Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-01-21
GIVE me- OFFICE, OR GIVE NE
BLOOD!
VOTE FOR ME, OR PLL TAKE
YOUR LIFE!
TENNESSEE CONGREssMEN CRY
FOR WAR UPON TENNESSEE!!!


The undersigned, members of tho Senate
and the House of Representatives, repre-
seuting the State Of Tennessee, in behalf OF
tie loyal and law abiding citizens of the
United States, in said State, respectfully
memorabilia the Congress of the United
States and represent that the election lately
held in said State, on the fifth day of Au.
gust last past, for the choice of Governor,
members of the General Assembly, and
other officers required TO be elected in said
State, was hot conducted and carried on in
accordance with the Constitution and laws
of SAID State, hut wholly in disregard there
Of, in this, that the Governor of the State
himself candidate Tor reelection, arhitra.
rily, and without cause, removed all or
nearly all the Registrars 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 ami allowed to vote, persons wholly
regardless Of the Constitution and laws,
with the following, among ether esults:
LIST. That men were allowed tn vote, and
did vote therein, who we're not registered
according to til Constitution and law, and
in contravenlion Of their provisions.
81. That some Ineligible uuevr the con-
stitution and laws, were permitted to vote
and did vote ia SAID election.
81 That youths under the age of twonty
one years, ia coniraveution of said law,
were permitted to vote in said election.
4ih. That false aud fraudulent votes
were counted as having been cast IN many
counties in excess If he loyal votes therein.
9th. That in nearly all the counties of
the State, threats, intimdatiye, and I'M
just influences were used to deter, and which
q. 4 -
and loyal voters from exercising their rights
at such ehctiOa.
9th. That persons not eligible or quail fled
to bold any office under tue constitution and
| laws Of said State and tue United States,
did act and preside as judges Of election in
many counties OF said State.
18th. That the illegal votes so cast were of
such great numbers as to be in excess Of the
| majority by which said election was deter
mined in a majority of the counties, so that
by said illegal votes, the persons and cnar-
4 acter Of the majority OF members Of the
! General Assembly were determined, and
that such votes were knowingly, wilfully
aud purposely so cast, received and counted
for the purpose Of electing members Of said
| Assembly, so as 70 control the right of the
government Of the Unlnsd States to q legal
expression of the will of the people
| OF the State through proper and
duly chosen representative of the State il
the Senate Of the United States, aud tina
said General Assembly has proceeded tC
elect and has elected citizen 10 represent
said State in the Senate Of the UnteC
States for the next Senatorial term, who's
election was made and determined by tb'
votes of members Of the Assembly SO IN
lawfully and unconstitutionally chosen a
aforesaid.
Aud your memorialists further represent
that the majority of said General Assembl!
of said State so Illegally and unjustly elee
ted, have repealed and are threatening q
set aside the laws passed for the protection
Of the law abiding citizens Of the Stat
in their property and civil rights.
And your memoralists further reprosen
that said General Assembly, 80 elected, hav
passed and are now engaged in passing, an'
are threatening TO pass other laws in opsI
violation of the laws and constitution o
said State, which said constitution was &c
copied and adopted by Congress, and il
safeguards for the liberty and rights Of tn
people Of Tennessee ratified aud conhrms
hy the people as a part Of the condition Q
the reception Of the State Of Tennesse9 int
the Union aud representation in Congress
after her rebellion against The Government {
the United States aud attempted sec 'sslol
from the Union.
And your memorialis.s further represer
that a msjori,y Of said Legislature So eloc
, ted. have ordered an election for delegate
TO a convention to altar, change and abrt
! gate said, constitution under which sal
State was permitted by Congress to be n
: stored to the Union which she had violate,
+. and to the rights which she had lost; whic
> said election il is provided in the act orde
. ing the same, shall be held ani determines
: and the votes therein shall be received
z open violation Of the constitution now pr
D teoting the citizens Of Tennessee in thu
q civil aud political tights.
e And your memoriahsts further respectfu
c ly call attention TO the duty OF the Unit
n States 20 guarantee TO every State in th
u Union republican form Of governmsn
i and protect each Of them against domesi
J. violence.
}. And your memorialsts further represo
d that in tho manner before mentioned, q
= rights Of the good citizens Of Tennessee ha
= been violated aud overthrow, and are
y ing set aside by the violent proceedings
- the mob (unler the form Of election bat
= violation Of the constitutional which has nc
"a possession Of the government Of the Stat
~ And your memorialIsts further represe
=, thrt The foundation and essence Of repub
- ear government is just. legal aud prop
: = conduct OF elections, in which each eitiEs
according TO previously ascertalnsd Law
d. NAV exercise his rights as an eleetor in I
!. choice Of those who shall frame aud eIecV
y the laws under which he lives, aud that
NJ the unjust proceedings before set forth, q
n because Of the ab'ogatlon and setting AS
A. All the laws regulating elections in q
X State, at said election, the citizens Of II
W nessee have been and are deprived Of