Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-02-06
Editor Herald and Tribune.
GOVERNORSHIP,
What Does II Mean, and What VIII
II Cost?

knew these facts: First-That he was
beaten by what has 80 often been said
and written, the face of the returns
the legal returns, sem up as required
by law from all the counties of the
State. Second-He knew that if that
vote of the State was purged of every
illegal ballot cast, that the plurality
against him would be increased to not
less than 5000, and probably to as
much as 5000 votes. Third-That his
suggestion to the General Assembly of
a plan to allow him to contest the
vote" as he styled 1t, instead of con-
testing Evans election in the usual
way, would make the investigation, If
possible, so complicated and lengthy as
to either occupy most of the two years
official term or, that his partisans
could stop at a place convenient for
them to declare by resolution that he
was legally elected. He knew further,
and he knows today, that WHAT is called
the contest law, and which, as a naked
usurper and revolutionist, he approved
as up. Turney, Cow" was and is in
plain and open contravention of the
organic law of the State and, that for
the Legislature to attempt to execute
it on any reasonable line of fairness
and thoroughness would cost the tax.
payers of the State not less than $780,
000-probably largely more, and would
cover a period of time equal to or great.
err than a full term of office. At the
same time, his very small measure and
low quality of patriotism led him not
to care for the charter laws, property
interests, or welfare of the State, so he
could hold on to a position of profit to
which the people had refused to elect
him and in addition, aid a clique of
his conspirator friends to drain the pub.
lie treasury by mean of a system of
jobbery which the people disapproved.
He and his McCorry advisors not only
knew the above facts, but they knew
further that Evans, in his searching
canvas, had most fully exposed the dis.
honest jobbery inaugurated, and that
as Governor he would put an end to
their evil schemes. That, to them, ter
rible fact, is why the penitentiary ring,
the coal-oil- brigade and the
liquor-dealers' compromise. tax. adjust.
ers came so solidly to Peters aid, mar
shalled LOBBYIST McCorry, using him as
a tool to cut square across and gouge
out one of the clearest, plainest and
most direct features of the constitution
of the State. To illustrate the force of
the leading point above stated: Turney
and his aids refer to districts of Wash
ington County" where they alleged
poll tax law frauds in voting were per-
petrated. The presumption is, that
the committee will not get as far down
the alphabetical list as the VS. before
the General Assembly holdover ma.
jority stops the mill and resolves that
"P. Turney is Governor" but should
they get to old Washington, what will
be the first feature of business before
the "a a day with mileage and other
expenses, committee 7 Suppose they
summon the judges and officers of the
election precincts before them. If the
witnesses answer yes to the committee's
inquiries, they criminate themselves az
v~iolators of the law; so, they may leg
ally refuse to answer. If they answer,
however, and say, yes, A B and c OF
ever down to three voted without st ow.
ing proof of having paid poll tax: the
next question is, who did they vote for:
The answer would be, we have no means
of knowing. Then, the voters in aues
ton would have to be summoned. They
can also legally refuse to criminate
themselves by answering. 1t follows.
therefore, that the only legal evidence
attainable by the committee would be
witnesses other than the officers of the
election and the wrongful voters; and
these could only prove that the persons
in question voted without having paid
a poll tax; but, as to whether they voted
for Governor; and if 80, whether fol-
Evans or Turney or Minis no Que able
to tell could be legally required to do
80. There would be but two things
reasonably certain: First-Heavy cost,
expenses would be piled up fast and
high for the tax payers to discharge;
and second-The testimony obtained
would be utterly worthless, unless the
simple point Of votes cast without poll
tax payment is to be acced an as ground
for throwing out the entire vote of the
district or county. Is that to be the
mode of the hold over action? If SO,
how will the people like itp That,
really, is the only possible mode of pro-
ceeding; yet if that plan he adopted,
Evans attorneys / have reasons to
know,) hold proof that will swell his
plurality to 5000, OF more: but, what
will it be worth to himp Simply moth.
ing before the hold over legislative ma
jority. Men who will violate their
oaths of Office in open disregard three,
six, OF ten thousand majorities, if in
the way of their scheme of u%surpation
and revolutions; therefore, it seems
probably certain that P. Turney, Nc.
Cory & Co will be declared Governor.
And this too is u centennial year.
Poor old dishonored Tennessee! II the
State is to be thus disgraced by its
rulers, let US ask the outside world to
overlook our hundredth anniversary
and let us, il we can, forget the date.
There is, however, n redeeming feat.
ure about the situation. The best ele-
ments of the Democratic party and it's
foremost influential newspapers, daily
and weekly, are right on the question
and denounce in unmeasured terms the
action Of the lawless conspirators at
Nashville. In this connection let me
say that l have felt an interest in know
ing what the position of State s Demo.
cratic Senators and Representative are
on the subject. Harris and at least six
of the Representatives have enough pos
sible interest in the result to cause them
to speak out if opposed to the usurping
group. OLD REPUBLICAN.
TELF0RD.