Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-09
THE WAR OF THE REGISTRARS IN
SHELBY COUNTY.

THE WAR OF THE REGISTRARS IN
SHELBY COUNTY.
reappears to be a very strong
probability that the people of
Shelby county will be cheated out
of their right tosyote, at least that
portion of them not yet registered,
if the Supreme Court does not
make haste to settle the war be-
tween those who claim to be the
registrar for that county. The
Memphis Ledger of the 9th inst.
gives the position of the contest
ants as follows:
"Thus far there are fonr iniunctions
out to restrain men from registering vo"
tiers .E
"First-Williams, the registrar, who
distinguished himself about the time of
judicial election, obtained on the Dist
ult. from Chancellor Smith writ of in
junction against Mr.. John P. Boughner,
the late appointee of Governor Senter.
This case has been carried up to the
Supreme Court, at Brownsville, on writ
of sUpercededS, and a decision is daily
expected If rendered in Boughners
favor it settles the question at once, and
finally, as far as the election in this
county is concerned. ..s
"Second-Williams, having taste for
cheap lawsuits and local fame, obtained
writ of injunction, yesterday, from
Judge II. S. Lee, to restrain Mr.. James
D. Davis from exercising the functions of
this much abused and this much exer-
cised Office. Mr.. Davis, it will be re-
membered, was appointed by Brownlow,
and was unceremoniously ousted by the
same authority. But he kept his seal of
Office for an emergency, and has claimed
all the time to be the registrar Last
week he opened his Office. Hence the
injunction of Williams.
"Thifd-Mr James d. Davis obtained
a similar writ against Williams from
Chancellor Harris, at Somerville, last
Saturday, and yesterday it was served
with due form by a deputy Sheriff
"Fourth-Mr J. ID. Davis, who, like
Williams, is some on iniunctiOns, has
also epjOined Mr.. Boughner from exeI-
cising the functions of that allsimpors
tant Office. ..... /
when Mr.. John League, the County
Court Clerk, opens his Office to do q
registration business and has all the
others enjoined, the fight will begin to be
lively. This is already lively state d
affairs. r.. !
The people should lock we'll to the
voting papers they already have and
make use of them. No excuse will JUS
tify or palliate Indifference to this can
vass. For the first time since the wal
the people have a CLEAN of hope II
they will vote their entire strength the
Conservative ticket will be elected, even
without further registration. The con-
test is really between Davis and BOugh-
ner-Williams is a mere obstacle who
stands in the way to the annoyance of all
parties"
This muddle has been precipita-
ted by the Stokes faction, and is
simply an effort to sustain Williams
in his VIGOROUSLY corrupt and par.
tisan administration OF the registra
ton under the franchise law. He
had exhibited a marked readiness:
to register every man about whose
politics there was no doubt, and hC
had even gone so far as to hand GU
to favorites large numbers of Ger
tifcates signed in blank, for then
TO fill up and issue to such men
white or black, as they knew to be
Radicals. Then when Democrat:
applied to him to be registered, ht
put them off upon some pretext Oh
other, and finally lodged them
leaving hundreds who were clearly
entitled to vote unregistered. /
was by such system Of fraud anC
corruption that he defeated the De
mOcratic candidates for judicial Of
fees in Memphis and Shelby coun
ty at the May election. These facts
were brought to the attention Of
Gov. Senter, and he promptly re
moved Williams and appointed
Boughner. This case has taught
the people what confidence is TO be
placed in the professions Of the
Stokes faction that they are in ia
vor of every man voting who is en-.
titled TO vote under fair interpre,
tatiOn of the franchise law, anC
how much credit for sincerity they
are entitled to when they denouncC
supporters of Senter as guilty o
corrupt practices.