Disunion and Restoration in Tennessee: Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Political Science, Columbia University — John Shaqi
Disunion and Restoration in Tennessee: Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Political Science, Columbia UniversityNeal, John Randolph
History
Disunion and Restoration in Tennessee: Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Political Science, Columbia University
Neal, John Randolph
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877) -- Tennessee; Tennessee -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865; Thesis (Ph. D.)
Mr. Stokes thus defined his position: “When the killing of Union men
ceases, the hellish organization of Ku-Klux is abandoned, and the laws
are observed, then I am willing to entertain a proposition to amend
the State constitution so far as to allow the disfranchised to come in
gradually, by providing that the Legislature may by a two thirds vote
remove the disabilities for those who petition, and come well
recommended by their loyal neighbors.”
After these declarations of principles the struggle became one of
paramount importance to the whole people of the State.
As the time for the election approached, and the official registration
began, signs of uneasiness appeared among the supporters of Mr.
Stokes. They felt confident that the majority of the Radical votes
were for their candidate, but they realized that Governor Senter was
“master of the situation.” He had control of the same machinery
Governor Brownlow had employed so successfully in changing the results
of Congressional and State elections. Would Governor Senter use this
in his own behalf, thus destroying the Radical party with an
instrument of their making? This question was asked and discussed both
upon the stump and in the newspapers.
The election occurred on the 5th day of August. At the same time the
election for the State Legislature was held. The issue was the same as
in the gubernatorial contest――that is, universal suffrage or continued
disfranchisement. Contrary to expectations, the election passed
without any serious conflicts or disturbances of the peace. The result
was not long in doubt. It could be seen on the following day from the
partial returns that Governor Senter had been elected by an enormous
majority.
The official returns were as follows:
SENTER. STOKES.
East Tennesssee 23,877 22,471
Middle ” 58,646 19,149
West ” 37,681 13,209
------- ------
120,204 54,874
54,874
------- ------
Senter’s majority 65,330
The Conservative candidates to the Legislature, who stood upon the
same platform as Governor Senter, were elected almost to a man.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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