Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-14
THE GovERxOR,s LAST PEnrrpY.

BROwNLOw's last proclamation is a
fitting elimination 10 his Gubernatorisl
career. 1t sccords with the general
practice by which he has brought that
high Cfics into contempt. Placed 10
power by a usurping Convention, he has
during his ~incumosncy sptly, aver to 3
nicely, illustrated the t~Teachery, decep-
ton and iDfamy that characterised that
body-tO which We are indebted for all
the unmixed evils that curse our State.
In four yesrs, IS presiding officer Of
Tennessee, Senator BRowNLow has
effected more Of detrimeHt to her best
interests, has done moys to rstsrd her
growth, to destroy her credit, to prevent
immigration, TO suppress good neigh.
borly feeling, and to SOW dissension
among her people than can be repaired
in ten by the united efforts Of all the
good men Of the State. Actuated By the /
basest motives he has kept alive and los.
tered the most intense party bitterness.
Taking advantage OF the unfortunate
feuds growing out Of the civil war, ne has
promoted enmities, strifes and prosscu-
tons; and encouraged, as editor, as
preacher and IS Governor a system Of
persecutiOnsthat have brought bioodshed
upon the land, the traces Of which will
hardly be washed out in our time. He
has himself usurped the laws, brought
official integrity into contempt by 8
fierce defiance Of custom, justice and the
constitution and forced upon 6 suFjlga-
ted people, as law,t most dsmning ev.-
dences Of Injustice. He has assumed
to be the sIbiter Of the destiny. Of the
State; has been privy to the robbery Of
part Of her school fund has unlawfully
used the remainder Of that fund
Indignantly pursued SANFORD, the
former Treasurer, to the death
has robbed the voters OF their
highest right Of the. GROWING preroga-
tive Of citizenship, and, climax Of
infsmies, has ~connlyed and con.
to a Gisgraceful fraud
whereby the people Of the two most In
huential Congressional Districts are to
be robbed If their representation and
their suffrsges made to 90 service IN be
half Of members OF his own party. In
The Eighth District he rObs LEFTwICH Of
he honor the people have conferred
lpon him by a msjOrity Of $50 votes,
hands it over TO w. J. SMITH, one
# his Radical coadjutors; and, in the
sixth District, rObs SHEAFE OF a Ike
lonor, conferred by a majority OF 666 OF
be voters Of that District. And this, (
Ike ali his other usurpations, Is profess !
dly done Dy Law. :
That the readers Of the APPEAL may
ldge for themselves, We present the law 3
D the premises, ss follows: :
$50 OF the Code OF Tennessee provldes :
lat the Governor and Secretary of STATE !,
lall, as soon as the returns are received. in the !,
reEeEce Of such electors as choose to attend. :
)mpare the vote in these several cases On. :"
elections) and declare ne pe-eoa "a D
itfng IN highes, number Of Uotes duh slecfel" z
Section So Of the Gods provides: " II there Is II
lie vote between tWo or mora having the
lgbest number OF votes for any Congressional -,
S rirt, the Governor will give the casting y,
ote." vi
Section $50 OF the Code provides: The Gsv- -
nor Will issue CO nmiss' ons 70 members Of III
,ogress, judges, Chancelors, or Attorneys "a
snsral declared elected upon an sstimafs o. he 81
les as d5OEs pTescri5sd."
Section es9 Of tbs Code provides that. "No =,
turn, poll-booS or certificate made under the -
vision OF this article, e 10 Be SET aside or re. 10
for t0dnt VJJT1H. nor n account Of IL nor %
strictly IN 0ccOrdd1ce guuA ne direction u
coHtuiaed, Uhe same can be cIea. IN under W
~ o and any EmrH HAHnrn nh Has
lie, signed BY a m-JJrty 0 the iuspsctors. or
turning officers, Is suuc;enf." =,
Using the language Of the Pres and .
With the regularity OF the re
the Governor has nothing pc
hstever to dc. That Il not 3 matter tri
inquiry for him at all, and, ia looking hi
,yond the returns OF the election, and pI
those returns, lie was guilty Of 81
70 grOssest assumption OF authority.
returns, II ineligible, are TO be TT
Rem as true, aud there is no law better 81
tiled or more generally understood
an this. The action of the Governor
expressly limited to certifying ihe re- sp
u Of the peoples Uote, and II that he ~
lsely returned or fraudulently obtained. az
Is law points cut the mode OF correct
& and redressing the wrong. Only In
70 case Of a tie vote between the two an
CHEST candidates, can the Governor M
tsriere to determine the result, or he
feet 1t In any way" lei
With this last act Of lnismy Brown. do
w closes a career the most memors- ~
, IN our history; memorable for every
Ilainy Of which 3 wiliUlly wicked man,
oported by the most venal Of parties, y
did bs guilty. With such a crime dis
the psaes aud dignity Of the pr