Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-29
PUBLIC LEDGER.
MErIIs HIS
Thursday Evening. April %. 1859.
THE Union AND AMERICANS
npuNION OF FREE ELECTION.


The Union and american is generally
right on all questions, but occasionally
It il drawn into error by its extreme
party views. In. an article headed Judge
Sbsckleford and the Franchise Law, 1t
gives all the points cleverly and forclbly
against the constitutionality of the dis
qualifying law, but endeavors to pay
Andrew johnson a compliment, which
won't stick, because it is wanting in
very necessary ingredient-truth, This
,sthe language of the Union and Ameri-
can of April %:
II ia the merest bosh to pretend that
"the people in their sovereign capacity
had ANYTHING TO do with determining
,bo elective franchise" Not more than
one-6fth OF the white voters of the State
voted on the amendment TO the Consiiiu-
ton when it was submitted to the people
Far ratification; and Judge Shackleford
knows very we'll that they were not kept
away from the polls by an iron-clad oath
or any description Of oath, for every man
who desired TO vote on the proposed
. amendment was allowed to do 30 without
let or hindrsnce. 1t was free thing
tbep. "a il was in the election for Gov
erpor and members Of the Legislature
Immediately following Aud this is the
last free election we have had in Tennes-
see. For this we are indebted to Andrew
johnson, who threw the ballot-box open
IN every man who desired 10 exercise the
right of suffrage. 1t was no act OF the
people 10 their sovereign capacity
which foisted upon them that most IN
iouitous piece of legislation known as the
franchise law.
1t can be easily seen from the reading
OF the above language that our cotem-
porary, by leaving the record, gets into
a middle, from which it is impossible to
extricate himself. How was it that every
man who desired to vote on the proposed
amendment was allowed to do so without
let or hindrance, and yet at the same
time only one-lifth of the people Of the
State voted at all. We shall wait with
patience an explanation of the very
strange conduct Of the citizens of this
State, 10 this election, from our eotem-
porary, for he can, no doubt, make the
matter clear, being well versed in politics
for many years. The Union and Ameri-
can further states, as can be seen from the
extract above, that il was free thing then
as it was in the election for Goversor
and members Of the Legislature imme-
diately following. And this is the last
free election we have had in Tennessee.
For this We are indebted to Andrew
Johnson, who threw the ballot box open
TO every one who desired to vote. That
our we'll informed contemporary should
have fallen into so great an error over
the record is indeed mysterious to the
friends Of his able sheet. That the peo-
pie were not bound down by iron-clad
oaths is falacious. Willthe editor for his
own information read the oath as part
and prescribed by the Constitution upon
which the people then were called upon
to vote, and before doing so were COM
PEELED to take down the most radical OF
all mixtures? Here is the oath:
l solemnly swear that | will henceforth
support the Constitution of the United
States, and defend it against the assaults
of all its enemies; that am an active
friend Of the Government OF The United
States and an enemy to The so-called
Confederate States; that | ardently de-
sire the suppression Of the present rebel
lion against the Government OF the
United States; that | sincerely rejoice
in the triumphs Of the armies and navies
OF the United States, and in the defeat
aud overthrow Of the armies and navies,
and of all armed combinations in the so.
called Confederate States; that | will
cordially oppose all armistices or nego-
tiations for peace with rebels in arms
until the Constitution of the United
States and all laws and procismationi
made in pursuance thereof shall be es
tablisbed over all the people of every
State and Territory embraced within ths
National Union; that will heartily aiC
and assist the loyal people in whateye
measures they may adopt fer the attain
ment Of those ends; and, further, that
take this oath freely and voluntarily, an,
without mental reservation.
Thisis sufficiently iron-clad to nauseat
the delicate stomaehs Of all rebellion il
this region, aud especially being pre-
ceded by a resolution which require
that every one who was allowed to tax
the oath should be known and vouche
for as good Union man. Let US def
honestly with the record, though tn
heavens should fall; we lose nothing
it 10 the end, but thereby preserve OF
honor and digRiiy.
We hope this sheet will 6ud no &
titious importance in these facts, as
was won't to style our editorials on h
oct, A. johnson, a few days since.
THE JUDICIAL ELECrION-COl