The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-07-30
The paroled Confederates. .

ing the outgivings of its file leader
Stokes--thrcatens Confederate soldiers
with arrest and trial by military com.
mission, in the event they vote in the
election next Thursday--for Senter.
The organs Of Col. Stokes, big and lit
tie, throughout the State have been in
dulging in threats for some time, and
q portion of them even counselling re-
sistance to the law, and we submit in all
sincerity and candor that it is about
time to dry up such things and adopt a
policy better calculated to promote the
end which we hope all have in view
peace, quiet and harmony, and the con-
sequent prosperity and happiness ofthe
commonwealth. They can neither scare
anybody or contribute toward the era
of good feeling by the utterance of such
views and sentiments as we have al
luded to. .....
We know not how many, or whether
any, Confederate soldiers have been en-
franchsed under the new registration
but we do know dozens of "rebels" in
this section of country, who served i'll
the rebel army during the war, and who
have been voting for some time past
with the Radical party upon certifi-
Gates issued by Radical Registrars
Suppose your military commissions
commence on these Confederates first,
and the Registrars who gave them GER
tificates. Such a conception is worthy
the massive brain of Stokes, but we are
surprised to see paper so able as the
State Journal is admitted to be, selling
upon and celebrating it with such APP
parent earnestness.
The civil laws are in full force and
effect in Tennessee, and the Court
Houses are now open to all-the rebel
as well as the Lacquer, the white man as
we'll as the black, the taxpayer as well
as the non taxpayer. The government
at Washington has no right to interfere
it has no intention of Interfering
with the administration Of the law here
Tennessee is State in the Union, as
much so as Massachusetts, with all the
rights and sovereignties which attach to
other States where peace and order
prevail and where there is not SEM
blance of resistance to Federal authori-
Y. 1t is only when the civil law and
the civil authorities of the State prove
powerless that the Federal government
can step in. The country is not quite
ready for Imperialism yet; though there
is no telling how soon it may be if
the policy sought to be inculcatcd and
established by Col. Stokes and his i'm
mediate friends and followers is to pre-
vail.
Every man who has certificate is
sued by a regularly appointed Regis
trar-whether the Registrar was APP
pointed by Governor Senter or by his
predecessor-is entitled to attend the
polls and to vote, either for Senter or
Stokes, as his judgment, or inclination,
or sense of duty may dictate. So much
at least is clear and Misunderstanding
been settled by the highest judicial tri-
bunal in the State. If the Registrar
violates his duty under the law as inter-
preted and adjudged, lie is amenable to
its provisions and penalties, and NOT the
voter. The possession of certificate,
properly signed and delivered by the
Registrar, is the necessary evidence of
the holders ability and right as voter,
and the Judges of election, appointed
by the Registrar, have no legal right
to reject his vote though they might be-
lieve that he had fought in the Confed-
crate ranks from the First Manassas to
the surrender at Appomattox Court
House. Stick another pin there.
But it is hardly necessary to treat
such idle threats and menaces with any
degree ofseriOusness. 1t would be nice
business-to declare martial law and in
stitute military commissions in the midst
Of peaceful communities, for no more
grave and potent reason than that the
people happened to prefer some man
for Governor other than q mere polit-
ical adventurer and changing like Col.
Bill Stokes! Let us have no more such
stuff.
Joint Representative.