Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-12

Cry HALL. Nashville, Tennessee, May & lS6G-
10 tie GcncrH lSscnJiV Of the State Of TcIHcs.ee:
The members of the city of government of the
city Of Nashville respectfully represent to your
honorable body that it has very lately come to
the knowledge of your petitioners that by amend
mcut to the Metropolitan Police Bill, the pro-
visions of the same made to apply to this city
Before the final passage of that measure we ask
of your honorable body consideration of the
facts contained in, and the considerations Sug-
gested by, the following statement
Your petitioners do not profess to he better in
formed than the members of your honorable bO-
dy rs concerning the condition Of the ponce ser
vice OfOthcr cities of our State; nor do we assume
to cnlighten your honorable body by any argu-
mentS touching upon the general policy of the
measure in question. But your petitioners re-
spectfully ask that the city of Nashville be not
included in the provisions of the Dill in question
in view of the following considerations:
At the time the present administration of the
CITY government came into power, in October
1865, the city was filled with the confusion and
crime which might have been expected from the
peculiar situation of Nashville Mt the close Of the
war. Murder, robbery and theft were of daily
and nightly occurrence, both in the city and sub
urbs aud general outlawry and disorder prevail
ed. We your petitioners, spared neither time,
labor or expense to the city in providing and un-
usually large and efficient police force, selected
with reference to the high qualifications of the
members thereof, many of them being experts in
the service and nearly all men of experience.
The political prOclyitieS of the men selected has
not been subject otinquiry, but we believe that
il is generally understood that the city police
will refrain from interference with matters OUT
outside the sphere of their legitimate duties.
The result of the efforts of the city admnistra-
ton and police was the prompt reduction TO order
of the territory embraced within the city limits,
while crime and disorder still continued in some
of the surbubs. About the 18th of January last,
part of the territory North of the city annex
ed to our jurisdiction. Much disorder continued
in that suburb up to its anneXa ion, which disap-
peared within n few weeks thereafter. The ter
ritory West of the city has been annexed within
the last few weeks, the citizens of that suburb be-
ing willing to burden themselves with the heavy
taxation Of the corporation in order to secure as
the principal consideration the protection of our
excellent police force.
The city police have acted in harmony and good
accord with the military force in and about the
city, and with the officers of the Frcelmens Blu
reau and indeed no complaint is made of them
in any quarter of general charter.
We. therefore, your petitioners, for ourselves,
and representing, as we believe, almost or alto
geher the entire voice Ofthe people of Nashville,
earnestly pray your honorable body that the city
of Nashville may not be included in the pTOviS-
ions of the " Metropolitan Police Bill
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN LELLYETT,
NJ. ID. A. NOLEN,
GEO. ;. KINNEY,
JAMES NJ. BRIEN
A. j. DUNCAN,
Committee Of City Council.