Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-07
how FRAUDS IN REGISTRATION
ARE PUNISHED

y
ARE PUNISHED.
The Memphis appeal puts the
case strongly in regard to the re-
cent action of Coy. Senter as fol-
lows:
Senter, following the example of his
illustrious predecessor Brownlow, has
opened the campaign for judicial off,
GERS, in favor of his party, by the annul-
ment Of the registration of Madison and
Shelby counties In true despotie style,
he does not give any reason for this
sweeping act beyond that it has been
made to appear to him that frauds and
Irregularities have interviewed" How,
with the Office of registrar in both coun-
ties filled by Radicals, and those Of
Brownlow's selection, fraud or irregu-
larity could occur, he does not say; he
simply states that such is the fact, and
then orders a re-regiStration of the yO
tiers of the counties named by the very
men through whom, if there have been
frauds and IRE gularities, they must have
been perpetrated Either these regis
trars are honest men, so known to be by
Mr.. Senter, and this statement Of fraud
| to be wanting in truth, or being true he
deliberately dishonors himself as the Ex-
ecutive of the State by continuing in
Office those who alone can be held re-
sponsible for fraud and irregularity in
registration"
The proclamations setting aside
| and declaring null and void the
registration of voters heretofore
had in Madison and Shelby coun-
ties, declare that :" it has been made
to appear to the satisfaction of the
Governor that frauds and irregu-
lariti& have interviewed in the reg
istration of voters" in those coun-
ties. We have here the word OF the
| Governor that he has satisfactory
proof that "frauds and Irregular
ties" have been perpetrated in the
registration Of voters in the coun-
ties of Madison and Shelby. By
whom were these "frauds
and irregularities " perpetra-
ted? The Governor does not
say. They must have been per"
petrated by the registrar or parties
applying 10 be registered, or there
must have been collision between
the parties, and both are alike
guilty. The Governor has the proot
as to the ''frauds and irregularities,
and he must have the proof as tC
the guilty parties. Has he taken
any steps to punish the parties who
thus practice 'fraud and irregular,
tiles" under the solemnities of al
oath? Not at all. Let us see what
provision is made to meet such
cases. The franchise law contains
the following:
"Sec. IL. BE it further enacted, Thai
every wilful and intentional violation oil
this act by the commissioner of registra-
ton is hereby declared TO be a INSIDE
meanOr, and upon conviction, he shall be
removed from office, and shall paya fine
Of not less than fifty dollars, to the use OF
the State
"Sec. A. Be it further enacted thai
every violation Of this act is hereby de-
elarcd to be a misdemean0r, and punish
able upon presentment or indictment
and every person participating in such
violation shall, upon conviction, be fined
not less than ten nor exceeding one hun'
dred dollars, and may be imprisoned a
the discretion of the court
Here is ample provision for pun
ishing all those engaged in perpe
trating frauds and Irregularities
under the franchise law. And how
acts the Governor, whose oath re
quires him to see this as all othel
laws faithfully executed? Bear il
mind that he has the proof tha
" frauds and irregularities" have
been perpetrated in the registration
of voters in the counties of Madison
and Shelby, and that he must there
fore know who are the guilty par
ties. Has he ordered the arres
and trial of these violators Of the
law? Not one of them. But ht
declares the registration in those
counties null and void, and imposes
upon the legally registered voters
there the trouble and annoyance o.
registering. 1t thus appears thai
he has determined to inflict all thu
punishment he can on the innocent
while the guilty may go free. L
this the justice the people have tC
expect from the Governor Of the
great State of Tennessee The
Legislature has enacted laws fol-
the punishment Of criminals bu
the Governor prefers to give limo
cent people as much trouble as pos
sible rather than have the laws
enforced against men who are
guilty of frauds and Irregular
ties" The unofficial citizens OF
certain localities and counties are
expected to enforce the laws and
maintain peace and order, but the
Governor takes the shortest and
easiest way to enforce laws, regard
less as to whether it Furnishes the
innocent or the guilty.
"
PREGNANT TRUTHS FOR THE
PEOPLE
Below will be found the allusion
to the arrangement and prostration
of the industrial and financial ia,
terests of the nation, so wildly por-
trayed, the other day, by an East