The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1869-02-26
Pr0elaManOn.

hHNAANt AZ A. DNblStt AAVInOo
Maynard, William B. Stokes, William
+. Prosscr, Samuel N. Arnell, and
Isaac r Hawkins were respectively
elected from the First, Second, Third,
Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Districts, as
members Of lhe Forty. Grst Congress,
BY n majority ranging at from two
TO ten thousand, as also was John B
Rogers for the State at large; and,
WHEREAS, There exists no con.
~troverSy in regard to tho election Of
those gentlemen, | have this day
caused certificates Of election to be
made out, in due torn, for each Of the
gentlemen above named; aud,
WHEREAS, In the Fourth and Eighth
Districts contests exist between sew
eral rival candidates
Now, therefore, I, WILLIAM G.
BRowNLow, Governor Of Tennessee
do submit the following statement,
and the conclusions ut which I have
arrived, after considering all the facts
in the case:
From the returns in the Office Of tho
Secretary Of State, it seems that, in
the Fourth District, Sheaie received
six hundred and six.y-six votes more
than Tillman. But correcting the re-
turns by the law governing in such
cases, by throwing ont the cote of
Lincoln county, az the election was
held ny order Of the County Court,
and the returns were made by the
Coroner-the law requiring elections
TO be held and returns made By the
Commissioner of Registration; and
by throwing ont the vote In the Civil
Districts Oflho counties Of Coffee and
Marshall. in which 1t appears that
the judges of election had rot taken
the necessary oath, the vote for that
District would stand as follows: For
Sheafc 1865, and for Tillman, 3 795;
leaving Tillman's majority 432. /
therefore award the certificate to
Lewis Tillman.
The returns from the Eighth Dis.
trict show that john W. Leftwirh
received 6,532 votes; W. ]. Smith
5,543 votes, and David A. Num- 1925
votes. giving Leftwhch $50 majority
over Smith.
] utterly repudiate the vote Of Tip
ton county, as an exhibition Of the
most stupendous fraud perpetrated
in the State during the late election.
| also cast ont the vote Of Fayette
county, "a held in open violation of
the Franchise law. Besides these, a
supplemental return by the Commits.
sionOr Of Registration for Shelby
county gives, for that county alone,
an addition of about 700 votes in fa-
vQr Of W j. Smith over Leftwich, all
of which gives Smith a clear majority
Of over a thousand above Left witch.
| therefore award the e~erli6eate Of
election to w. j. Smith.
If there had been no other law to
be regarded in the issuance of com.
missions, or certificate, TO the members
Of Congress but thee code, (Hec, 1857 my
duty would have been quite plain.-
But "the act to limit the elective
franchise" has been since passed.
1t proposes o great change may
say revolution in our elective Eys-
TEN. IT announces that n large
portion Of our people have made war
upon the Government, and are unsafe
repositories of the elective franchise.
1t provides, moreover. for a registra-
ton of voters, and declares that no
one is q legal voter unless he shall
have certificate of registration, and
that certificate must DO obtained in
u legal way. A valid registration he.
comes indispensable to q valid election.
With official information before me
bat the votes cast for q candidate
are illegal and his election void. and
that tho KnKlux Klana have used
violence and other means Of intimida-
tion to deter legal voters from exercis.
ing the franchise, | cannot, and will
not, certify that he is regularly elect.
ed according TO the laws of the State"
Whatever Others may think Of my
duty, | will not declare, in q certih-
cate, or otherwise, that the election
was regular in counties or districts.
when I officially know il was not
regular.
In those conclusions I am happily
relieved Of much responsibility. BY
the fact that my decision h not con.
elusive. Tho question is still open for
the decision CT Congress. "
In testimony whereof have signed
the foregoing in the Executive De.
pattment, and affixed tho great Seal Of
The State. this 11th day Of February,
A. d., 1859. W. q BRowNLow.
p, S. Papers throughout tho State
authorised 10 publish tho Stats prin.
ting are requested 10 publish thls pro,
| clamation once.
60feb26w1.
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