Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-18
RUTLAND HERALD
FRIDAY, JUYL IL, 1867.



The Proclamation OF Governor Brown
low to the people of Tennessee touching
the appointment of the judges and clerks
OF elections, and the recent bloody COL
lision at Franklin In that State, be-
tween Loyal League OF blacks and
hostile gathering OF conservatives
brings us to the conclusion that dis
orderly, turbulent and confused state Of
affairs are In existence not only politl-
cally, but materially and socially, The
conservatives have issued an address to
the county courts of the State, urging
them to appoint judges OF elections in
all the districts at the July term of the
court, stating that the code of the State
requires this to be done by the courts,
and that the law has not been changed
in that regard, the amended statute only
giving to the Commissioner of Registra-
tion the appointments on the neglect of
the court to make them. The commit
tee say whatever may have been in
tended, the act of February 25th, 1857,
construed with the sections of the code
relating to the subject, admits of no
other construction and is too plain for
controversy.
This address of the Conservative Cen
tral Committee has evoked proclama-
ton from Governor Brownlow which
will have an important bearing on the
Tennessee State election. He denounces
the document as an incendiary and sediti-
Gus circular, emanating from political
committee, recommending the nulifica-
tion of the franchise law, which has
become part Of the constitution Of
Tennessee, and has been approved by
the Supreme court. He says the "auda-
cious authors of the reasonable circu-
lar" have given false and rebellious
construction to the law, for wicked and
revolutionary purposes, and that the
franchise law is clear and explicit upon
the point that the judges and clerks of
elections are to be appointed by the
Commissioner of Registration.
The proclamation gives notice that
the election returns made by the Com
missioner of Registration will be the
only proceedings that will be recognized
in the state department, and warning
all county courts not to act upon the
advice of the seditionists, as they will
subject themselves to punishment. He
thus sharply warns the conservatives
who shall attempt to interfere with the
State government. of it be the pur-
pose to provoke sedition and violence in
q wicked attempt to overthrow the gov
eminent, upon their heads shall rest the
consequences" The State guards are
ordered to be so distributed in the re-
bellious localities as that the franchise
law may be enforced in its letter and
spirit without regard to the threats Of
the seditionists. He also declares that
"order must be maintained and the law
executed If it requires the whole avail
able force at his command to be called
In the field to do it,"
No person in Tennessee or elsewhere
has any difficulty in understanding the
sharp decisive language of Governor
Brownlow. There is no double inter
probation to be placed upon his orders
trait which it would be well for every
executive in the land to follow. Not
withdrawing the peremptory orders ant
the vigilant efforts Of the Governor tt
maintain order, the recent transaction
at Franklin, presages that there are diff
culties to be met at the coming Stat
election by the Union voters, and make
it probable that election day will be on
of terror, bloodshed and confusion
throughout the State. The present con
dition of Tennessee, also Kentucky
would seem to demand some positiv
legislation In their behalf, and it
question worthy of consideration
whether they should not be placed IN
der the protection of Congress and tn
army of the United States. The condi
ton of affairs in Tennessee In oompar
ison with the law and order prevailing
in Georgia, plainly show the advantage
Of military provisional government
over hastily and crudely reconstruct
State government.