The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-11
Free speech in tho Cotton states
Slave Law.

Free speech i'm the Cotton States
Slave Law.
R, s. Tharin, of Alabama, formerly
aw-partner of William L. Yancey, has
recently published book giving his ex-
perience in the South. Inasmuoh as Mr..
Tharin has been quite favorite orator
at the Conservative meetings in the North
recently, we presume that the Oonserva-
tives will accept his testimony in refer
ence to the latitude given TO speech in
the South, and not toss it aside as the
rant of an unreliable radical. Hear him:
VIGILANCE Committees.
'In order to defend the South and
her Institutions from the encroachments
of the public opinion of Christendom
and the uncomfortable juxtaposition Of
light with darkness, secret leagues and
associations were inaugurated, consisting
entirely of sworn conspirators, who, be-
ing silently armed with the stolen guns
of the unsuspecting government, resisted
the laws by seizing the forts, arsenals
aud property of that government, to the
great astonishment Of the uniDitiated of
both the South and the North. Thus,
possessing all the implements of military
power, this diabolical mob stiaed every
breath of remOnstrance, and almost eve
ry thought of resistance. Some of the
oppressed and insulted Unionists my
self among the number) openly opposed
the reign of terror, which was studious-
ly produced by Yancey and his col
leagues False imprisonments, murders,
expatriation, cruel and unusual punish
ments'-the torture by cowhide, tar and
feathers, and fence rails, public and pri-
vate onfscations-these were the coer-
Gives which ensued, and which immola-
ted, on the very affairs whorton these men
had sought 20 sacrifice their country, the
freedom Of the press and the liberty of
speech"
Here is a specimen of Southern law in
1859;
"No sooner had l opened my law Office
in Wetumpka, than an opportunity oc-
Cured for me TO risk something for the
sake of my oath One of the poor white
trash was dragged down to the margin
of the river, laid across log, and whip.
\ ped by throng of blackguards, on the
charge that he sold liquor 10 negroes.
They had charged him onae with being
a negro, and, afterwards, with assOciating
with negroes. He was ridden on a rail
until bis clothes were literally torn of
his body. From the Intel Of his own
door he was repeatedly hanged until he
was black in the face"
Because Mr.. Tharin took the part Of
this non. STAKEHOLDER, only 80 far as to
engage TO defend his suit in court, he
says he became the most unpopular man
in Wetumpka. Bat he did that which
was more criminal yet in the sight Of the
Shareholders
"There was another cause which pla-
ced me in an unpopular attitude in Ala
bamA. ! had advocated, in a series OF
articles in the Wetumpka Enqp:rer, the
establishment of small farms, and the
use of the water power of the falls and
rapids OF the Coosa, which flows through
that village | had proved the injurioui
effects upon The people Of overgrowr
plantations, and had expressed the be.
lief that Wetumpka would soon eclipse
Montgomery, should judioious applica-
tion be made of the water-power and
the mineral, medicinal, aud agricultural
implements Of success which abound
all around aud within her. also adyo'
Gated the abolition of all monopolies
such as the penilentiary system, by
which the crime Of the State was enga-
ged in industrial pursuits, to iae loss oI
the yirtuous poor mechanic, Inoyerwai
popular with the cotton planters aftei
that. Small farms would benefit the
masses, aud that would iniure them
agricultural pursuits would make whit
men SEQ their interests, and that WoulO
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