Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-30
THE LAST FREE ELECTION IN IN N
EESsEE

NEsSEE.
The Press and Times is disin-
genuous. 1t quotes the resolution
printed on page 6 of the "Introduc-
tory Documents prefxed to the
acts of 1865, to "show how widely
| the UNION AND AMERICAN missed
| the facts" when we stated the other
day that the election for Governor
| and members of the Legislature in
March, 1865, was free thing, that
no iron-clad oath kept the people
away from the polls, and that we
were indebted to Andrew Johnson
for this last free election held in
Tennessee. This resolution pre-
scribes an oath, and provides that
no person shall be allowed to vote
under the amended constitution
unless he first takes the oath at the
polls. The Press and Times says:
"The oath required was the famous
"iron~clad OATH" which called out tenn
pest of execration from the enemies Of
| the State reorganization movement
| throughout the State. The voter was re-
| quired TO swear that he was an GctiOe
| friend of the Federal government, and
an enemy Of the COnfederacy; that he
ardeRtly desired the suppression of the
rebellion; that he sincerely Tejoieed at
the triumph of the Federal arms, and in
the defeat of Confederate arms, with
many other additions and specifications
| of a like nature. The iron,clad oath
was drafted under the direction of Gov.
| johnson, in the executive Office. n
The oath was intended to keep away
from the polls nearly all those who had
aided and sympathized with the rebel
lion, and it had that effect"
We know nothing as to the secret
history Of this iron~clad oath, but it
is fact which we did not suppose
any man would undertake to deny,
that it was not enforced in the cleo
tior on the 4th of March, 1865.
There are men in Nashville to-day
who acquired the right to vote IN
der the present franchise law by
having voted in that election. In
deed, we have pretty conclusive ev-
idence from the editor of the Press
and Times that this oath was pre-
termitted in that election. In the
Nashville Times edited by the
present editor of the Press and
| Times of March 4, 1865, we find
this appeal in the leading editorial:
To-day then will be memorable in
the career Of Nashville, either for the
stolid apathy, or the rebellious OppOsi-
ton to, or the Jealous support which she
may give to the great movement for the
reorganization of the State government
and the restoration Of civil Law. On that
black day, June 8, 1861, Nashville cast
all her influence for the rebellion against
the United States government, and
madly declared that she had cut herself
loose from the moorings of that Union
which Andrew Jackson declared must
be preserved. 1t was an act of stupen-
dous folly and wickedness. 1t was q
deed of frenzy as wild and ferocious as
that inspired by the Bucchanites
and Furies Of antiquity. The sorrowful
record yet remains against US, unobliter-
ated by any public act Of general repent
ance and remuneration. That sublime
4 penitentiGl act may well be performed
to day. While the imposing ceremonies
Of another Inauguration are being PERI
formed at the national capitol, let grand
penitential act Of good works, of fruits
worthy Of repentance, be performed in
the capital Of Tennessee by general
outpouring Of our citizens at the polls,
for the purpose Of restoring the State
under the authority and flag of the
/ Union. Fellowscitizens, is not this a
work worthy Of the day, and due to
| yourselves as we'll as to the nation,
which you have wronged in an hour of
excitement, prejudice, and blind passion"
| Who were the men to whom this
urgent appeal was addressed, to
| perform "that sublime penitential
act" "by a general OutpOuring of
our citizens at the polls?' Ger
tainly it was not those who were
active friends of the Federal gov
eminent and enemies of the Con-
federacy; who ardently desired the
suppression of the rebellion, and
sincerely rejoiced at the triumph of
the Federal arms, and in the defeat
Of the Confederate arms. They
had no penitential acts to perform.
1t was well understood that the
oath prescribed by the January
| convention was not to be en-
forced in that election, and
hence this appeal Of the Times.
Are we to suppose that the
editor Of that paper, now the editor
of the Press and Times, would
have been guilty of the stipend
Gus folly Of calling upon those he
charged with having wronged "
the nation in an hour of excite
ment, prejudice, and blind passion, "
to come out to the polls if they
were to be met there with an oath