Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-17
HOW RADICALS ARE s'ELECTED" IN
TENNESSEE.

The Cincinnati Enquirer of the
18th inst, noticing the fact that
Gov. Brownlow, in utter defiance
Of law, had thrown out enough
votes to "elect" Tillman and Smith
in the fourth and eighth congress
ional districts, and given them the
certificates, says:
THAT is the way things are done in
| BrOwnlOW's dominiOns. Elections are
won by throwing out votes instead of
putting them in the ballot-box 1t is an
easy mode of triumph, and places in the
power of the Governor TO elect any man
to office whom he chooses. No man can
get so large a majo-ity that Brown
low can not beat by rejecting
his votes, while be counts those of
his opponent URder this simple pros
cess it is impossible for any Republican
to be defeated in Tennessee. Elections
there are conducted upon the principle of
heads / win, and tails you lose" These
two interlopers, Tillman and Smith, will
1 take their seats in the next House, Just
as if they had been elected by the people,
instead Of BrOwnlOw. There will not be
honesty enough in that body, We fear, to
reject them"
1t has been felt that however
much a Democrat might beat
Radical in a race for Congress,
there was not the slightest prOba-
bility that Gov. Brownlow would
give him the certificate. 1t was fore
gone conclusion that the will of the
people should not stand as against
him and his party. This throw
ing out of votes is trick to elect
whom he pleases, for which there is
not even the semblance oflaw. It's
simply shameless usurpation of
authority. 1t was suspected
long before the election that, in the
event Of Sheafes success over Till
man, Brownlow would throw out
enough votes to select the latter,
and we have heard it stated that
Mr.. Tillman was questioned wheth-
er he would accept the certificate
under such circumstances, and that |
he declared emphaticaIIy that he |
would not accept unless fairly elect
cd. The fact that he had thus |
pledged himself has been alluded |
TO by the press on one or two occa-
sions, and never denied that we
have seen. Mr. TilIman is a man
who has heretofore occupied an en-
viablo position as a man of honor |
in the periods Of high political ex-
cltement that have succeeded the
war, he has retained the confidence
Of those who differed with him to a
degree that was complimentary to
him. Is it possible that he has
made up his mind to sacrifice all
for the honor of carrying Brown
lows commission in his pocket to
Washington, and possibly be
awarded the seat which he knows
belongs 70 his competitor?
He must know that if he claims
The seat, he will forfeit the con
idence and respect of the men
among whom he has lived and pro
poses yet to live; that by such an
act of perfdy, for perfdy it will
De, he will earn the scorn and de
.estatiOn Of the men whose good
opinion it should be his ambition
md pride to retain. If he has
made up his mind for this sacrifice,
Or the sake of getting into Con
,ress, should the House of Repre-
be so unjust as to award
i'm the seat, his will be the fate of
Arnell, whose very name stinks in
he nostrils of honest men for ac-
cpting a certificate under like cir
Mr.. TiIIman knows
hat this Radical riot cannot much
onger hold its sway in Tennessee,
nd then the men who have out
aged Justice and as noble a peo- '
lie as ever lived, will be execrated :
5 only such characters deserve.
Ne hope he is not prepared to thus q
acrifice himself As for Smith. y
e has nothing to lose, and there