At the close of the War Between the States, the South lay prostrate. Bridges, railroads, factories were virtually all destroyed. Many farms had only widows or one-legged men to tend them. The fields returned to nature. Livestock, fodder and food was mostly confiscated by armies of both sides. Freeing of slaves wiped out the majority of the South's credit base. There was only hope of investment from the North.

Southerners felt that to be punishment enough. They were ready to return to the Union as loyal Americans and rebuild their lives. President Andrew Johnson, a Southerner himself, wanted to help. He tried to follow the moderate policy formed by Abraham Lincoln. Many pardons were issued to former Confederates willing to take an oath of allegiance. The conquered States began to reform their governments and send representatives to the U.S. Congress.

Many in the North saw things differently. Some wanted to maintain a strong hand in the South to assist the newly freed slaves. Most considered Southerners as traitors to be punished. Someone should pay dearly for the lives lost and money spent in saving the Union.

There were politicians in Washington who meant to take advantage of these feelings. The most extreme were called Radical Republicans. Southerners, many of them former Confederates, were about to return to Congress and they certainly would not vote Republican. The obvious course was to deny them entry. In this, they found themselves at odds with President Johnson, a Democrat. He had a knack for offending them. It was easy for the Radicals to mount an enthusiastic and successful campaign against Johnson and his allies in the Congressional election of 1866.

The new Congress was overwhelmingly Radical. It had the numbers to override any Presidential veto and took control of Reconstruction. In the Spring of 1867, several reconstruction bills was passed. Former Confederate States were put under Military rule. Freed slaves were given the right to vote. Former Confederates had the vote taken away from them. Only Radical governments would be permitted. And, those States would not have a voice in Congress.

Tennessee managed to escape the terms of these bills. It had a head start in forming a Radical government and was readmitted to the Union early. January 8, 1865, Andrew Johnson, as Military Governor of Tennessee, held a convention of loyalists from 59 counties. The result was an election February 22, adopting pro-Union amendments to the constitution and a March 4 election forming a General Assembly with William G. Brownlow as governor.

The new General Assembly opened its session April3, 1865.  Brownlow, a rabid Unionist, was inaugurated two days later and went to work getting the machinery of elections in his own hands. June 5, The Legislature passed the "Arnell Bill" disenfranchising for five years all former Confederates. Exceptions were made only for those who had voted in the November 1864, February 22, or March 4, 1865 elections-or those of well-known Union sympathies who swear they would have, had it been possible.

Lincoln County's State Representative during this time, was Thomas A. Kerchival. He served on the Judiciary Committee that was to recommend one of fifteen versions of a new enfranchisement bill. He and the majority of the committee favored a more moderate version. However, when the more extreme Arnell Bill came up before the full house, he voted aye. William Stewart representing Lincoln and Franklin Counties in the State Senate, was only one of three who opposed the Arnell bill there. They did not vote.

On August 3, Tennessee elected U.S. Congressmen and Senators. Edmund Cooper ran with little opposition the Fourth Congressional seat comprising Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Lincoln, Marshall and Rutherford counties. As a moderate Conservative, he accepted the validity of the new government, but opposed the franchise act.

Those who opposed the extremes of the Brownlow faction and favored the moderate approach of Andrew Johnson, came to be known as "Conservatives". Brownlow knew that if they were not kept under control, he would lose power. He was disappointed with the results of the August elections. only a minority of those elected could be counted on to toe the Radical line.  To save his favorite Samuel Arnell's congressional seat, he had to selectively throw out nearly half his district's votes. Obviously, the franchise restrictions had to be tightened up.

IThe new Assembly began meeting in October, 1865, but it was early 1866 before franchise legislation could be brought up. Conservatives had been stalling. Some refused to vote. Others resigned. By these methods, Conservatives prevented a quorum in the House from February 23 to April 12. One of those who resigned was Thomas H. Bledsoe, representing Lincoln, Marshall and Giles Counties.

To fill the vacancies by-electections were held simultaneously with local county elections on March 31. The results were still disturbing for the Radicals, as many of the conservatives were re-elected to office.  Furthermore, Conservatives swept local offices in county races in West and Middle Tennessee. County Court Clerks were responsible for registering voters. Locally elected Sheriffs were in charge of holding elections.  The need to tighten the franchise law became more urgent.

But, the by-election made it possible to reach quorum by April 17. The votes to pass it were there.  The amending legislation would deny the vote forever to anyone who had ever been associated with the Confederate government in any way. The Governor would appoint his personal "Commissioners of Registration" to appoint local registers and oversee elections.

The bill was sent to the Senate. There, John G. Carrigan, who had replaced William Stewart of Lincoln and Franklin Counties, tried to amend the Senate version. By softening the the stringent oath required, he would have effectively permitted ex-Confederates to vote. The amendment was voted down 14 to 4. The bill passed by a vote of 13 to 6, Carrigan voting no.

Tennessee had elected U.S. Congressmenin in August, but Brownlow was embarrassed when Radical republicans denied them admittance to the U.S. Congress. The price of admittance would be Tennessee's ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Brownlow called the Legislature into extra session in July,1866. Radical John Trimble of Davidson County presented the amendment for ratification. Senator Carrigan, citing the absence of many members, moved that it not be considered and the Senate adjourned. He failed by a vote of 13 to 6. Other attempts by Conservatives failed and the Senate ratified by a vote of 14 to 6.

The amendment had an even harder time in the House. Once again, Conservatives employed their tactics of absenteeism and resignation. Brownlow was forced to resort to some extra-legal maneuvers. The Radicals used every means available to reach a quorum. Negro militia were sent out to bring in absent Conservatives. July 20, the amendment was ratified. To reach the necessary quorum, however, two Conservatives under arrest in a nearby conference room were declared present. But, that didn't matter. July 23, Tennessee was readmitted to the Union.

Another reason Gov. Brownlow came to support the enfranchisement of Negroes, had to do with upcoming elections. The Radicals could not hope to retain control long with only a minority of white votes. Brownlow needed the Negro vote. Early in 1867, the State franchise bill was again amended, giving Negroes voting privileges. Already educated in the Freedmen's Bureau to demand equality, they were now organized in the Radical-controled Union Leagues and marched to the poles. 1,700 of Brownlow's State Guard were sent to Conservative counties to put the fear of God into them.

Company B, First Regiment of the Tennessee State Guard was sent to Lincoln County. Robert Farquharson as "mayor de facto" of Fayetteville set the example by showing Captain G E. Grisham every courtesy. Bars were closed on election day. Local citizens volunteered to accompany militiamen as police. A national flag with "Etheridge" flew from the courthouse dome. There were complaints of Negro voters carrying arms, but all went off well. Grisham reported that local white Radicals could be counted on the fingers, but were "firm as the rock of ages".

Another factor contributing the the election outcome, was Gov. Brownlow's earlier setting aside the registrations for Lincoln, Franklin and Coffee counties and ordering new ones. For many whites in these counties, their only basis for registration was having voted in the February and March 1865 elections. The poll books for Lincoln County were discovered missing. For this reason, many whites could not prove their right to vote and were denied certificates of registration.

The result was to be expected.  A small number of white Radicals and the newly enfranchised blacks carried the day for Brownlow. Gov. Brownlow defeated Conservative Emerson Ethridge in the August 1867 elections.  Edmund Cooper lost his congressional seat to James Mullins.  John Carey was elected representative of Lincoln, William Wyatt as Senator for Lincoln and Franklin Counties. These last two held their offices for the rest of Gov. Brownlow's term. Republicans were to hold absolute political power in Tennessee for two more years. (TO BE CONTINUED)