Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-26
A DISGUsrED RADICAL

Inc OIokeS hadlcals give up
power with a most woful struggle.
Notwithstanding they were terribly
beaten in the late election, they
have been constantly casting about
to SEQ if the verdict of the people
could not be defeated in some way.
Stokes went to Washington and tried
10 enlist Grant in some wild revolu-
tionary scheme to set aside the ex.
pressed will ofthe people, but Grant
was sharp enough not to form an
entangling alliance with the hero
of the Calf Killer, and so he came
home "with a flea in his cal" "
But, Notwithstanding this re-
buff, his henchmen in this
State have been cogitating over
the matter and suggesting plans
to keep Senter and the newly
elected Legislature out. But the
time is so near at hand
when the new Legislature
will meet and organise and Gov.
Senter be inaugurated, that the
Stokes faction is about to give up
in despair. The Greeneville New
Era gives one of the last dying
kicks. 1t declares that Gov. Sen
ter and the members of the Legis
lature "owe their election to the
most fragrant frauds and vio~
lations of the law ever known
in popular election" and
that "the protest issued by NUNS
Der of prominent Republicans
against the legality of the election,
is a faithful exposition of the facts"
connected Herewith; and that this
document "will remain during all
coming time, to remind the de-
scendants of the men who commit
ted or aided and encouraged the
commission of these violations Of the
law, of the fact that their ancestors
were criminals" But notwith-
standing its very emphatic denun-
citation of the Senter Republicans,
who suffered an anti-Senter Legis-
lature to be elected, the New Era
is puzzled to know what its faction
proposes TO do about it. That paper
says: Dr.. emf. at Inc -... Lib. .f
I'VE do not KIN whe ther or not there is
any serious design on the part of the
friends IF General Stokes TO contest the
cleo iol in any way whatever, and if go
we know nothing about what course they
will pursue 10 accomplish the desired end
The meeting Of the old Legislature, with
or without The consent of the Governor,
for the purpose of ratifyipg the fifteenth
amendment, could not bring the issues
properly to the test, the ratification would
probably be declared illegal, or, il iechni-
cally legal, the presumption would be that
it was contrary 10 the will of the people,
which would be worse for the Republican
party than no ratification at ali. An ap.
peal to the Supreme Court by a quo WGr'
rdnto, or in any other way, would probably
be making our enemies our judges. An
attempt to set up an opposition State
government by calling together the menu
bers who would legally have been elected
and inaugursting Stokes as Governor,
although il might succeed, would be very
Liable 10 fail on account of not having a
quorum present. One other resort then is
left, which is an appeal to Congress 10 Sc
cure to the State republican form of gov
eminent, as il is bound TO do by the con-
stiiution. Congress can not declare the
State government OF Tennessee republican
while one man has the power to say who
shall vote and who shall not. We want
guarantee in the future that elections shah
be conducted fairly, and that they shall re
fleet the will of those who are or may be
entitled TO vote. We want no class legisla-
ton, no DISTINGUISHING on account Of race,
color, or for any other cause, but we want
the laws enforced until repealed" ia10f
This Radical organ has become
very much disgusted with the man~
ner in which its party kept itself.
in power during the past four years.
While the Radicals were in power
this hand organ piped out the
praises Of Gov. Brownlow whenever