Governol
Brownlow issued the following proclama
ton:
GOVERNOR BRowELow's PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, II has been made known K
me that in many parts of Middle and Yves
tern Tennessee, those who have been lately
in rebellion against the United States, with
their friends and sympathizers--and with
hands yet red with the blood Of our loya
people-are either openly defying, or in.
directly setting at naught an important Law
Of the land, and s. q
WHEREAS, It is made the duty of the
Governor, by the constitution and his oath
Of Office, TO take care that the laws be
faithfully executed :"
Therefore, l, William 6. Brownlow. Gov.
ernor Of the State of Tennessee, do pro.
claim, that the act of the General Assembly
passed on the 9Th day Of June, 1865, emit
tied +" An act to limit the Elective Fran
chise, having been deliberately passed IN
der an express authority delegated to said
General Assembly by the convention Of the
9th Of January last; which delegation Of
power was solemnly ratified by the people
at the ballot-box, and proclaimed by the
Military Governor, on behalf Of the United
States as the organic LAWS THE SUPREME
LAW OF THE LAND and will be rigjdly enforced
and all who shall band themselves together
for the purpose Of defeating the execution
of said law, will be declared in rebellion
against the State Of Tennessee, and dealt
with as rebels
And do proclaim that no person is en-
titled to vote at any election by the people
Of this State, unless he shall first actually
prove by testimony, under oath, that he
comes within the provisions Of the FIRST sec
ton of said law and shall obtain a certif-
cate Of registration as prescribed in said
law, upon such proof IN fact made And
that the votes Of all persons and all coun-
ties contrary to the strict provisions Of
this Law, will be thrown out, and will not
be taken into account in the Office Of the
Secretary of State.
And l do further proclaim, that said law
requires that every candidate for Office shall
take the oath prescribed By the seventh
section Of SAID act and no person is or can
be q candidate until he shall have properly
taken and subscribed said oath; and do
declare that any person pretending TO be a
candidate for Congress or other office, who
shall fail to take and subscribe said oath,
and file on the same in the Office Of the Sec
rotary Of State, or before the third day of
August next, will not be treated as can
didate, and all votes for such person viii
not be taken into account. 81
And l call upon the civil authorities
throughout the State TO arrest and bring
to justice all persons who, under pretence
of being candidates for Congress, or other
Office, are travelling over the State denoun-
cling and multiplying the constitution and the
laws of the land, and spreading scdition and
a spirit of rebellion.
/ also command all clerks of the County
Courts and judges of elections faithfully and
strictly TO perform and not to evade the re-
sponsible trust confded to than by said
law; and l solemnly warn them that they
will be held to q strict account for any
failure in this respect.
copy Of the foregoing proclamation
was telegraphed TO the President, and he
Immediately sent the following emphatic
endorsement;
TELEGRAM FROM THE PRESIDENT TO GOV
BRowNLow. .-r--
WAsaSGToN, D. c., July 10, 1865.
To Coz. w. g. BrotCnl0w: =
hope, rs l have no doubt you viii see
that the laws passed by the last Legislature
voters in the approaching election be kept
from the polls, and that the election o.
members Of Congress be conducted fairly
and whenever it becomes necessary for the
execution of the law, and the protection OF
the ballot box, you viii call upon Gen
Thomas for sufficient military force TO sus-
tam the civil authority of the State. IhaUt
JHst read your address, 'rhich I most hedfiis
ANDREW JOHNSON,
President q. S A.
The Franchise act of 1865 was executed
in many counties by Clerks Of County
Courts who were hostile to It, and as sub
sequent investigation clearly proved, il
such manner as TO nulhfy it and place tn,
right Of suffrage IN the hands of the yer,
persons whom it was obviously designed t,
disfranchiso Tise Conservative newspa
pers throughout the State attacked thi
State Government, and denied the validity
of the franchise law from the beginning
and many Of them expressed a wish to Sc
the government aside, not by process o
legal election BUT by "a little rebellion" Z
use their own expression.
Gen Thomas, an experienced military OF
6cer, commanding this department, and
stationed at this post FOR several years
where he had extraordinary opportunities
tor becoming acquainted with the prevailing
sentiment OF the people, gave the following
testimony before Tho Court Of Impeachment
on the trial Of Judge Frazier 81
TESTIMONY OF MAJOR GENERAL rHoM4e
Question. You said that Won rsco;,-od
from the President an order to oivo go; -
lance 10 Governor Brownlow if no needss
IT, Was it in reference to the CoHgressiopo
election IN august, 1862
Answer The substance Of the order wa
TO give the Governor assistance in enforcin
the laws relative TO elections.
q. What elections were meant?
a. The elections Of members Of the Leg
islature, and Of Congress too.
@ What year was that in?
A That was in 1860.
@. As Commander-in-c chief Of a Distric
is il not your special duty TO ascertain 70
yourself the state of mind and temper &
the country?
a Yes.
Q. And did you not do so?
A. / did
@ At both times, in August, 1865, and il
July, 1866, the impressions made on you
mind were that there raS an attempt 10 in
tertize nth tie elections in 1865, and TO breal
1866
-aney1e..