Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-13
1tnium and american.
FRIDAY. APRIL Is. 1866.
GEN. FORREST IUSTIFIED---THE LE-
GAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE.

GEN. FORREST JUSTIFIED---THE LIZ
GAL PROCEEDINGiSIN IN THE CASE.
From the Memphis AUalahohe Of Tuesday
we take the following account of the pro-
ceedings had in the case of General For
rest for killing the negro Tom. Edwards:
On Sunday, the county magistrates, the
General having given himself up, being Of
opinion that the killing was justitiable,
bound him over in the sum Of five hundred
dollars for his appearance at the Circuit
Court of Coahoma county, Judge Herger,
which met on yesterday at Friars Point.
On Tuesday last, Captain Coils, Of the
Freedmen's Bureau, at Vicksburg, arrived
at the scene with orders TO investigate the
affair After most patient and laborous
investigation, ia which he was freely aided
by the General, he returned 10 Nicksburg,
satisfied that the evidence had developed
nothing 10 Justify him in taking any steps
against the General. He was, we understand,
satiated with the article called negro evil
dence 10 his hearts content particularly
with that Of the disconsolate widow, whom
he regarded as the most improbable swearer
he had ever heard. He is an old army Of
Gcer. a native and citizen Of Connecticut.
He expressed himself highly pleased with
Gen. Forests management Of the freedmen,
saying that his plantation, in all its details
of comfort hours Of labor, recreation, &c,
eKcelled any plantation in advantage to the
freedmen, he had seen. He demonstrated
with General Forrest against his indulgence
TO the freedmen, rs productive Of the
decentralization which operated so prejudice
ally to him.
I-f l. =. l. h. .1aftu
fed advances Of too liberal a character had
been made 10 them. He was informed that
the General permitted them 10 purchase and
carry firearms, and as an officer of the Freed
mems Bureau, he ordered him not TO tolerate
this habit He also protested against pow
der being furnished them to go hunting,
which he was advised General Forrest was
in the habit Of furnishing them upon re-
quest Altogether, 81" he said, in view
Of the new and novel condition Of this
people, you are granting them indulgences
injurious 10 fair test of the new system,
preiudicial TO their best interests and hurtful
10 your own as the compensating employer
of their labor"
On the night after the occurrence, some
dissatisfaction was manifested by the negroes
with reference to the killing, feeling arising
more from the fact that the deceased was Of
their own color, a distinction which, in their
new condition, they arrogate to themselves,
entities them TO every kind of immunity,
rather than to any conviction on their part
that General Forrest was not justified. The
dissatisfaction did not develope itself in any
open threats or attempts at violence; but
consisted in gathering Of the negroes
around the Generals house. He addressed
them from the porch, after which they quiz
city dispersed, apparently satisfied that he
had done right.
Some eighteen Of them, consisting Of
men women and children, after the arrival
Of the officers of the Freedmen's Bureau,
expressed themselves disinclined TO continue
longer in the service of Gen. Forrest. Out
of some two hundred hands employed by
the General, this number affords proper
estimate of the disa1ected. How expressive
a commentary! Only eighteen of nearly
two-hundred Of the fellow. laborers of the
deceased, in the present disordered condi-
ton of the negro mind, to practically ex-
press their disapprobatiOn of the killing
would seem 10 indicate a general satisfaction
that il could not well have been avoided.
Gen. Forrest at once expressed his willing
ness 30 the officers Of the Freedmen's Bu-
reau present 10 release them from their con-
tracts, which was accordingly done, and
new contracts Immediately into with
new employers who were present, and the
same ratified by the Bureau. On Sunday
before the hour Of the departure of these
mistaken creatures for their new homes.
They waited ON Gen. Forrest and begged
10 reconsider their determination, abandon
their new engagements, and return to the
service which they had 80 hastily and with
out proper reflection or just cause, aban-
doned; they wished 10 continue in
the condition of comfort provided
for them 10y the General which
they had 50 improvidently thrown off F;
but the firm chieftain told them that they
had once elected 10 leave him, and that
upon no consideration could he be induced
% retain in his service, any who were at all
dissatisfied with his course as an employer,
or had shown 50 little appreciation of his
untiring efforts TO make them happy and
comfortable. One begged so hard, that the
General finally consented that he might stay
In view of the action of these parties, Gen
eral Forrest suggested 10 Captain Coils,
that owing 10 the absence of an officer OF the
Freedmens Bureau from Coahoma county
at the time Of the contracts with has negroes,
the same had never heen approved by the
Bureau, and that therefore all Of his en-
ployes might be, and so far as he was con-
cerned, were free TO leave him. Accordingly,
Captain Coils, on Thursday last, assembled
all the negroes on the place, and informed
chem 10 that effect He told them that they
were at liberty 10 leave or make new con-
tracts, whereupon, all with the exception
referred 10 made new contracts, and decided
70 remain with the General, which, being
reduced 10 writing, was approved by Capt.
Coils, and General Forrest was for the first
time possessed Of binding covenant or
their part with his employees. This evinces
the esteem in which they hold him and his
service.