Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-04
IwPoRrEp VOTERS.

IMPORTED VOTERS.
Here is a matter that should be
looked to with the greatest possible
vigilance by the Davidson county Dem
ocratic and Conservative Executive |
Committee. Every means that dishon-
est ingenuity can suggest will be used
to secure the defeat of the White Mans
ticket, not the least dangerous OF which
may be reckoned the importation OF
negroes from Kentucky and from ad-
Joining counties in this State where
their votes avail nothing against the
superior numerical strength OF the
whites. The trick is being already
played elsewhere, as is shown by the
following editorial article which we
take from the Memphis Ledger:
There is growing evidence that the
Radicals depend upon Arkansas and
Mississippi voters to help them out IN
the coming election. We hear 1T from
every direction, and can assure our
readers that they expect to have from
five hundred to two thousand voters
from these States in Shelby county be-
fore next Thursday. The importation
will not be made in bulk in special
trains or by chartered steamboats,, but
from day to day. They are expected to
drop in almost unnoticed until a ma
iority Is assured for the civil rights
party. Let the people look out for
these strangers, who even now are
prowling about the streets begging for
something to eat. Every man is re-
quired to vote IN his own ward or disc
trict, and the people, if they viii, can
identify every resident entitled to vote,
and keep out the interlopers who come
mp from other States to NEEDLE IN our
local affairs We hope that all such
detected in attempting to cast an He
gal vote viii be hustled off to jail. All
we want is fair contest IN this cleo
ton, for if only legal voters are admit
ted to the ballot-box we can beat the
Radical ticket so badly that it will not
soon be heard from again.
At the other end of the State the
same villainous prostitution of the
ballot-box is TO be attempted. The
KaoguiHe Press and Herald of Sunday
says:
The train ON the Knoxville and Ohio
railroad, which arrived In the city at
1870 O'Clock, yesterday morning,
brought about thirty negro laborers
from the Cincinnati Southern railroad,
who were sent for by the ''ring," to
vote the "ring" ticket on election day.
One of these being accosted by a clti-
zen, and questioned, admitted that he
belonged below Sweetwater," and had
not been In Knoxville before except
when here one week awaiting the get
ting up of sufficient number of hands
for the Cincinnati Southern railroad.
He said he was paid to come here, and
was to Ebe paid while here, and that he
was brought here to vote the ''ring"
ticket next Thursday.
A respected citizen called on us, last
night, and informed us that IN coming
in from Powell's Station, on the K.
and o. railroad, last evening, he over
took a party of negroes making their
way to Knoxville. Suspecting their
errand, he talked with them, and they
told him they had walked from the
Kentucky line, where they had been at
work on the Cincinnati Southern Rail-
road, and were going to Knoxville to
vote the ring" ticket. They said they
had left their work on Wednesday
morning and had walked all the way,
having been promised 50 each per day
| if they would come to Knoxville and
vote. They said they were going to
vote for "Massa Gossett." Their faces
were noe familiar to our informant, who
is an old citizen of Knoxville, and
believes he could tell Knoxville col
\ ored man without fail.
Another batch of these Civil Right
ers are expected to-day, on the 1880
| o'clock train on the Knoxville and
Ohio Railroad. 1t is safe to say, not
one in five has any right to vote in
Knoxville.
Let every train and turnpike be
watched from to-day until the close of
the polls. Never was there an election
in which, forewarned, it was more i'm.
portant for us to be forearmed.