Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-15
pEsporrsrr M aEsRcEA.

DEsPOTISM IN GEeRCTA.
The drift towards a centralized despoi-
ism grows more unmistakable every day.
1t was but the other day that Georgia was
set back to the condition OF a provi-;
sio,lai government, the object beingt TO re-
seat a number of negroes who had been
expelled from the Legislature on ground
of incGgibility. By the act of Congress
the Governor was authorized TO convene
the Legislature as originally elected, and
that body assembled in Atlanta on the
10th inst and attempted TO organize, but
has not done so up TO this good$Iour. 1t
is true, the Senate has completed its org
anization, but the House has not, In the
Senate negro member named Campbell
entered a protest against several Demo
cratic Senators who took, the oath pre-
scribed in the act Of Congress, and the
same process was gone through in the
House of Representatives by negro
named Peter o,NeaL These protests
were printed. and were as follows:
'Mr. Chairman: l wish TO file pro
test against the eligibility of -----.
''By virtue of the express provision of
an act to promote the reconstruction of
Georgia. approved Dec. %, 1869,
under q correct exposition of the law.
as approved by Gen. Alfred II. Terry,
commanding the District of Georgia, the
honorable gentleman who name has been
called is not qualified to take the oath
provided in said law, and which you are
now about to administer to him, because
of the fact that he held office, and there
after participated in rebellion against
the Government of the United States and
has not been relieved of his disabilities by
act of Congress, and is therefore inelig-
bic to the seat"
The names of the members against
whose eligibility protests were entered
were written in the blank indicated.
Fearing that those who are opposed to
his designs, among whom are a number
of Republicans, would get control of the
Legislature, Gov. Bullock sent TO the
House of Representatives the following
order and endorsement by the Satrab in
command: ..a.
Executive DEPARTMENT, ATLANTA, Ga,
Jan. 13, 1S70.-That an investigation
may be made into the right of certain
persons TO hold seats in the House OF
Representatives, under the Redistribution
Acts, it is
Ordered, That the Clerk pro ten, a:
soon as the calling of the roll shall have
been completed, viii declare recess un.
til Monday next, at - o'clock NJ.
RUFUS 3. BULLOCK,
Provisional Governor.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD MILITARY DIS
TRIcT OF GEORGIA, ATLANTA, Ga, Jan.
Is, 1S70.-In order that time may be
given for an inquiry into the qualifications
of certain persons who are alleged to be
ineligible to seats in the House, under the
Reconstruction Acts, l approve of the
foregoing order. ALFRED H. TERRY,
Breyet Major General Commanding.
There is not the semblance of authority
in the act of Congress for this action OF
the Provisional Governor and the Military
Satrap who have charge of the State of
Georgia. But what are we TO think OF
the following:
HEADQUARTERS Military DISTRICT OF
GEORGIA, ATLANT Ga, Jan. IS, $780,
General Orders 8: In pursuance to
instructions received from the headuuar-
tiers of the army, board is hereby ap.
pointed to inquire into the eligibility of
w. T. Winn, of Cobb county, John J.
Collier, of DOoly County, A. w. Holcomb,
of Milton county, w. ]. Anderson, OF
Houston county, B. B. Hinton, of Marion
county, c. ]. Welborn, of Union county,
TO seats in the Legislature of Georgia IN
der the reconstruction acts.
The board viii meet and organize at
once, and will have power to administer
Oaths and send for persons and papers.
They will permit the persons whose eligi-
bility is in question to appear before them
either in person or by attorney, and will
also permit the appearance before them of
persons who deny the eligibility of said
W. T. VIM, J. J. Collier, A. w. Hol-
comb, w. J. Anderson, B. 3. Hinton and
c. J. WelbOrn.
The board VIII keep complete and
accurate record of the proceedings and of
all testimony which may be given before
them, and viii transmit the same to these
headquarters with its report.
DETAIL FOR THE BOARD.
Bvt Maj. Gen. T. II. Kruger, United
States Army.
Bvt. Brig. Gen. T. ]. Haines, United
States Army.
Maj. Henry Goodfellow, Judge Advo-
cate, United States Army.
BY order of Bvt. Maj. Gen. Terry:
]. II. TAYLOR,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Here is high-handed usurpation in earn
est. A Military Satrap orders that the
eligibility of legislators shall be determin-
ed by a drumhead court-martiaL. The
law of Congress provides that those claim
ing to be members of the Senate or House
of Representatives shall take an oath pre-
scribed in the act and file the same with
the Secretary of State of Georgia, and
having done this, he is entitled to take his
seat, but if he swears falsely che shall be
deemed guilty of perjury, and shall suffer
the pains and penalties thereof, and may
betried convicted and nunished therefor