Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-17
GIBSON COUNTY.
An Election Farce-HeW the People
We're Deprived OF the hight t0 Vote
UsurpaffOns of n Radical Registrar.
CorraaunnA anca Of the Hmm ni.nat.h

Were Deprived OF the ktGht to Vote
UsurpatiOns of a Radical Registrar.
Correspondents Of the Uuion Dispatch.
TRENTON, TENN, March II, 1864
farce, called an election Of the people of
Gibson county, by misnomer, has just sub
sided Election, indeed And pray who
and how many of near four thousand white
citizens of this county have had any choice
or election whatever 10 determining who
shall fll the Offices which have just been
filled? There is no denying the truthful
ness of the charge, and here aver it with
out fear Of dispute from any source, that
the question of who can now vote Is not
determined by the payment of taxes, nor
by the bearing Of all the burdens Of ciii-
zenship, nor by the possession Of intelll-
gence and virtne, nor yet by having black
skin itself; but it is determined by the
puissant and omnipotent will Of one single,
common little man, heretofore not esteemed
as capacitated to act for every man in this
county, but now, since Brownlowism has
been 30 fully Installed, is deemed quite
competent TO represent every citizen in this
large county of Gibson, on the important
matter of electiUs franchise. There is greater
experience now; larger intelligence and
equal patriotism still, citizens possessing
even these, wonld not usurp the despotic
and selfish, unjust and proscriptive right of
voting for their neighbors. The present
Registrar wears most gladly this honor
the right, as an agent, of voting for the
large population of Gibson.
But can it be proved2 1t can. The law
iiself, under which this Commissioner acts,
clothes him with kind of judgeship, it is
true; but it does not authorize him to ask
an applicant who presents himself with un-
exceptional vouchers, "Who will you vote
forY And if the answer be unsatisfactory
TO his Brownlowish views, TO then put the
applicant off with some dilatOry reply, and
afterwards close the books Of registration
without such applicant ever getting a GER
tifcate.
To still further expose this last registra-
tion in our county, will refer 10 another
indisputable fact. In certain populous
and intelligent district in this county, the
vouchers were commissioned appointees of
Gov. Brownlow. These two loyal gentle
men presented long list of names of par
ties who were entitled TO vote, and volun-
teered 10 say they would vouch for the
loyalty of every name. How mahy certifi-
Gates do you suppose were granted upon this
list, thus backed? Not one. But why? L
hear you ask. Because every man in the
district had voted against the Radical ticket
in the fall VIII not the people, the sover-
eign people, dwell upon such fact as this,
and ask in what will destiny culminate
when il comes to be true that a whole dis
trict must be struck down because it voted
against Radical ticket. Does not this
fact prove what j stated further back, viz +:
that the elective franchise of every citizen
is measured out, not by law, good OF bad,
not by any other standard than the absolute
and imperfect will of the Commissioner of
Registration?
1t is further true that negroes, loyal ne
groes, have been refused certificates, / am
told, from the reason that they did not
vote for Radical candidates heretofore.
Radical agents have walked our streets,
however, 30 bountiful on the other hand
were certificates for Radical voters, with
blank certificates all duly signed TO be
handed out This much / have been told
in way j credit it.
Now, do not these facts exhib.s : air
and impartiaT registration, entirely purged
from "fraud and irregularitY? ?" They show
AAht tuC pAiOt iCSA5ti otlOh3 AhipOiiCOt anu
unfair as it was, was not enough so.
In the canvass that has just passed by,
| Col. Ed Raines, who was a candidate for
some office, a few days before the election,
while addressing very large audience of
his fellow-citizens, used the following Ian
guage: 81 have been citizen of this county,
as you all can bear me witness, since long
while back. During many years, in the
past, you have trusted me with your conf
denee by placing me in public Office, and
now take this opportunity of returning to
you anew my warmest thanks. Over thirty
years ago, when Gen. Jackson was at the
head of affairs, as a soldier / marched un-
der the flag of my country; but in such a
contest as this my arm falls palsied to my
side. The contest is too uneven it is too
unfair; | am TO candidate" Some can
didates run through, but were beaten
About 500 votes we're polled; about 2OC
of these for Conservatives. The Radical:
elected feel bully, but the mask should be
torn aside. HAL.