Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-30
MISSISSIPPI AND TEXAS.

The Democratic State Executive Com
mittec Of Mississippi have addressed a
letter to Gen. Gillem, inquiring whether
an election may be held in that State for
Presidential Electors. They seem to be
laboring under an impression that some
order or permission from Gen. Gillem is
necessary, Notwithstanding the general
order from the headquarters of the army
at Washington, forbidding all interference
in elections by Officers Of the army or
navy. Gen. Gillem was addressed sew
erai weeks ago to know whether he in
tended holding an election, and he re-
piled that he had no authority to inter
fero in the matter. It is said he has not
replied to this last communication, the
reason why seems not be understood in
Mississippi. The Democracy should have
out their ticket and vote for it. That is
the shortest way to settle the question.
In regard to Texas, we learn from the
Austin Gazette that Gen. Reynolds says
explicitly that his special order will not
be Tescinded, and that no election for
Presidential Electors will be permitted.
This IS his reply to the inquiry Of the
Secretary Of the Democratic Executive
Committee. The Gazette and the Gal
weston Ne1cS agree that "this settles the
matter What says President johnson
1t was by his direction that the general
order Of the 10th inst. was issued from
the headquarters Of the army at Washing
ton forbidding officers of the army or
navy from interfering in elections in the
States, and he should see that at least his
orders are respected and obeyed. The
issuing Of an order by Gen. Reynolds
prohibiting the people of Texas from
taking part in the Presidential election,
puts forced and partisan construction
on the law under which he pretends to
act. This law is in the form of joint
resolution passed by strictly party vote
on the 1lth of July, 1865, vetoed by the
President, and enacted over his veto on
the both Of the same month. 1t is as
follows
Resolved, That none of the States
whose inhabitants were lately in rebel
lion shall be entitled to representation in
the Electoral College for the choice Of
President and Vice President of the
United States nor shall any electoral |
votes be received or counted from any of |
such States, unless at the time prescribed |
by law for the choice of electors, the |
people of such State, pursuant to the act |
Of Congress in that behalf, shall have |
since the 4th day of March, 1867, adopt |
ed a Constitution of State government, |
under which a State government shall |
have been organized, and shall be in OPP. |
Grafton nor unless such election of cleo |
tors shall have been held under the |
authority Of such Constitution and gov |
eminent; and such State shall have also |
become entitled to representation in |
Congress, pursuant to the acts Of Con- |
gTess in that behalf; provided that |
nothing herein contained shall be con-
strued to apply to any State that was
represented in Congress on the 4th Of |
March, 1861"
On the strength of this law General |
Reynolds issued his order of September
-, concluding with these words:
" No election for electors of President |
and Vice President Of the United States |
will be held in the State of Texas on the
Sd OF November next. Any assemblages, |
proceedings or acts for such purpose |
are hereby prohibited, and all citizens
are admOnished to remain at home or at
tend to their ordinary business"
a comparison of the law with General
Reynolds order shows at a glance that
he has gone far beyond its letter and
spirit The law does not forbid the hold
ing Of Presidential election in Texas,
but provides in substance that the cleo
toriaI votes of Texas (and certain other
States shall not be received or counted
unless at tic time prescribed by !
tar" (November 3 several specified
conditions shlll have been complied with.
General Reynolds, however, chooses to
interpret the law as prohibiting the cleo
ton altogether. Here we see the very
slim authority this satrap has for deny
ing the people Of Texas the right which
the Constitution OF the United States
guarantees to them. And in the face of
the order from the President, he persists
in his refusal to allow them to hold an
election. The President should deal
summariIy with this tyrannical satrap.
It the President does not teach him his