New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-04
POLITICAL.
TENNESSEE.
A PROTEST AGAINST THE LATE ELECTION AS
REVOLUTIONARY.

parts OF Tennessee convened Nashville on the 9th u
TO consider the political situation AL this meeting
committee appointed consisting OF one from each
Congressional District to prepare for publication pro-
test against the legality and validity OF inc a'o erection
The committee prepared such protest, when opens with
brief history OF the restoration of civil government in
Tennessee after the Rebel power in the state had been
by the Union armies. The first Legislature I'M
der the restored State passed an act TO regulate e cleo
| tive franchise and TO limit the qualification Of
voters The act provided for the appointment OF commits
soners of Registration who to enrol the ega voters
in the several counties and issue to each certificate OF
registration In OF misconduct these Commissioners
were liable to removed by the Governor in addition
to being punished udicially upon conviction Inc Com
mitee then give history of the Convention when met
in Nashville the goth Of May to nominate candidate
for Governor which was briefly that it broke UP In
| disgracefal row without making any nomination.
WhereupOn both Stokes and Senter took the field as can
ddaes The Committee assert that when 1t became ap
parent that, without enarging the franchise Stokes
would be elected, that Gov. senter, IN dSre-
| gard of the law, and without cause or
pretex removed theHwhole bOdys off Commissioners
and appointed others in their stead in mostcases Demo-
Gratis and exRebe officers who issued certificates reg
stration TO all who applied or Oh whose behalf appca
ton made wthnO regard 10 age residence, or other
qualifications; and when no application was made GER
hcates sent by them to persons VIGOROUSLY not
entitled under the law to them that certificates
IN blank issued without number, 10 be filled up ana
by any into whose hands they might chance to
fall Also NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in violation OF law,
delegated their powers to others whoweremore reckless
than themselves In many instances it is asserted that
the Commissioners acted without taking the oath OF ONCE
In many cases registration made and no record
pretended be kept Of the persons to whom certificates
Of registration had been granted In short say the Com
mittee, the registration laws Of the State were openly
universally. and ostendtIOusly set aside by Tue az
pOntees of Gov. Sener and under circumstances when
compel the belief that IL was done with his knowledge
and connvance, probably in obedience to his express III
sructi0ns.
The Committee continue and conclude as follows
AS these things went and tho took shape. II
became evident TO the people that the Governor
who had involved it in the rebellion; and, the conse
quence was that the Democrats rallied TO man u MS
pubcans were almost as united in the support OF his OPP
The Legislative canvass however took different shape
set of candidates had taken the field as senter Re
pubhcans" quasi qualified gentlemen, who naturally ex
peeed the same support as Their leader,indeed hau
stance IL is believed abandoned them for candidates dis
tlnctively their own The Senter Republican candidates
disappeared from the contest carrying with them votes
enough sometimes to defeat the real candidates OF the
party.
The election on held under direction OF the same
men who had superintendent the registration aud with
even more wantOl disregard Of the law;
Their eppOntees and agents, the judges and
clerks in charge OF the ballotboxes were in
nunberless instances persons consp Guousy dfqualned
in such case prescribed Men known Democrats, es.
out question or even tho production OF REGISTRATION GER
uhcaes The known supporters OF Mt Stokes and other
duce certificates but they were rgidy scruuized for
technical defects, when the holder cones,edy
toned; indeed challenge was denied. This done in
Instances by the OF several certificates with DIFF
voted nonresdents voted, Rebels. pardoned and
unpardoned voted. soldiers and civilians
Ii IL not known or believed that ono was denied
sentor These were not exceptional cases confined to
election and prevailed In all the divisions Of the state
openly violated except they might DO used 10 exclude
Republican votes 1t was an election withoutaw aud IN
That there were fraudulent votes in the ordinary
ceptaon Of tho term, and many OF them not denied,
but admitted by the Governors partlsans Honest voters
espegaly the coiored were Kept from the polls by In,
tmidation deception breach OF iaith ana otherwise IN
disguised bribery. Not few entitled seeing the utterly
fictitious character OF the election abstaned from taking
part It, But these matters not urged Whaling
the election. Tho polls might possibly be purged II is
public attentionthe violation not only OF the statute
law. but OF the Constitution itself. .,,-,,
The returns OF the election made by the officials who
held 1t, demonstrate It's true character For Governor,
the vote stands for senter llsI ana ior stokes 49,
vote stokes The vote for Seymour wac 263ll and
vote poed In the exciting contest OF 1867 1901 aud
in the Presidential election OF 1sG5 II 5000 From
be inferred Whether the law restricting the suffrage Of
the State 10 this number was right or not wise or unwse
s not 10 the purpose IL was the lay as clearly as any
law in the State and obligatory. Least OF all was the
Governor OF the State, who had himself assisted TO enact
the law ana ad assumed an Oalh 70 support anu execute
IT, liberty to tranpe II under foot aud set Il at def
ance. And is clearly demOnsrable that OF tho full
number OF legal votes III the state hc humbeE t stokes
admitted to have received constitutes clear majority
senter In like manner elected the great majority OF the
with few exceptions the entire body
the Legislature elect though not Republicans are not
Democrats That merely TO palter win the sense OF
tie words II deep bitter and prOracted hostility To the
Republican party constitutes Democrat then are these
men Democrats II sympathy with aud support Of tho
Of Johnson
constitutes Democrat, and in this state at least GER
tanly does then are they Democrats II to have sup
ported Mcclellan against Lincoln in 1854, and seymour
and Blair against Grant and ColfaA IN ls conrutesa
Democracy, then they Democrats. II the avowals
and claims OF the Democratic press throughout the State
are 10 taken evidence there Is no room Tor cav
and they but stultiy themselves who Imagine OF feign
political element in the State neither Republican nor
Democratic.
The election, then, held without law-for IL will DO
borne in mind that no attempt was made to observe the
old law In force prior to t.e hed IN open
undsguised violation OF the law 49, IN lega c9ntempa
ton simply null, Invalid obligatory upon nobody giving
legal authority 10 nobody 1t would not have been
completely 50 had II been carried by admitting 10 the
baOtbOx the women and schOOchidren OF the state
the citizens Of the neighborng States 10 resolution
under The force Of popular e'eeon Ike all political
revolutions It's character in the future will depend upon
nent Government, II not, 1t will dissolve and disappear
as did its great prototype the Southern Confoderaoy
the people Of the State and to the Federal Government
II they acquiesce their acquescence establishes 1t and
clothes usurpatOn and revolution with the dignity OF
recognized authority II they do not then, like all pre-
vOus attempts at subyerng governments, II VIII fail
and its authors with meTlted opprobum and dis
| astcr
TO people OF the State and OF the whole country
appeal protesting earnestly against the perdous over
throw OF State government which has cost much
sacrifice oreasure and blood 20 build whch the only
security the frendless and the oppressed
the State, and which, based upon the principle Of the
equality Of all men before the law, has been gradually,
but constantly against all opposition violence and ohio
uuy, carrying this benign principle 10 It's legitimate
and happy results We protest IN the name OF the great
body OF The Union soldiers who saved the State by their
valOr, and not few by their hyesi protest in the
| name Of the men who have labOred 30 long
| and done 80 much 10 rtestabllsh evli law
and peaceful authority OverhrOwn and destroyed by
beliOn and war; protest IN the name OF more than