Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-17
MORE OF THE FARCE.
SO-CaIIea Election An MARSHALL County
-Frauds- Of the I.aW-asoW
the Negroes were Managed, etc.

the Negroes were Managed, etc.
Correspondence Of the Union and Dispatch.
MARSHALL COUNTY, August 10, 1867
To show how the Radicals carried the so
called election in this county, viii Illus
trate their "tactics" throughout the State,
and will afford full view Of the frauds,
deception, corruption and violation Of their
own fraDelhse law. practieed oA thepeople.
Tho grand Jury should indict the guilty
parties.
/. Our Commissioner of Registration is
a narrow-minded liadieal partisan and pro-
scriptive bigot-a iit tool Of his master at
the capital. Like all others Of his class,
he is an aposiate Rebel.
2 He and few white men of like stamp
first sWore the negroes into the " Leagues
before giving them certificates, refusing
certificates to vote to all colored men sus-
pecled Of intending TO vote the Conserya-
| tive ticket Negroes were promised forty
acres of land under a liberal eonisca-
ton in Tennessse-pOor white Leaguers
the same. They were told Conservative
would Put them back into slavery, and
we're their enemies. Negroes were charmed
with the novelty, and solemnly impressed
with the League, its oaths, signs, grips,
/
| iarity and teachings Of their loyal white
brother leaguers The Simon Girtys"*
Of the white race in Tennessee. In large
majority Of cases no oath Of loyalty Of the
colored applicants was taken, nor
proof Of that loyalty by two Wit
| nesses known to the Commissioner to have
been unconditional Union men during the
war" was observed, although the law re-
quires such proof for colOred as well as
white men.
Sd. Many negroes were furnished with
certificates who were not twenty-one years
old, nor living in the county six months.
Some negroes got certificates 10 vote in
this county who we're at that time living in
some adjoining county.
4th. The vouchers" for "loyalty" Of
applicant we're Radicals only---some Of
them not known to the Commissioner as
Loyal men during the war; indeed,
some Of them we're notoriously disloyal.
These men could and did easily get certifi-
Gates for Radical voters, and in many in
stances (sOme Of them Rebel soldiers) with
out any oath Of voter or necessary proof Of
witnesses except an assurance of voting
the Brownlow ticket This was sufficient
Good Union men stood no chance with
these vouchers, if known to be Conserva-
tive. Excuses and delays would be resort
ed to, such as, did moi know yon all the
time" 81 do not want 10 swear for any
one :" Come some other time," etc, etc.
1t seemed to be an understanding between
them and the Commissioner. Men who
we're known and tried, all through the war,
as faithful Union men, were refused as wit
nesses for any one, because they were
known to be Conservative and opposed 10
Brownlow. The Commissioner would
not attend Conservative spealIings to
give the mass Of the people a
chance to prove themselves entitled
10 certifeates. lie only attended Radical
a speakings 10 hand out certificates % thOse
who were reported BY the keageefs' end
vouchers as worthy and reliable to be
admitted into full Radical fellowship in the
Brownlow charch. A whisper or sign
that the applicant was call right" was
enough TO make him n vOter-regardieSs o
former disl0gdify or dntecedeHts. Present
opinions and chow are you going to vote
seemed TO be the test, rather than the re-
quirements ofthe franchise law.
9Th. In this county there are about 220C
white males over twenty-one, and $50 ne
groes. About coo whites voted in the
= February and March elections in 1865, and
could get certificates by the poll books, as
: proof of voting. About 7S0 were registered
Owing to apathy and fear, not more thar
! $50 voted. Al least 500 old men, and boys
lust come of age-who had nothing what
b ever TO do in the war, who could prove
their loyalty to any reasonable mind-conlt
Q no; get certificates because they would have
voted a straightout Conservative ticket
! Aboat 675 negroes voted the Radical ticket
7 about forty the eryatiYe-balanee STOOD
= of. or could not vote. Conservative ne
groes will be rewarded.
9th. The League" negroes undel
the control of white men previously
selected for that purpose, were masse'
at certain designated places on elec
ton day, Radical tickets given on
10 them and voted in a gang, as yoI
would drive birds into net. Yer,
few could read their tickets. We had alsC
A a company Of "melish" 90 keep the negroes
straight on the Radical ticket, and to IN
timidate whiie'voters. Red tickets wer
given out to the negroes by their Radica
white ''oyerseers," and voted, Ignorant o
J, the names on the tickets and the Offices &
be filled by the candidates.
, / have endeavered in this communica
!. ton TO give your paper a correct account 0
the main appliances and policy pursued b.
r the Radicals, to enable them to carry tn
: county by a packed minority vote, (nearl,
all negroes, and TO keep the large whit
+. majority down. / suppose II Is the sam
(. all over Middle and West Tennessee. Le
I. the country, North and South, know the
base and corrupt means used to enable tn
: faction in power to keep their places anC
oppress our people. They have, for th'
sake Of temporary power and revenge, ar
rayed the negroes against the whites, am
used them as instruments OF proscripho
andtyraany. They have made vide an
deep the gulf of hatred between whit
a' aud black The negro, like his whit
u allies, has become a prescriptions
n. certificates were sent to negroes who neve
applied for them. Lillari, the negro car
n, didate Of the Commissioner, owes his sc
~ called election entirely TO him and tn
ct ignorant negro rabble, controlled by ie
white men, who are looking ont for tn
i. county Offices next spring. Call you th
u an election? Nol Il is a fsrce--a moe
e-y-for this minority of poor ignorai
nearoes to rule 1900 intelligent white me
NOT allowed to vote. Who can feel honorC
or have a conscience, that wall pretend
represent a people, and claim to be eleeiS
bY such means? Aud yet, such IS kadica
ism Throughout Middle and West Iennesse
Color rules; the Odiierous African Is pIao'
lie above the intelligent white man. such
condition of things is unnanIral--is wrop
is a shame, aud cannot long last Tltho
convnIsino the State. 'CAVcAsIAN.'
sSimon Girty. was the son Of wei,e woman =