Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-04-19
THE ONE MAN POWER.

The late Franchise act Of the Tonnes
see Legislature empowers the Governor
to annu the registration in any county
if he has evidence that it is fraudulent.
He has exercised the power in several
counties, and can, at discretion, annul
the registration all over the State, and by
refusing to order new one, annihilate
the State Government A government
cannot exist without officers to admins
ter its laws. Without the right to elect
officers, the people are powerless to gov
ern themselves, and anarchy is the con-
sequence. All governments originated
in the necessity of restraining the pas
sions OF men, Of curbing the vicious aud
protecting the innocent Brownlow can
remand us back to first principles. There
is not in the world at this time more
absolute ruler The law is beneath him,
aud government itself at his mercy. He
possesses the power to prevent an cleo
ton in August He can do it in either
of two modes-by annulling the registra-
ton or failing to order elections. The
bill giving him this extraordinary power,
when interpreted, means this; If the
agents of the Governor in the different
counties, pending the canvass, shall as
certain that the registered voters are
going for the Conservatives, the registra-
ton may be reported as fraudulent, and
will be annulled on that ground
Noses will be counted, and general
inventory of the Radical vote taken. In
those localities where Radical votes pre-
dominate, the registration will stand
Probably, in some places, after annulling
the registration, a new one will be
ordered, and good care taken to admit
no man who is not known to be for the
Radical party. We announce it as our
belief that Etheridge can not be defeated
if the present registration shall net be
interfered with. If all the colored men
shall become voters we will have no fear
for the result We shall not think it even
doubtful But he can be defeated by
such a revolutionary proceeding as that
of permitting no white man to vote
unless he is a Radical There is no
doubt that Brownlow has the power to
elect himself. We do not assert that be
will do so in the shameless manner we
have suggested. We call attention to
the fact for the Purpose of illustrating
what Congress recognizes as a republican
form of government The war was
fought to put down State rights. The
Brownlow party of this State Joined the
hosts of consolidation. They now in
dorse Congress with their speech but
repudiate it by their conduct They are
carrying State rights further than the
secessionists ever dreamed of going. The
last founded State sovereignty on
reservation Of powers, and from
these, deduced the right to secede
The former, actually overturn the repub-
hcan form to which every State is eAti-
tied, and erecta despotism IN the Union.
They have ratified the constitutional
amendment, and then, by an act of the
Legislature, reDudiated one Of its proTi-
sions One Of the articles Of the amend
ment regulating the franchise, permits
all persons Of legal age 10 vote, except
such as have held Office under the United
States, or any executive, Judicial, or leg
islafive Office in any State, and after
rards went into the rebellion. Though
not expressly applied to Tennessee, our
people are in the same condition SIS to
rebellion o. those in the Southern States.
Il !, not = clear proposition that the
RrounloE Government is in open rebel
lion against the policy Of Congress- Oar