Year: 1867

To admit, as the Governor declares, that
the Legislature intended to take the ap-
pointment Of judges Of elections from the
County Court and give it to the Com>
missioner, is to presume outside of the
plain written law, that the dominant ma
jority Of that body were fatally bent upon
robbing the people of all liberty, and con-
ferring the sole power of the State in the |
hands Of the Governor, he being a candi-
date for reelection. But we must construe
the legislature to mean what they have
plaialy said in the law. That Is, that the
Commissioner Of Registration is substituted |
for the Sheriff, and the Sheriff had only
the contingent power to appoint, when the |
County Court failed to do so, or the courts
appointees failed to serve. We now sub
init to the calm deliberate judgement of
the people of the State, if the request to the
County Courts in our circular issued few
days since, was any thing more or less,
than request that the laws Of the land be
enforced for the public peace and pros-
perity of the State, and to give the people
the benefit of the laws of the land And
we cannot doubt, but that every well in
formed lawyer in the State who will take
the pains to carefully investigate the sub
ject will fully concur with said committee
in said circular address. But the Gov
ernor expressly declares in his proclama-
tion that the people of his State shall
not have the benefits of her laws That if
the County Courts appoint judges to hold
the elections they shall be punished. If
the judges discharge their duties under
the laws they shall be punished. That he
will declare all elections void held by said
Judges, that he and the Commissioners APP
pointed by himself will hold the elections
in his own way, and that he will use the
militia at his command to enforce his will
with the sword and the bayonet, if need be,
thus to execute his purpose, and that
he will bring to bear the whole power
Of the State to execute the franchise law.
No one asks for anything more than fair
and honest execution of the franchise law,
until the Supreme Court of the United
States shall have determined its validity.
No one ever doubted that the real object of
the militia organization of the State was
created to overawe and intimidate the
people and control the elections in the
State. The Governor cannot divest him
self of the belief that he is the State gov
eminent, and all who oppose his unwise and
ruinous policy are opposed to the State
government The great body of the people
care but little who hold the Offices and make
the laws, provided the laws are made and
executed in the interest Of the people. But
as the laws are now shaped and executed,
bat little of constitutional liberty and free
republican government remains in the
State. The people were never more dis
posed to be peaceable and law-abiding, and
under wise and humane laws The people
would be restored to peace, friendship and
prosperity, and the State would start off in
a new career of future greatness. But
Governor Brownlow emphatically declares
that the franchise law enacted at his sug-
gestion and for his benefit and that of his
partisans shall be executed as he interprets
it, at the point Of the bayonet if need be-
| The bill of rights declares that all elections
shall be free and equal. This cannot be
! without strife and bloodshed Must the
people submit to the misrule and oppression
which now prevails throughout the State?
The Governor so intends and declares. 1t
is his ayowed purpose to retain the power
and control of the State in the hands of
himself and his weak faction, by excluding
four ffths of the white citizens from the
exercise of the elective franchise. The Gov
| ernor and his partisans are unwilling to


submit their popularity and fitness for
office TO the free and unbiased vote of all
the citizen of the State qualified and en-
titled to vote. So conscious was he that his
despotic policy, welded over a peaceable
and helpless people, had rendered him OBJ
noxious to ali who desire peace, friendship,


happiness and prosperity, that if left to the
people to vote, at a free and equal election,
! they would select Conservative men to rule
the State hence, the franchise law was
enacted to exclude as near as possible, the
| white voters of the State from the elective
franchise And by force of the franchise
Law with the aid Of the militia, the Gov


ernor and MS partisans hope to retain the
control of the State for two years more.
The mere fact that man is white, is prima
fdcie evidence that he has no right to vote,
though he and his ancestors may have been


born and raised in the State, aud he is


forced to prove his loyalty with every pre-


sumption against him, unless he is person


ally known to the commissioner, before he


can obtain certificate TO vote /; (or it may


be, if he belongs to the Loyal League uouch-
ers are easily o5tained.) Notwithstanding all


these hagrant outrages upon the lib


critics and privileges of the people


in republican State of this sUnion,


protesting against the assumption OF


unwarranted power by the Governor,


the Central Committee advise the peo-


pie, for the peace and good order of socie-


ty, TO submit to these wrongs. Submit to


the laws in good faith, whatever they may


be. Let every man who can vote 60 to


the polls and vote for good and loyal men.


Use all legal aud peaceabie means in your


reach to put good and true Union men IN


power who will restore all men, Of every


race and color, to liberty, freedom and


equality before the law. Then your re-


demption viii be at hand.


While the Committee regard the recent


proclamation Of Governor Brownlow as


extraordinary and without a parallel in


history, and in clear violation Of the laws


of the land, ard intended to ineite his