PROCLAMATION – State of Tennessee, Executive Department, Nashville, April 12, 1867
Whereas, the General Assembly, on the 8th day of March 1867, passed an act the 3rd and 4th sections of which are in the words and figures following to-wit:
Section 3: “Be it further enacted, that the registration in the county of Davidson, heretofore had under the Franchise Act of May 3, 1866, be and is hereby declared null and void, and no person shall be entitled to vote by virtue of any certificate issued under said registration.”
Section 4: “Be it further enacted, that the provisions of this act shall extend to any other county in this State when it shall appear to the satisfaction of the Governor that frauds and irregularities have intervened in the registration of voters in such county, and the Governor shall make known such fact and set aside said registration by proclamation.”
And whereas, it has been made to appear to the satisfaction of the Governor that frauds and irregularities have intervened in the registration of voters in our counties of Benton, Coffee, Franklin, HARDEMAN, Humphreys, Lincoln, Stewart and Wilson.
Now, therefore, I, William G. BROWNLOW, Governor of the State of Tennessee, by virtue of the power conferred, and in discharge of the duties imposed upon me by the 3rd and 4th sections above recited, of the act passed March 8th, 1867, do hereby set aside, and declare null and void, all registration of voters heretofore had in said counties of Benton, Coffee, Franklin, HARDEMAN, Humphreys, Lincoln, Stewart and Wilson, except such registration as has been or shall be made by the respective Commissioners of Registration in said counties appointed under the provisions of the act of February 25th, 1867, entitled, “an act to alter and amend an act passed May 3, 1866,” and no person in either of said counties shall be entitled to vote by virtue of any certificate issued by any Commissioners appointed under the provisions of the act passed May 3rd, 1866.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the Great Seal of the State to be affixed at the Executive Department in Nashville, this 12th day of April, A.D., 1867.
By the Governor,
W. G. BROWNLOW
“It has been made to appear to the satisfaction of the Governor that frauds have been perpetrated in the county of HARDEMAN,” says W. G. BROWNLOW. Three hundred loyal voters in this county, and his own chosen officer, ask him for the name of him, who made it appear that “irregularities and frauds have intervened in the registration of voters” in Hardeman. Will he particularize more and generalize less?
The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.), 20 April 1867, Page 2. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
