The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-25
TENNESSEE.

action Among the Negroes Stni On INC IN.
crease-The Militia and President johnson.
NASHVILLE, August TO- 1867.
The mooted question as to the propriety, or tataer
the advisabihiy, OF the conservatives witlHriwing
from the canvass in Tennessee, has been p.aly de-
cided by the Official action of the state Executive
Committee In conjunction with every conservative
organization in the state. With unapmity that
has proven a source OF no small astonishment to the
advocates OF inac,ion they have resolved that the
marty shall enter the lists against radicasm come
veal come woe, and that this determination fully
expresses The sentiment OF the great majority
OF the people tile general qualification with
which It has been hailed from one end OF the
state TO the other leaves no room for doubt;
Now that there win be canvass, ''shOrt, sharp
ana decisive" the question naturally arises what are
the prospects OF success for the democratsY In
certain point OF view they are not very encouraging
Not indeed that majority OF the voting population
black and white, may not be In favor of the conser
vatve ticket for all the indications at present go to
show that majority OF the voters are strongly OPP
posed to the radicals; but there are many other
things that must be taken into consideration which
enter, by force OF circumstances into the calcua-
tons OF an election in Tennessee and which may
change the aspect OF things very internally
next November In all the other ''recon-
structed" States The whites and blacks who
have been given the right TO vote are free
TO vote as they please, at least they have been so
in the late elections True great pressure is brought
to bear by the radicals to deter the negroes
from siding with the democrats in these States yet
there law their statute books that gives any
one man the power to throw out white a black
mans legal vote at his discretion. But as men,
toned in previous letter, there is a law in Ten
nessee that gives such discretionary power and that
chances of democratic success in this State and
those another Southern State Yet at the last State
election III tennessee the sainted parson OF KNOX
vile, after the election, threw out the vote Of
ties against himself he being the the candidate
against whom these majOrities voted. But he
acted nevertheless, according to law OF the state
which still pollutes the statute books. Aside from
this outrageous enactment, which the Governor can
call TO his aid IL need be after the election. there IL
The Registry law, which spoke about some time ago,
which IL brought into force before the election. Now
there are at the present time In the State hundreds
OF white men of weight and influence (such as Colonel
Bingham, OF Memphs) who have, since the close OF
the war, acted with the radical party, and who are
now openly opposed to it and have come out boldly
Tor the conservative ticket; and the negroes, espe
caly in West Tennessee and In the rural districts all
through the state, are coming over to the democratic
side III troops These white men and these negroes
nave voted ut every election, and one would be
naturally led TO suppose that this accession Of former
position. 1t is doubtful. The registers have full
power to refuse or grant man the night to vote
wnen ne comes up TO the polls. and If this yrann-
cal authority has been exercised in former elections
against White men ana the small number OF black
men who were known 10 be In active sympathy with
the democratic party, what guarantee has the oppo-
sition that it viii not be brought into play against
the negroes in those districts where 1t Is already
known they are by the hundreds going over TO the
opposition camp. The registers al-pOwerfu in
the matter. Against their mo" 'yesn there is
no appeal whatever. How easy then. viii il
be Tor them to refuse every conservative
negro's vote or, for the effect OF the thing to
allow few to vote and to reject all others lest the
Ia no into
power Then H. by some unheard of calamity, Il |
register should happen to have u conscience and |
allow the conservative negroes TO vote and thereby
be the 'disoya' means Of putting the carpet-bag-
gers IN his county in the minority why in cores |
Brownow Win ms special law and throws out the |
vote az disioyal to the state government This is
no mere talk. These laws in black and white,
where everybody who wishes cam read them, and
no man can gansay that they do not grant au-
tnority to lew men over their fellow men greater
than that exercised 10y any government known as
republican In form" and for which, by the way
the radical platform affects much love and admi-
ration.
anv candid man North not see that an election IN
Tennessee is huge farce that the people are bound
down hand and foot, and do what they may OF
themselves they cannot shake OF the monster that,
with constantly increasing rapacity, Is fast sucking
away the life blood OF the Slater They may he all
very well, these meetings that have been held and
the meetings that are to be held, advocating vigor
Gus canvass for they serve TO Keep the people alive
10 their own sufferings and anxious to do all and
everything that they can In anywse to better their
miserable condition. But it is very difficult TO
how the conservatives can go into the campaign
with anything like spirit with all these drawbacks
staring them In the face. one would think that past
experience made all the more bitter 10y the fact that
the causes which gave rise TO them are
still oppressive, II not more than ever. would
deter them from entering tile political arena nj all.
Yet they are evidently determined to fight II out az
best they may. They do not seem to be at oil dis
mayed NJ the difficulties they have to encounter, al
though they certainly DO feel that theirs is Uercu
lean task indeed. They will 20 into The campaign
a solid phalanx IA have said before, MANY men
who have been known to the people bitter radicals
huxa haen silAUtI al fNf thAtr
parry and it, tyranny and determined to put their
shoulders to the democratic wheel. These men. be
IL known, are not carpet-baggers but what are called
''homc radicals they were Union men during the
war when the spirit OF rebellion was rife and almost
property in II aud are consequently identified with
all s interests II the credit of the state falls into
dsrepute they are sufferers. II taxation becomes
oppressive they do not escape then share
OF the burden and consequently now that
Tennessee is vergng on bankruptcy aud their
with which they have been Identified is the cause Of
tue general depression the evils OF "a minded
despotic and ignorant Legislature come home TO
them with ali the force OF realities. Among the
white radicals coming over To the democratic side
there Is not u single carpet-bagger for the causes
which prompt u home radical 10 change his tactics
now that disaster Is at hand, are the very causes
which induce carpet-bsgger TO hang to the radi-
cal Kite tail with more desperate clutch than ever
Suppostne, however. that with the eyes OF the
North upon them the party IN power should be COM
PEELED 10 allow fair election, by far The strongest
be the negro vote. The white resident radicals who
coming into the democratic fold are
not 80 numerous That their vote, added
TO the "legalr white vote ne II il M
present computed, would turn the tables ON
the radicals even though IL must be CONCEDED their
infuence over other vaciiating republicans s moi to
be despised But the negro Is the balance of power.
Heretofore In this state. with but few exceptions,
the coored vote has been unit In favor of the re-
publicans But we know not what day may bring,
and certainly two years ago the radicals little
dreamed of the turn things are now taxing The
negroes are now more united. The 'insidious
coanscs' OF the white disfanchised and the conser-