The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-12
THE CIRCULATION OF THE "pIsPATCH"
Is LARGER THAN THE CONFIRMED CIRCU-
KATIoN OF ALI THE oTzER phYNEws
PAPERS OF THIS CITY,
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
Members OF Congress from Tennessee,
including Senator BronwnIow, ask.
ing Protection for the Loyal People
of the State against a Rebel LegfsIa-
ture Elected by Rebel Votes.
The undersigned, members of the Senate
and House OF Representatives, representing
the State of Tennessee, in behalf of the
loyal and abiding citizens of the United
States in said State, respectfully memorial
ize the Congress of the United States, and
represent that the election lately held in
said State on the fifth day of August last
past for the choice of Governor, members
of the General Assembly, and other officers
required to be elected in said State, was not
conducted and carried on in accordance
with the Constitution and the laws of said
State, but wholly in disregard thereof, in
this: That the Governor Of the State, him
self candidate for reelection, arbitrarily,
and without cause, removed all, or nearly
alI, the registers in the State-the officers
whose duty it was to register the legal
voters and to hold the elections-and in
their places appointed others, who regis
tered and allowed to vote persons wholly
regardless of the Constitution and laws,
with the following, among other, results:
First. That men were allowed to vote,
and did vote, therein who were not regis
tered according to the Constitution and
laws, and in contravention to their proyi-
sions.
Second. That men ineligible under the
Constitution and laws we're permitted to
vote, and did vote, in said election.
Third. That youths under the age Of
twenty-one years, in contrayention of said
laws, were permitted to vote in said elec-
ton.
Fourth. That false and fraudulent votes
were counted as having been cast in many
counties in excess Of the legal voters there
in
Fifth. That in nearly all the counties of
the State threats, intimidation, and unjust
influences, were used to deter, and which
did deter, large numbers of good citizens
and legal voters from exercising their rights
at such election.
Sixth. That persons not eligible or quail
fed to hold any Office under the Constitu-
ton and laws of said State and the United
States did act and preside as judges of
election in many counties of said State.
Seventh. That the illegal votes so cast
were OF so great numbers as to be in eX-
cess Of the majority by which said election
was determined in majority of the coun-
tics 80 that hy sail illegal votes the per-
sons and character Of the majority OF mem
| DcrS Of TIC General Assembly were deter
| !, I.no
wifully, and Turposcly. so cast, received,
and counted, for the purpose of elcctlng
members Of said Assembly, go as to control
the right Of the Government Of the United
States to q legal expression Of the will Of
the people Of the State through proper
and duly chosen representation of the
State n the Senate Of the United States; y;
which r;gh; has been purrosely iniringcd
and set ut naueht by said illegal and un-
Just election, lis before set forth.
And your mcmorinlists further represent
| that it became and was the duty OF said
General Assembly, among other things, to
| elect senator to represent the State of
| Tennessee in the Senate Of the United
States and that said General Assembly
has proceeded to elect, and has elected, q
citizen to represent said State in the Senate
of the United States for the next senate
rial term whose election was made and de-
tcrmincd by the votes Of members OF the
Assembly SO unlawfully and unconstitu-
tionally chosen 90 aforesaid.
And your memorialists further represent
that the majority of said General Assem-
bly, Of said state, so illegally and unjustly
elected, have repealed and are threatening
TO set aside the laws passed for the protec-
tion Of the law-abiding citizens Of the State
in their property and civil rights.
And your mcmorialists further represent
that said General Assembly, so elected,
have passed, and are now engaged in pass
ing, and are threatening to pass, other laws
| in open violation of the laws and Constitu-
| ton Of said State; which said Constitution
was accepted and adopted by Congress, and
lis safeguards for the liberty and rights OF
the people of Tennessee ratified and con-
frmed by the people as part of the con-
dition of the reception of the State of Ten
ncssee into the Union and representation
in Congress, after her rebellion against the
Government of the United States and at-
tempted secession from the Union.
| And your memorialists further represent
that q majority of said Legislature SO
elected have ordered an election for dele
gates to convention to alter, change, and
abrogate, said Constitution, under which
said State vas permitted by Congress to be
restored to the Union which she had vio-
lated, and 10 the rights which she had lost
| which said election, it is provided III the
act ordering the same, shall be held and de-
termincd, and the votes therein shall be re-
ceiyed, in open violation of the Constitu-
ton now protecting the citizens of Tennes-
see in their civil and political rights.
And your mcmorialists further respect
fully call attention to the duty of the United
States to guarantee to every State in this
Union republican form of government,
| and protect each Of them against domestic
violence.
And YOUR memorialists further represent
| that in the manner before mentioned the
| rights Of the good citizens of Tennessee
have been violated and oyerthown, and are
being set aside by the violent proceedings
of the mob (under the form of election, but
in violation of the Constitution) which has
now possession of the Government OF the
State.
And your memorialistS further represent
that the foundation and essence of republl-
can government is just, legal, and proper,
conduct of elections, in which each citizen,
according to previously ascertained laws,
may exercise his rights as an elector IN the
choice of those who shall frame and exc
cute tho laws under which he lives; and
that, by the unjust proceedings before set
forth, and because of the abrogation and