Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-30

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TIE PEACE OF THE CITY-TaE POLICE.
Several nights the past week, the usual
quiet and peace Of our city have been dis
turbed BY soldiers, armed aud unarned
The immediate occasion Of the disturbance
slice Christmas nigh!, =i,en one Of the lob
regulars was killed and smother wounded,
in saloon in one Of the most disrepu:able
portions Of the city, is assumed to be that
unfortunate affair, which aroused in the
breasts Of the soldiery sleeping feelings of
revenge 1t is alleged that the csslduot Of
the police, and the action of our courts,
even, have been such as 10 create the i'm
preston that these conserEalors of the laws
are governed as much By their prejudices
and hates as by their love of Justice, when
ever soldier in blue commits an offence
IL these things were true, il would not JUS
tity, though IT might palliate, in some de-
gree, the ofenses OF soldiers against the
laws. They are as amensble as
other classes of citizens for vialation of
the civil laws, and should be as promptly
arrested and punished. Tennessee IA nov
State restored TO her proper relations
with the Union-her civil organization
complete, andin no way subordinate tomili-
tary authority. II the soldiers, sent here
by the general government, cannot behave
themselves quietly and deeenuy when they
visit our city, and their officers do not
wish to see them punished, let them re-
main in barracks
But the allegations referred TO above are
not true. The police Of Nashville have no
ill-will towards the soldiers; on the con
trary, have shown many Of them favors,
refraining from arresting them until the
last moment, when forbearance could be
praeticed no longer with safety to society;
and have kindly escorted others outside |
Of the limits of the city, and put them on
their way to camp. 1t has not been
many months since Major General |
Thomas, General Donaldson, General |
Whipple, Chaplain Lawrence, of the Freed |
mems Bureau, and Others bore testimony |
to the efficiency and good conduct of our |
police. The same men are on duty now
they have not changed their natures, neither |
have they sWerved from the line Of their |
dusies Mayor Brown has ever been zeal !
Gus, yigilant, and faithful in the discharge |
OF his ofheial responsibilities; prompt to |
see the errors and faults Of those under |
him, and as prompt TO correct them-to |
protect the soldier as the citizen. His adj |
ministratiye ability, tact and discretion |
have won the appreciation Of both the civil |
and military authorities. The courts have |
executed the laws impartially, but firmly; |
and no one has felt the penalty of violated |
law without having a fair hearing.
Within the past week new commander, |
Gen. kautz, has assumed command of this
post. Commencing his duties in the midst
OF the excitement following the murder Of
soldier, and uninformed as TO the past
history Ofthe police Of Nashville, it is not
Improbable that he may have been unfa-
vOrably impressed by what he has seen and
heard since his arrival. We ask him not
to form hasty or er Parte opinion, but TO
investigate closely, and ascertain the real
state of things W ich have and do prevail
here. When he shall have done this, we
are satisfied he will gladly cooperate with
Mayor Brown, as Gen. Thomas and others
have done, in all proper measures to pre-
serve the peace and to protect op,r citizens
against the evil practices Of soldiers. This
is all that is wanted, and it is due to the
city and the government of which General
kautz is a distinguished representative.