Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-17

account Of 8 threatened mob or "rising" Of
the negro population of this place upon the
whites-to be predicated upon the fact Of
the hiring Of some forty-seyen negroes out
Of the workhouse by cotton planter, a few
days ago. q 60 70 The Mississippi river to
labor on plantation under contract. The
accounts alI state that the runor was ground
less and that the freedmen Of the city had
no such purpose as Was supposed. The ne
groes Of this city are as intelligent and
thrifty as any other equal number to be
found anywhere, and are as observant of
their obligations to the laws and their Tela-
tons to society They have generally de-
meaned themselves prudently and deco
rously, and have received treatment from
the white people % inst and considerate as
to justify their good behavior, and to leave
no exciting antag0nism between the two
races. The negroes have no just cause Of
complaint against the people Of Nashville,
and we are gratifed to know that they
know and appreciate the fact. Hnow, or at
any future time, there should occur scenes Of
violence between the whites and blacks here.
it will be the result Of superseryiceable and
atrocious eiEorGsof few discOntentedan dbad
men, who are striving to produce differences
and 10 foment violence. II is to this class
that we ascribe the excitement which was
attempted in this community-not origin
ating with the negroes, but those who would
WELD their presence and excite their pas
sions TO violence for their own base nd
selfish purposes. We are rejoiced that our
freedmen were too honest and just-minded
to enter into the villainous scheme. As to
who these parties are we have certain infor-
nation, which it is now unnecessary to re-
fer to more particularly, but which we will
use whenever it becomes necessary.
The following are, in brief the general
facts Of the matter. For years there has
been law against vagrancy in this city, as
in most others. Under it both whites and
blacks have been, from time to time, arrest
ed, fined, and upon failure to pay the fines,
placed in the workhouse, at an ascertained
daily stipend until the fine was discharged.
A general law Of the corporation provides
that the parties so committed, may "pay out"
at any time previous to the expiration Of
the sentence by paying the amount of the
fine unextinguished by labor up to the time
the payment is proposed.
A week or 50 ago the police Of the city in
discharge Of their duty, arrested number
Of vagrant negroes, who were brought be-
fore the Recorder, examined, convicted and
sent to the workhouse. Subsequently, Messrs.
CHEATHAM and BEECH, who are planting
cotton on the Mississippi river, some seventy
Eve miles below Napoleon, in Arkansas, de-
string 70 employ laborers to gather their
crop, vent to the workhouse in this city to
endeavor 10 engage such Of the negroes that
were there, as were willing 10 go, and to
"pay them OUT in the first place, and then
to give them fair wages afterwards. They
were called up, and the proposition was
made. Forty-seyen accepted. tAey then
went to the Recorder and stated their will
ingness to comply with the law in the pre-
mises, and to pay the fines of those who
agreed to go; and the Recorder thereupon
ordered the keeper of the wOrkhouse to re-
lease them from confinement" Every step
was taken according to law, and by the vO-
luntary consent Of those interested.
As TO the manner Of proceeding with the
negroes at the workhouse, the following
statement OF the officers of that institution
will show:
WORKHoUsE. NASHVILLE. October l6, ls66-The
undersigned. officers and employees Of the Nash
vile City Workhouse. hereby certify that no
prisoner has been released 10 20 with Messrs,
CHEkTHAH and BEECH. contrary 10 their expressed
consent and wish. Those who did go were con-
suited, end expressed their entire willingness TO
ge before the Recorder ordered their release.
When the order for their release came, they were
again told II they did not go cheerfully and will
lingly they could remain. Those who were thus
employed and released seemed glad Of the 0p-
portunity 10 get employment We are sure no
undue means were used to procure their consent,
but that they went voluntarily.
r. S. PArrRRsos, Superintendent.
NJ. 5. BEAETLY. Asst SuPtendent.
w. n. PATTERSON, Book keeper.
JOHN RICHARDS, J NN'
b. HI. BRowN, Steward.
II. A. THOMPSON, Night-watch.
Such are the facts in the case The same
system was pursued, also, by the Court Of
the Freedmen'e Bureau under Gen. FISK
last spring. Judge LAWRENCE was in the
habit Of having negro Migrants brought be-
fore him, and of committing them to the
workhouse. Still more, he, in several cases,
issued orders allowing those committed by
him, "tO make any arrangement" 'to go
to Mississippi" and eio the country" to find
employment. The following orders viii
show the policy adopted by the Bureau upon
this subject
BUREAU REFUGEES, FREEDMEN AND ABANDONED
LANDS, STATES OF KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE.
ASSISTANT COMNIssI0NER's OFFlCE. NASHVILLE,
TEgN., March IA, ls66.-CAPT. PATTERSON: Have
the kindness to allow the bearer, Lieutenant
DIcKERsoG, TO see any Of tho prisoners confined
in the workhouse BY order Of this Court, and TO
make an arrangement with them, If they desire
T. 70 80 with him 20 Mississippi. ! think il very
desirable that the city be rid Of many persons Of
the KIND, who u in the country and employed.
would behave themselves very we'll
have the honor TO be. very respectfully. your
obedient servant. JoHN LetpRENoE,
Judge Freedmens Court.
BuREkU REFusEEs. FREEnNEx AND ARax-
DoSED LAEps, STATES or kENruCEr AND TIN
NASHVILLE, IENN., April 3. lS66.-CAPT. PATTER-
soH-SR: viii you have the kindness to allow
the bearer, .. y. WOODS. 70 persuade any Of the
vagrant NEGROES confined in the wOrkhouse By
order Of this Court. 20 leave the city and 90 out
60 work in tho country. Should any consent 70
80. arrangements will be made to send them.
By order Of Bvt Major Gen. c. B. FISK,
Assistant Commissioner.
JoHN LAWRENCE, Chap. and Supt
In this case, therefore, the city authori-
ties have Only cOnformed to the laws
CHEATHAM and BEECH have employed
labOrers with their consent and by agree
ment with them, and the whole affair has
proceeded upon n system acted on by the
Freedmen's Bureau. II there are any other
facts in the premises, we are not aware Of
them.
OREGON AND THE AMENDMENT.
A few days ago we announced she fact
that the Oregon Legislature had expunged