Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-13
THE PROPOSITION TO HAVE NO
ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

print communication from gentleman
of character and influence touching the
important matters which now claim the
attention Of the people of Tennessee.
He is resident of one of the central
counties Of the State, and, as may be
discerned from a pcrusal of his article,
is member of the Radical party. He
is, however, imbued with more moderate
views than a majority Of his political as.
sociates, and, we believe, is sincerely de-
sirous TO avoid the unfortunate collision
which seems imminent Our columns
are open to temperate discussion Of this
subject on the part Of all and, while far
from concurring in the reasons he adj
duces in justification of what he most
probably correctly assumes to be the
purpose Of his party in the Legislature,
and deeming his suggestions neither wise
nor practicable, we have not felt at lib
erty to decline to publish them.
The proposal to pretermit an election
by the people, of Presidential electors,
and devolve the duty of appointing them
upon the Legislature, we cannot sane
ton. We believe it is viOlatiVe of the
fourteenth amendment to the Constitu>
ton of the United States, and we know
it to be violative Of Republican princi-
pies. The first section of article second
Of the Constitution giving the Legislatures
of the various States the power to direct
the mode of choosing electors is greatly
strained to find warrant for q Legislature
in assuming to appoint them. Such a
construction is contrary to the spirit and
theory of the Federal Constitution, and
of the republican system Of government,
which is, that in all elections Of prime
Importance, the people should directly
participate. The choice of the Federal
Chief Magistrate, which is an ascertain.
ment of the popular sense in regard to
the administration of the government for
four years, is, by all odds, the most i'm
portant political duty the people are
called to perform, and the Constitution
does not contemplate that it should be
done by proxy. The Constitution of
South Carolina before the war, was in
this respect in conflict with the
genius of the republican sys-
ten; and the strict letter of the
fourteenth amendment just declared
valid, fOrbids, under penalty of curtail-
ment of representation in Congress, any
State to abridge the franchises of the
people in the choice of Presidential elees
tors In addition to these, sufficient con-
/ stitutiOnal distractions to such course,
it would establish most dangerous pres
cedent A Legislature elected two years
| prior to Presidential election might be
convened by Governor and determine
to choose electors who would not be re-
Electors of the popular will. If such a
system be allowable at all, it should be
declared and fixed in the State Constitu,
ton, so that the people in choosing mem
bers of the Legislature might have in
view their function as appointers of
Presidential electors. But to cOncede
that Legislature in an emergency of its
own creation, or in accordance with its
own views of cxpediency, can assume at
will this important duty, is a monstrous
doctrine, and can be upheld by no sound
reasoning nor admitted under any cir
cumstances.
The scheme of deferring the Congress
sional election to next year or some
future time, is simply impossible by
act of the last Congress, the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in November of
every second year, commencing with the
present, was declared as the day uniform
throughout the United States for the
election of members Of the House of
Representatives. 1t is, therefore, not in
the power of the State Legislature to fix
another time, and if it should, a question
as to the validity of members so elected
might defeat the States representation
for two years This portion of our cor
respondents policy" therefore, thoagh
net less untenable than the first branch
of it, is barred by Federal statute, and
cannot be considered at all
Indeed, though doubtless actuated by
pare motives in his suggestions in behalf
of the preservation Of peace, and, in this
respect far different from the men who
have the lead of his party, he wholly mis-
cOnceives the situation of affairs in rela~ |
ton to the dislranchised Democracy and |
their political friends, and it is
not surprising that he should fall |
into error in his mode of remedya
ing it. He says that certain idea,
whether true or false" has taken pos-
session of the Radical party in this State.
With a large majority of its members it |
is willtully false. There is no Organiza~ |
ton in this State under the namo of Ku-
klux or any other name, which purposes
TO exercise terrorism at the polls in No |
vember, or to violate, in any manner, the
election laws of the State There is not |
a scintilla of evidence sufficient to con-
denim a chicken~thief, that there is an or
ganization Of any kind, secret or open,
meditating any infraction of the laws for
political ends; and no sane man believes
it 1t is partisan fabrication from first |
to last. 1t is used as a pretext for tyran-
meal Legislation to compass personal and |
party schemes. Until men like our cor
respondent, who, we are willing 10 be.
lievo acts with the Radical party from
sincere motives disabuse their minds of |
the false ideas" instilled into them by |
interruptions party managers, and cease
to uphold them in their nelarious plans |