Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-24
aniOa aud 1ispatfh.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and Fraud-HOB
Ghe Radicals Carried the Election.

Disfranehisemenf and Fraud-IEOw
6Iae RadieaIs Carried me EIectiOn.
couespondence Of the Union ard Dispatch.
TRENTON, TENN, March Ia, lS68.-The
State has just passed through the ordeal Of
another election, so-called, and the Repub-
lican press are exulting over the great vic
tory and huge gains which they claim to
have made in the State. But the facts are,
while they have barely maintained their
vote in former elections, their opponents,
through the system of Acknowledgement
practiced by the authorities, were unable
20 poll their fill strength, but on the con-
irary have been cut of from the support Of
large Numbers Of loyal" voters. This
county is a very striEieg illustration of the
successful "gerrymandering" Of individual
voters. The highest vote cast by the county
of Gibson previous TO the war was about
$500, and il is fair computation now to
estimate the adult male population at about
$500, both colored and white, though 5000
would come nearer the mark. Yet out of
this large number of adult males, only
about one-flthcouldb be manufactured, under
the Radicical construction Of she franchise
law, into loyal voters A previous regis
tration Of the county possibly exceeded
this number, but by the proclamation of
the Governor it was set aside, and the Con-
seryative voters disfranchised under the
new registration, manipulated and con-
troled by a central clique, which carefully
inspected and passed sentence upon every
certificate previous 10 its being issued
The result was the election of the whole
Radical ticket in the county by an in
creased majority. The Sheriff elect only
received three votes more than he lid in
1866, when he beat his competitor sixty
five votes. In this election he defeats the
same competitor about four hundred votes
There were two or three districts almost
entirely DISTINGUISHED, one of them having
only two qualified voters, another six, and
20 on. Nor was the disfranchisement con-
fined exclusively TO the white population,
but let it be known abroad, that this negro
loving, negro-enfranchising party, with all
Of its boosted Partially for the negro's
rights under the law, actually disfran-
chised the negro almost en- ndSse in the
loyal" county of Gibson, and what is
worse, the Governor was made a pdrticeps
criminis in his disfranchement 1t was APP
parent under the old registration Of Bogles,
that almost the entire colored vote would
be cast for the Conservative candidates for
county officers, and for the criminal act of
Issuing large number Of certificates to the
colored people in January, il was declared
a fraud, the Commissioner removed, and a
new registration ordered. The new Com
missioner was closely watched during his
ten days labor, by a special committee,
which knew how to work the wires, and to
make the thing doubly sure, the Radical
candidate for Tax Collector was in daily
attendance, while the Sheriff, who was a
candidate for reelection, was represented
by his deputy, acting in the capacity OF
chief clerk to the Commissioner Under
this double-triggered inqnisition, large
! number Of good Union men were denied
certificates, and among them a large pro-
portion were of the "colored persuasion"
What few certificates were reported TO be
issued to the "darkies,' were 80 effectually
s,nnogled and concealed, that one-half OF
a. I'm never reached The hands of their
owners, aud these only under a strong as
surance and pledge that they were call
right" This establishes one fact, that the
RAIDS are friends to thenegrO only so long as
| lneN Can MAKE MIN Hhbrttft thcii vic pun
poses. They will not hesitate moment "a
deprive him of this GLORIOUS privilege o.
freeman, when it suits their purpose Il
| do So The laws of the State make it {
misdemeanor, and punishable with severe
penalty for imposing a fraudulent tickle
upon an illiterate voter, under the pretens'
OF is being the one of his choice, but tn,
so0undTel who withholds his certificate from
him latter il is issued commits no ofens'
under the law and goes unwhipt Of Justice
| And this is the boosted victory of tn
Radicals in Gibson county, and by sucl
despicable means was il achieved. 1t re
minds me Of a diminutiye monstrosity
emaciated and weakened with its owl
sickly nature, Boosting Of its great victor
over its giant and athletic competition
whose hands and feet were bound so il coul
make no resistance!
| ZED 4. KYRR.