Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-30
AFFAIRS IN TENNESSEE - THE
BEIOWNLOV RULE.

What republican government in Tennes-
see amounts TO is plainly shown in the
means which Brownlow is employing
10 insure success for himself and his
friends in the ensuing election. The avs.
TEN Of prescription which he has instituted
has eliminated in the acknowledgements of
four filhs Of the white men of the State !:
and still il is pushed further wherever here
is danger Of a Brownlow defeat. In some
counties the white voters are fewer in num-
Der than the offices TO be filled. In others.
the Governor is availing himself of the
law enacted by his creatures in the Legis-
lature, by which he is empowered at
pleasure 20 set aside the registration where
IL is unsatisfactory, and TO appoint a new
registrar with the view of making matters
more agreeable. Thus adverse mniorities
are overcome by a short and simple pro-.
cess. enabling the Governor 10 dsfranchise
all who withhold from him support. This
extraordinary power he is exercising TO an
extent that renders the holding of an cleo
ton iarce-the regular registration under
the law being set aside, aud new registra-
ton under the direction of Brownlow's
agents. Even the candidates in some places
ofhciate as registrars, and prepare the lists
of those who shall vote-a shameless sub
stitute for the old meth cd OF ballot sinffing.
When the atinities of the citizen are not
known, the certificate of a regular Brown
low man Is required, and the result is the
wholesale exclusion OF loyllists, tried and
true, as well as of former Rebels Nav,
the latter sometimes fare better than the
former, as 4 Circumstance mentioned by our
correspondent proves. An anti Brownlow
Unionist, who served az a Federal officer
ducing the war, has, in one instance, been
required 20 procure the indorsation Rebel
Colonel, who happens now to he on Brown
lows side.
The effect of this condition of affairs
upon the white people of the State may be
conceived. We have but 10 suppose our
selves in the position of four-fiths of the
white GDennesseans-includ majority
of original and stesdfast Unionists--to
Judge Of the anger and indignation which
The oourse Of the Brownlow faction is
eyerywheTe exciting. IL is not surprising
that fears Of extended trouble are enter
tanned, or that conflicts on a small scale
continually occur during the progress Of
the canvass. Infinitely more astonishing
would d be II the outrages perpetrated by
the party OF extremists who seek 10 in
trench themselves permanently in power,
were permitted 20 pass wholly unresented.
The pretenccs under which they are perPe-
trated add TO their enormity. A band Of
outlaws holding the Offices Of the State,
and trying by force and fraud 10 keep
them, would be a spectacle sad enough in
al conscience. Here. however We have
usSrpanon, tyranny, Injustice and crime
carried on in the name Of Loyalty and
Inon, with FORMER Rebels now in the
broWnio@ Interest, helping 10 commit
them, and thousands Of faithful Unionists
among the victims.
To make matters YET worse the same
disregard Of principle which marks The
conduct Of the ruling faction in regard "a
registration aud Acknowledgement governs
their appeals TO the negro element. The
four-iflhs Of the whites who worship not
Brownlow are held mp to the blacks as en-