Year: 1865

Nashville, July 10th, 1862 J
WHEREAS, 1t has been made known TO me that
! in many parts of Middle and Western Tennessee
kOse who have lately been in rebellion against the
United States with their friends and sympathizers
and with hands yet red with the blood of loyal
people, either openly defying or indirectly set
ting at naught an important law of the land;


And whereas, it is made the duty of the Governor,
by the constitution and his oath of office, "to take
care that the laws be faithfully executed
Therefore, !, WILLIAM G. BRowNLow, Governor
Of the State of Tennessee do proclaim that the act
Of the General Assembly, passed June 5th, 1865 en-
titled an act to limit the Elective Franchise" hay-
ing been deliberately passed under an express au-
thOrity delegated to said General Assembly by the
convention of the people of the 9Th of January
1865 which delegation Of power was solemnly rati-
fed by the people, and proclaimed by the Military
Governor behalf of the United States as part Of
the organic law of the State, Is THE SUPREME LAW
OF THE LAND, and will be rigidly enforced at any
and all hazards or cost; and all persons who shall
band themselves together for the purpose of defeat
ing the execution Of said law will be declared in re-
bellion against the State of Tennessee and will be
dealt with as rebels.


And / do proclaim, that no person is entitled TO
vote at any election in this State without he shall
have first actually proved by testimony, lgasT oath
that he comes within the provisions of the Ist sec
tion of said law: and shall have obtained a eertif-
cate Of registration prescribed by said law, upon
such proof III fact made And that the votes of all
persons and Of all counties contrary to the strict pro-
visions of said law will be thrown out and not taken
into account at the Office of the Secretary of State


! do further proclaim, that said law requires that
erey candidate for office shall take the oath prescrb
ed by the 7th section Of said act and person
can be candidate until he shall have properly Ia
ken and subscribed said oath; and do declare that
any person pretending to be a candidate for Con-
gress or other office who shall fail to take and sub
scribe said OATH and file the in the office Of the
Secretary Of State, on or before the third day Of
August next, will not be treated candidate, and
all votes cast for such person will not be taken into
account.


And call upon the civil authorities TO arrest and
bring to justice all persons who under the pretense
Of being candidates for Congress or other office
travelling over the State denouncing and multiplying
the constitution and the laws of the land and spread
ing sedition and a spirit Of rebellion.


And also command and require all Clerks Of the
County Court and judges of election, faithfully and
strictly TO perform, and not Grade, the responsible
trust confded to them by said law and l sOlonnly
warn them that they viii be held to strict account
for any failure in this respect.


In testimony whereof ] have hereunto subscribed


my name and caused the Great Seal Of


L. ;. the State TO be affixed, at the Depart
49, ment this 10th day Of July, 1855.


BY the Governor:


WILLIAM q. BROwNLow.


A. J. FLETCHER, Secretary Of State.