Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-09-13
The Mob SpirIt--.StOp II.


The Mortified portion of our East Tennessee NOR
slists and such Northern men as have settled down
here and for the sake of money and patronage take
the rebel side in all difficulties and suits that spring
M. are crying out, at every corner Of the street,
against mob law, and against the practice Of whip
ming men for their cruelties during the reign Of reb-
els ss well as that most unlawful practice Of notify
INC certain characters TO leave against given time
We have not word 70 say in defense Of mob law
but, on the contrary, we condemn it in unqualified
terms ~ wrong in principle and practice.
But let US converse with others for brief spell
upon this subject and let us look at both sides Of the
question. -Four years ago, when Tennessee was IN
der the civil rule of Gov. Harris and associates the
Knoxville Jail was crowded with about $50 Union
men confined there for entertaining and expressing
Iovsl sentiments They were fed and treated IKE
dors Among them were Mr.. Cate Baptist mln-
lster Of IS years Mr.. Pope Baptist minister OF ~
vesrs Nj Trewhitt lawyer Of 20 years, Judge
Pickens, State Senator Of 81 years, Mr. Under
down, an old farmer Of SO years, Jacob Harmon,
man Of 20 wears, Mr.. Bible, old man, besides
many Others Of forty and fifty years, down to the
age of eighteen. Some Of these old men died IN
prison. and on steamboats, on their way to Tusca-
Ioo.s and Mobile Others were taken out Of the JAIL
tge AZ a time and hung in Knoxville. The leading
rebels could have prevented all this, and liberated
these men. but believing their punishment just they
refused 10 turn hand in their favor Their love OF
civil law was not then great as 1t Is now
In that Jail we had large tubs made out Of barrels
sawed into two parts. To these We resorted to an
swer the calls Of nature When full they would run
over and run upon the floor, where, IN our crowded
condition, we had TO sleep! Water WAS hauled and
smrtied into barrels out by the side of the JAIL for
Us 20 drink. The dirty blaCkguards appointed to
guard u would wash their faces and hands IN the
barrels and blolg t5sir noses therein, and when re-
monstrated with would reply, a. 1t Is good enough
for id Lincolnite to drink The leading
rebel. Of Knoxville, or Gov Harris could have pre-
vented all this but they were not then SO Jealous II
fsvor Of law and order as now
Old men we're tied up in their own yards, to posts
0r trees and whipped upon their bare backs until
they tainted and in many instances thereafter pierced
through with bullets Young men were hunted
down like wild beasts, and shot down wherever
found Old women and young girls were tied up
at home and whipped 10 force them to tell the con-
script officer where their sons and brothers we're =
Union families were robbed Of all they had TO live
on Union mothers and children were driven out
Of their houses and they and their contents burned
70 the ground because their husbands and sons had
crossed Cumberland Mountains into Kentucky, and
gone into the Lincoln army! All this could have
been prevented by Gov. Harris and the leading
rebels Of East Tennessee, but they were not then
satisfied there was any wrong in all this, or they
we're not in love with law and order,
Meanwhile written notices were served on Union
men, giving them SO long time TO get out Of the
Confederacy and informing them that but one party
could ever hereafter live in this country Failing
% lesve upon fair warning, they stood in pits
dug to their waists dozen at n time, in this very
Knoxville and whipped on their bare back will
leather straps, wet in buckets Of water, to rende
than elastic, The wives and children Of prominen
Union men, who hsd been run out Of the country
we're ordered to pack up and 60 North in glveT
ume-sav So hours-and when started their effect
seized upon and appropriated All this could have
prevented by the leading rebels of East Tennessee
but they were not then afflicted with sense of jus
tee or they had not fallen in love with the laws an,
courts Of the country
Prominent Union men we're seized in our town
md rode upon d rail, by rufian soldiers! Unpro
tec.ed women were marched in their own yards anC
their persons violated by rebel soldiers in open day
Cherokee Indians were brought into this country
and offered so much as Il reward for every Union
,;clp they would bring in All this, and other con-
fsdsrgtc deeds Of like character, could have been
prevented by the leading rebels, had they been th'
friend OF humanity, law and orderl Men wer
thrown into the Knoxville ail-tried by drum-heaC
court martial-sentenced to be hung-and coolly in
formed by a rebel officer that they should be par
doned if they would make oath that Brownlow
Temple and Baxter were engaged in bridge-burn
ing All this, and more, was the work Of the Law
and order party-the men who never did any harm
have taken the amnesty oath and now ask 10 b
LET alone,
Some Of the soldiers driven out Of the countr,
three and four years ago, whose families have bee1
thus abused, have returned The sth eth, and l3tl
Cavalry are here, being mustered cut and paid of
and they arc soon TO be distributed among thei
homes in the counties Of Upper East Tennessee ant
Governor Brownlow Is called upon in loud and elo
9uent terms to stop all attempts at violence. Hell
told that be can stop it if he will-that lie will bt
blamed if he does not stop it-snd that the charac
ter Of the country will suffer if any more acts O.
violence are perpetratod. Governor Brownlow say
that he can't be with several thousand returned sol
diers, dispersed over a dozen counties to see tina
sach man acts with proPrety, and observes the spirit
and letter Of the law. Every county must take care
Of ITSELF and IN order TO this each Sheriff is author
led by law 10 keep a sufficient force employed a
the expense OF the county to keep down all mObs
and if the Sheriff fail to do SO, he neglects sworr
duty. Meanwhile it Is the duty of every good cit
70 aid the Sheriff in keeping the peace, and IL
restoring order where riot breaks out. Wher
lawess acts Of violence occur, It is the sworn duty
Of Grand Jurors to indict the parties and it Is alike
the sworn duty Of the Judges and Attorney General
to have them tried and punished for their acts of vi
clence, without any regard to parties The Cover.
nor SAYS he cannot visit all the officers Of the law in
person and see that they do their duty in all these
particulars. He relies upon the patriotism Of the
proper officers of the law, and hopes and believes
that they will acting from sense Of duty, and OF
their sworn obligations, be prompt and positive in
settling all disturbances, and in arresting ali of
Tenders.
hSo2NlLLE Is tie headquarters Of the commander
o. the Department Of Tennesea Hnnicides 80.
and fracasses are Of frequent ,,.a, IL, ~
Prison walls even furnish no prcta.tio1 ., ,;
VIII some one please inform Us as 10 - al
duties Of the military? whether tbo, - - 'li
II intended as ornaments, they answer the r
exCelently well. Pun Po'e