Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-12

disfranehise them. Conforming to party
requirements dictated by the Governor ls
essential, under our system, to the peTma-
nent enjoyment of the elective franchise,
The act, as every body knows, Is clearly
unconstitutional. But this is ar unimpor-
tant consideration. Its enforcement Is es-
sential 10 the preservation of the Govern
ors ascendaney, and he therefore chooses
to hold it binding upon all. The Judiciary,
created by his favor, and holding place a.
his will (lor il must be remembered that ie
can order an election any day, and through
his REGISTRAR, expel the present Judges OF
the Supreme Court and elect TO their places
whomsoever he wilD, has been urged to
pass on the vslidity of this law, but they
have az often found excuses to eyade the
demand, apparently unwilling to affirm its
coustitutionality and afraid 10 declare
il void. But the inaction Of the Supreme
Court has produced no difficulty. A solu-
ton was readily found in the "State
Guard" This body, more numerous than
the Judges of the Supreme Court, Is entI-
tied To a higher degree Of respect CORE
spending to its numbers. Then, again, the
men composing this body carry arms in
their hands with which to execute their
judgments and enforce their decisions on
great constitutional questions, and they,
under the orders received from the Cover
nor, have decided these grave questions,
and declared in favor of the practical en-
forcement of the law. With their aid the
law Is enforced.
From their decision there is no appeal,
no redress, except an appeal is made TO
force, and for many good and sufficient
reasons this is not now advised. #'..|
Now, if we consider in connection with
the foregoing, the further fact that Brown
lows registrars appoint the judges of elec-
ton who sit in Judgment without appeal
and decide who have and who have not
certificates emitting them to vote, and
who count and make returns of the
votes polled, it will be seen that
the declaration with which we set
out, to-wit: that popular election in Ten
nessee is but a roundabout way of investing
the Governor with absolute political power,
is but utteranCe of painful truth. He can,
under this system, elect or defeat whom5o-
ever he will. The legislative, the judici-
airy and ministerial officers are all depend
ent upOn his will. lie elected the Legisla-
LilTtf anu lllt ltkslbldttGt III lulu tltCltN
him Senator. His is the only source of
power in the State from whence all powers
radiate. Republican government guaran-
teed by the national Constitution has no
vital existence in Tennessee to-day. The
warfare waged by Governor BrownlOw os-
tensibly against Rebels, is in reality a war
fare upon republicans institutions.
This warfare has at least been tempo
rarily successful in the State Of Tennessee.
No people are free whose elections are con-
trolled by military force But such is the
present condition of the people of Tennes-
see. A military force at heavy expense
was organized to control the last and ia
again demanded to superintend the pend
ing Presidential election.
One regiment was sufficient twelve
months ago; now five or more are de
manded. In view of this fact, in conneC-
tion with the power of theGovernor to de-
eide through his Registrars who shall and
who shall not vote, aided by Judges of
elections, in effect appointed by himself
to receive, count aud make returns of the
votes polled, who can expect the voice of
Tennessee to he heard through the ballot
box in the election of Presidential elec-
tors, except by and through physical force
1t ia Of no avail to say that we are en-
titled 10 vote, or that we will vote IL the
Registrar refuses certificate, and the
Judges of the election refuse to receive
and count your vote, however uniustlv,
| there is no release except that of force.
| We may rail AZ much as we may, denOuncc
| the siniustice az it deserves to be de
nOunced, but the stubborn fact remains
and that is, that the forms of an election
have been gone through with, its legality
| will be recognized by the party in power
| and the electoral vote of Tennessee
| viii, through system Of force and
| fraud, be counted for Grant and Colfax
inflicing not only wrong upon the people
of Tennessee, but upon the people of every
other State; and what is of more import
ance wound will be given to republican
| institutions which may widen and deepen
until the proud constitutional fabric of our
fathers shall be swallowed mp in anarchy
followed by despotism.
1t is plain to any thoughtful mind that
this anti.republican, unconstitutional and
aati-AmeriCan state of things cannot exist
II must advance and crush out every
ycstige of free thought, and obliterate all
recollection of constitutional liberty, or
| else il will ultimately fall under the aCCu-
INFLATED hatred of an outraged and indig-
napt people. If the staggering reckless
blockheads who now compose the majority
of the Legislature, had mind enough to ap,
preciate the situation, or comprehend the
force of an argument, we should have nc
further trouble. But they have not, and
| this fact increases immensely the difficulties
of peaceable.sOlution of our troubles.
A brief review of these facts will suffice
to illustrate this position.
The usual vote of the State before the
! amended Constitution, in round numbers
| was 10000. The enfranchisement Of the
negroes has added to this number at leas
! $4,000, making an aggregate male pOpula-
| ton over twenty-One years OF age OF 200
| 600. But what do our election statistic;
| show The State government was re
| Organized and BrownloW first elected Gov
ernor by 23, 600 votes. AT the last election
| in August, 1867, Il have not the returns
before me and speak from memory, but an
| sufficiently accurate for all practical pur
! poses the whole vote was 81 900. OF this
number about -, 600 were cast for Brown
low. and -, 900 tor Etheridge; and Of thu
1900 for Brownlow $4,000 were negroe
and $4,000 whites. Thus it will be seen
that 22,O00 white men Gin the main non
property holders, and political adyenturers
have allied themselves with the Negro
population Of the State, and by the ais
of the national arms, have sieZeC
the government, and, taking advantage o
the unsettled condition of the country
seem determined to hold the people in sub
mission to their will aud make them sub
servieut to their personal and political ad
! vancemenL
Now If they had sense enough TO concili
ate the people temporarily under thei
power, 10y just and benignaut govern
ment a great deal would he done TO per
petuate their nile. But they have not an,
will not do this. The power which the
have uncOnstitutonally assumed, and hav,
held by force and fraud, has been used onl,
for their own aggTand!zement The tai
upon the property OF the State for Stat
purposes Las been increased, and il to-da,
four times as qrcUi as % pds irhen dieg weEi in
90 Powcr.
The tax levied for school purposes, ciqi
hundred per ceat. more than Il ioas before, ha
been misapplied aud wasted in official pecd
lation and in the maintenance Of an lille
gal standing military force. The publ