Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-21


were in sympathy. Out of that
split consummated in confusion
and violence, it was evident the
flower of freedom would sprineI
The reign of Radical prescription
was virtually ended in that scene of
tumult and conflict.
A few days thereafter, unanim-
Gus decision from o full bench of
Supreme Court broke the fell rod
which had SO long held the State in
thraldom. 1t announced principle
which restored the franchise privi-
lege to at least twenty-five thou
sand voters, which had been ruth
lessly wrested from them by a
tyrannical Legislature and Cow
ernor who scrupled at no act Of
unwarranted authority over the
ballot box. These two events laid
the foundation for the great work of
complete enfranchisement for this
people, now so happily and triumph
antly in progress.
1t was possible, however, that the
movement at this stage might have
been seriously retarded, and the
repeal Ofthe restrictive statutes post
poned to an indefinite time in the
future. 1t was in the power Of the
Governor of the State, so to have
welded the machinery of the regis
tration laws, and so to have shaped
the issues of the campaign for the
succession, that partizan registrars
and election officers might practi-
cally have set at naught, the great
measure, the Embarrassment
wrought by the judicial fiat refet
red to, and depressed the rising
spirit Of liberality in the party to
which he and his competitor both
belong.
But by his utterance on the 9th
of June-the opening day of the
canvass-like the bell on Indepen-
dence Hall on the 4th Of July,
I77G, he proclaimed liberty to the
State and all the inhabitants there
of. Boldly and nobly he declared
in favor of the speediest legal
means for the obliteration of the
least vestige of restriction on the
franchise, and announced his purs
pose to so exc cute the law as it
now stands, that every man justly
entitled to vote, should do so.
Consistently and valiently, in
the face of determined opposition
and denunciatiOn, he has kept faith
with that pledge. Under his gallant
lead, bearing the flag of restitution
Of the suffrage, he has revolution
Used the sentiment of his party,
and driven a discounted, but skill
ful and experienced competitor, to
trail in his rear, and surrender his
resistance to the proposed measures
of acknowledgements By his acts
not less than his manly speeches in
this behalf, he has already crowned
the work Of redemption. The
coming six months will witness its
formal completion.
For this, he is entitled to the sin
cere gratitude and the ardent and
unanimous support of the Demo,
Gratis and Conservatives of Tennes-
see. Under rigorous laws commit
ted TO him for execution, he held
the issues of Acknowledgement and
Acknowledgement. 1t was in his
option to Wilt either way. With
out prompting or solicitation from
them, he generously and graci-
ousIy chose the liberal part
He could have elected himself
Governor as his predecessor did.
Under no state of the case, al
any time, has there been the re-
hottest probability that Gen. Stokes
orany other competitor, could have
defeated him. Had he seen fit tC
force registrars to his purposes, he
could have secured his election, il
the entire voting strength of
the Conservatives had supported
his competitor. The power
remaining in his hands, even
after the Brownsville decis>
ion. left him master Of the stu,
alton. 1t was case in which pos,
session was full nine points in the
law. lie had but to decree that the
partizan and personal uses for which
the franchise law Of Co was inA
tended, should be continued, and the
Conservative party Of TENNESSEE
would still be in a hopeless minor
ity, and being ground between the
Radical factions as by the
upper and neither millstones,
while the DISTINGUISHED citizens
would be utterly and helplessly in
the slough of despOnd. The sure
prospect of early regeneration and
disentrolIment is due chiefly to the
broad, wise, and liberal statesman
ship which Gov. Senter has exhibit
ed. A Radical of the straitest sect
for time, he has nObly emanci-
pated himself from the shackles of
prejudice. Upon the question of
responding to this manly conduct,