Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-02
VOICE FROM THE roMBs.


i AAaAespo - RA<@A--Ds
Under the caption "Tennessee-A
Review Of the Election" the following
letter appears in the New York Tribune
of the 28th:
To the Editor Of the Tribune: tAs
SrR--Now that the gubernatorial con-
test in this State has been decided in &C
cordance with the wishes of the whole
Democratic and large portion OF the
Republican press of the Northern States,
and az this contest seems to be in o great
measure misunderstood by the press, 1T
might not be amiss for one who bore the
burden and heat of the day to give his
version Of the affair, and for that pur..
pose / respectfully request the use OF
your columns for this communication. !,
We began to be actively interested
about who should be our (Republican)
candidate for Governor about the first Of
April last, for although it was evident
that General Stokes was the choice OF o
large majority of the Republican party.
still the Railroad Ring, and every other
political ring in the State, was working
actively TO secure the appointment by
county conventions of delegates who
would support Governor Senter for the
nomination, and holding new conven.
lions in counties that had already ap.
pointed Stokes delegates. To account
| for this it is only necessary to know tnat
Governor Senter was President OF rail-
road, and had almost uniformly voted for
railroad appropriations, whenever since
the war any have ben asked of the Legls-
| la,ure. The School Fund Ring, also
| rallied to the support of Governor Sem
| ter. for reasons that they can themselves
best explain. The supporters of Gem
| eral Stokes were led by the very men
who, in the Legislature, had been most
active in their opposition to the encroach-
ments of our railroad system upon the
Treasury, ans in 60 modifying the School
Law as to break the School Fund Ring,
as we'll as the majority Of those members
Of the Legislature who, during the last
two years, had most actively opposed
Brownlow's militia bills and called loudly
for universal suffrage.
The State Convention assembled on
the 10th of Nay last, but conducted itself
80 disgracefully that have not the heart
to speak Of it further, except to say that
the whole trouble was caused by few
Young bloods whom Stokes refused tom
dorse 10 the new administration as wor-
thy of appointment to important posi-
tiops. and others who had procured ap-
monuments against Stokes wishes, but
without his active opposition. 1presume
that there was not an honest man at the
Convention who will deny that Stokes
friends (delegates) we're largely in the ma
jority. On the morning Of May ~, a
committee of Stokes friends waited upon
Governor Septer and proposed terms OF
compromise, requesting him to do the
same, but be refused to entertain any
proposition of that or kindred nature.
Both gentlemen, Stokes and Senter, an
nopnced themselves as candidates, Stokes
claiming to 10 the nominee, and senter
claiming that no nomination had been
made.
Stokes had for the last two years evl-
IDENTIFY been leaning toward more lib.
eral policy than that hitherto pursued
by the Republicans of this State, and
this had eapssd many Q Simon Pure"
to rally to the support of Senter as the
especial friend of Acknowledgement. On
the night of the 2lst of May Governor
Seuter, in announcing himself candl-
date. DECLARED that To repeal the ran
chise Law s.yas deserving principle, for
getting God and going to partition"
nv the 9Th of June following, however,
he fSenterl had entirely changed his
on;n;on and declared bimse,,s. 10 L, favor GO
an entire removal of all political disabili-
ties on account Of participation in the
late rebellion. and his conversation was
inn medialeIy followed by that of those
extreme Radicals who had lust deserted
Stokes on account OF his leaning In the
same direction. The column was soon
svslIed bv the accession of the virtuous
rings which are always composed of ex
treme men. who care nothing for prin-
c;nIe. hut are always making the most
nniue in ordar TO keen the msefyes prom
;nantlv Rituated. Every element In the
State which opposed the election Of
Grant. making conglomerate mass
which / shall call the Democracy, imme-
diately shouted for Senter, and they we're
go numerous that the small moiety of
RenublIcans who supported Senter were
moi heard Of again among the canvass.
Nv the provisions of the franchise
Law the Governor had absolute power 10
annoint or remove Com missioners of Reg-
;stratiou. These Registers were required
hv The law 10 make oath that they would
fs;,hfulIy carry out the provisions of the
Franchise Law. This would have left
a, least 60 600 adult males in this State
w;tbont voting certificates. But as these
nso;slars made il a point to disregard the
= - the day of election found every man
II H. State oflegal age, who asked It, and
hundreds who we're under age, armed